[fn0rd]

Hello,
I have the following setup:

1. AP1 - (WAN = Internet route)
2. Repeater to extend Wifi of AP1
3. AP2 to extend Wifi of AP1

I switched today from AP1 (AP mode), AP 2 (Client Bridge Routed) to AP1 (WDS Station) and AP2 (WDS AP).
Now the connection (when connected to AP2) is no longer stable (not able to ping AP1 from AP2) and I do not know any further. Nothing special in the log files.

Do you see anything in my configuration which I could change/improve in this?

Thanks in advance



AP1:
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND (Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r36104 std (06/10/1)
Wifi 192.168.2.1 - WAN dhcp

Configuration:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/24f6rteuuuzsc8j/AP1_1.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4zzfthakyqztbnm/AP1_2.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i38daajnokzty0p/AP1_3.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w4rj444g0f0z59r/AP1_4.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1jpckhp9mg4a0h5/AP1_5.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/761ipir4jv06g6b/AP1_6.png?raw=1

AP2:
TP-Link ARCHER-C7 v2 (Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r38132 std (12/28/1)
Wifi 192.168.2.2

Configuration:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vqqcdd8zz8819ws/AP2_1.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/svnwchv7kb6eoys/AP2_2.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6kzvtzu29ckdy6t/AP2_3.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2gm69t8te39yx5/AP2_4.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bd47nftjkumpk36/AP2_5.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ei1rjia0qiijwf/AP2_6.png?raw=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zmxwk5g57dyuz7a/AP2_7.png?raw=1

Repeater:
TP-Link RE450 (Firmware: Stock RE450(US)_V2_171220)
Wifi dhcp[/url]

[ian5142]

Do you understand what WDS is, first of all?

WDS AP is the connection to the internet.
WDS Station is an endpoint or hop on the way to the connection to the WDS AP.

In your case, I would use the Archer C7 as a WDS AP (connected to your modem). Then make the 1043ND a WDS Station.

See the wiki here for more info: https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network

PS: I use a fairly large WDS network to cover 6+ acres of land.

The important finishing point in that wiki is the connection watchdog. This reboots the WDS Station if it loses connection with the WDS AP. Don't do this part until you know the connection at least works. Also, I only use times like 300 sec or 1000 sec.

[bushant]

You say AP1 (yellow) is main internet connection but have it set as WDS STA? It is the WDS AP.
Select a channel on the AP don't use auto.
You don't need the repeater mac in WDS I do not think.
I do not think I would try to have Repeater on same frequency as WDS. Might be OK.
Did you use these guides to set this up?
https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linking_Routers
https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network
EDIT: Sorry @ian5142, we were typing at same time I think. I think and type very slowly.

[fn0rd]

Thanks bushant, Thanks ian5142 for the hint with the Station / AP.

I changed both, now on AP1 (yellow) the STP works as well. Also switched to a fixed channel (I am wondering, why this was changed to auto, but nevermind).


I used this guide:
https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network
+

[ian5142]

Which version of the 1043ND?

I know the Archer C7 is better than the 1043ND v1.

For the others see wikidevi: Archer C7 (change the version if yours is different (near bottom right of the page): https://wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_C7_v4.x

1043ND: (change the version if yours is different) https://wikidevi.com/wiki/TP-LINK_Archer_C7_v4.x

There is also a noticeable RAM difference (64MB (1043ND) vs 128MB (Archer C7) ). This applies to all versions.

[fn0rd]

[ian5142]

It will work but you are using the weaker device (both RAM and CPU) as the WDS AP (the main router). I would suggest switching them. This means that the Archer C7 would do all of the NAT (DHCP, QoS, etc) and the 1043ND would only pass on the data to the Archer C7, nothing more.

It is only a suggestion.

By the way, the 1043ND v1 is not very stable at all. It has bad hardware to begin with. I have one (currently bricked). I never used it much because it would reboot constantly (Connection watchdog), while my other routers (D-Link DIR-615, for example) could go for days even weeks without rebooting. If you can find another router to use as a WDS Station, do it, you will not regret the upgrade.

[fn0rd]

[Per Yngve Berg]

Where are the routers located? You are out of range (-88 db).