New AC66U-B1 in Media Bridge Mode (No 5ghz)

[heydre]

Just flashed to 384.5 of Merlin's and I have two problems after putting it in Media Bridge mode to connect wirelessly to my R7800 in router mode.

1. The 5ghz band is not visible to my AC66U when putting it into Media Bridge Mode so I have to use 2.4 even though other devices see/connect the R7800 5ghz just fine.
2. After the initial flashing to the latest stable Merlin....I can't flash the AC66U to any other version or firmware (even DD-WRT). It just reverts back to admin screen after a few secs with no change in firmware or settings.

Any advice....please and thank you!

 

[heydre]

I have also done resets to defaults with the exact same results and still unable to flash to another firmware.

I forgot to mention that the bridge is on an assigned IP (192.168.1.101) within the IP range of the R7800 and on the same subnet.

 

[Grisu]

Change to router-mode, remove all devices from router, connect over WiFi and try again.

 

[kfp]

For flashing: try using another browser, if that fails try Asus Firmware Restoration Utility or via mini web or via TFTP.

 

[heydre]

Thanks KFP and Grisu...will try...also I'm updating the DD-WRT on the R7800 right now to see if that helps. Flashing....

 

[heydre]

• R7800 updated to latest firmware...up and running
• Flash via Asus tool to 380.68.4 on AC66U= SUCCESS (BUT still doesn't see 5ghz from R7800 does see neighbors' 5ghz)
• AC66U bridges to 2.4ghz again no prob
  

 

[kfp]

What’s your 5Ghz channel set to? Try a different/lower channel? Probably just some region thing.

 

[heydre]

What’s your 5Ghz channel set to? Try a different/lower channel? Probably just some region thing.

AP mode / Channel 64 / Full 20MHZ / Enable SSID / AC/N mixed

 

[kfp]

64 is a DFS channel. Try something between 36-48 or 149-165.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

 

[heydre]

64 is a DFS channel. Try something between 36-48 or 149-165.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

DERP on that channel ....per your advice...switched to 36...now visible...rebridged> good!

But now can't see the AC66U from a PC wired into it (ping says host unreachable) BUT I still get Internet from said PC out through bridge to R7800 (pings at 17ms and loads webpages fine)

AC66U and its IP are also not visible from admin page (LAN clients) of R7800.

 

[kfp]

DERP on that channel ....per your advice...switched to 36...now visible...rebridged> good!

But now can't see the AC66U from a PC wired into it (ping says host unreachable) BUT I still get Internet from said PC out through bridge to R7800 (pings at 17ms and loads webpages fine)

AC66U and its IP are also not visible from admin page (LAN clients) of R7800.

Your bridge would change its IP (grab via DHCP from the R7800) after setup. Just go to R7800 web UI and figure out the IP AC66U got.

 

[heydre]

Geez...didn't realize I hadn't gone manual setup on the changeover to 5ghz....weird that it won't let me manual the IP to my usual though.

KFP thank YOU SO MUCH for the help on what were basically NOOB errors on the setup of router. I hate wasting people's time...sorry AND THANKS

UPDATE: IP changed to usual ending in 101....now I'm gonna let the routers "settle" down...LOL

 

[kfp]

Geez...didn't realize I hadn't gone manual setup on the changeover to 5ghz....weird that it won't let me manual the IP to my usual though.

KFP thank YOU SO MUCH for the help on what were basically NOOB errors on the setup of router. I hate wasting people's time...sorry AND THANKS

UPDATE: IP changed to usual ending in 101....now I'm gonna let the routers "settle" down...LOL

Personally I set a static DHCP IP for the media bridge on my main router, and let the media bridge grab it with DHCP. This keeps the IP assignments central so you don’t forget in the future and run into IP conflicts.

 

[heydre]

Personally I set a static DHCP IP for the media bridge on my main router, and let the media bridge grab it with DHCP. This keeps the IP assignments central so you don’t forget in the future and run into IP conflicts.

Funny you should say that...after getting firmwares installed and tweaking I noticed that the AC66U (bridged router) would become invisible to PCs on either end of the two routers. Sometimes I could see the bridged router from a PC on the R7800 side but not from a PC wired into the AC66U and other times I could only see it from the wired PC on the AC66U side. Currently I can't see the bridged router at all...doesn't appear in LAN clients (wired PC on that side is visible but unpingable).

Other things I noticed after HOURS of troubleshooting:

1. PC on bridged router side complained of conflicting IPs and network adapter unable to find network.
2. Monitoring from R7800 side, after getting all the settings done on bridged router, I noticed the wireless bands blinking like crazy and overloading the main router to where the admin page wouldn't respond to interaction.

Sorry for all the info but this has been tiresome...do I set the IP for the bridged router in the Services tab on the primary side? Looks like I use the MAC under the static leases?

 

[heydre]

BTW...currently running:
Kong 36175 on R7800 (primary)
Kong 35550 on AC66U (media bridge)
2.4ghz is N only (channel 11/20mhz)
5ghz is AC only (channel 36/20mhz)
Windows 7 on PCs connected to each router

 

[ColinTaylor]

Kong 36175 on R7800 (primary)
Kong 35550 on AC66U (media bridge)

Perhaps a question for the DD-WRT forums as you aren't running Asuswrt-Merlin?

 

[heydre]

Perhaps a question for the DD-WRT forums as you aren't running Asuswrt-Merlin?

You are correct AND kind...as you might guess I was running Merlin first and got the forums mixed up....sorry to all.