Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 20:24 Post subject: Time Server Sync Help
Hi,
I am having a hell of a time getting my 3rd router WRT160N running DD WRT to time sync properly. At boot it defaults to a 1969 date and time. I can set up the ntp. add servers, leave blank, use the IP, power cycle, add default gateway at 192.168.1.1 or leave it all zeros. Nothing seems to help. The weird thing is sometimes while messing around I can get it to sync. It works great until a power outage and I'm back to square one. The last time this worked I removed the default gateway and blanked out the time sever, save, apply, and it synced. This does not work now. I was hoping there was a command line fix or some way to make it sync with the 2nd router. Not sure what I am doing wrong. Thanks if you can help.
I have a setup as follows.
1st router is set to bridge mode and can only be accessed by a pc with a static ip plugged directly in at 192.168.1.1. I can not set the time or ntp on this router. Running factory firmware.
The 2nd router is a ER-X from Ubiquity and is doing the routing. NTP is set up and works properly. Access is 192.168.1.1. Running factory firmware
The third router is a WRT160N set up as a switch or repeater to provide wifi. DHCP is disabled. Internet comes from router number 2 and plugs into a LAN port, output is like a switch for the remaining Lan ports and wifi. access is 192.168.1.3. Running DD-WRT v3.0-r44715 std .
You will have to check your routes and what the defaults are.
As a switch, the system probably does not know it has internet access at all, (nor would it need to), as a repeater it might do the same thing.
For most times, the default that is in the DD-wrt code is to use a pool from the ntp.org foundation, this should be good enough, Some people will say that you have to have an ip address specified but that is because it depends on when your dns comes up relative to the router, but eventually it should work.
you should be able to do this via the command line:
Code:
ntpclient pool.ntp.org
it will not give any messages but you can check to see if the date iis updated.
and I have the first router in bridge mode. I can only access the web gui by plugging directly into it at 192.168.1.1. the second router is normal and is at 192.168.1.1. The WRT160N is not in routing mode. DHCP is off. It is operating more like a switch but I leave the wifi on because the ER-x does not have wifi.
Open the Setup -> Advanced Routing tab
(Recommended) Change operating mode to: Router, then Save
From the Linking Routers page:
Quote:
Wireless Access Point - Extend Wi-Fi & LAN (Requires physical ethernet connection between routers)
Switch - Similar config as WAP, but radio disabled (accepts only wired connections)
ntpclient pool.ntp.org does not appear to update the time.
I have the default gateway pointing to the ERX at 192.168.1.1 and Local DNS is all 0's. NTP Client enabled. Time Zone Canada/Eastern. ServerIp/Name is left blank.
I do not know what I do to get it to work occasionally but I can't get it to do it again. I wish I could just slave it to the ERX router or something.
I will read through that in the morning when I'll be able to understand it better. I set the WRT160N up that way from a you tube video "how to use an old router for a wifi repeater" I also thought I read that having 2 routers operating like routers will cause problems. I'm probably wrong about that.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14217 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:51 Post subject:
Well, unless I am thinking wrong, you are using the WRT160N as a wireless access point, not to repeat your primary router's wireless signal. Repeater mode is a different configuration.
Yes I have the terminology wrong. I am using it as a wireless access point because the ER-X router does not have a wireless radio. I'll post back once I get a chance to change the settings. Thanks again
Thanks for the advice and link to the guide. I followed the guide step by step, moved my ethernet cable to the Wan port on the WAP because I checked that box in the setup, enabled ntp and just left the field blank and a minute or two later it synced up!
This was all for the Radio Time Restrictions feature on DD-WRT which I think is a really nice add on. It won't work if the time is not synced but it works great now. Thanks again
