Trying to use second DSL-AC68U in bridge mode

[Skwisgaars]

My house uses a DSL-AC68U as its WAP. I've been having issues with wifi to my desktop, I'm fairly certain its my pcie wifi card and am looking at a replacement but in the meantime I wanted to use the 2nd AC68U I have in WDS mode to act as a secondary wireless receiver that I can then connect via cat5 in to my desktop. I've followed the steps here: https://www.asus.com/au/support/FAQ/114612/ exactly but I still don't get any internet connection when wired or wirelessly connecting to the 2nd router. Any ideas?

 

[Skwisgaars]

I've searched a few forums and it seems bridge mode might not be possible on the DSL-AC68U, only on the RT-AC68U. If true that's really bloody annoying.

 

[ColinTaylor]

What you're describing is called "Media Bridge mode". At a pinch you could use Repeater mode and connect your PC to one of the LAN ports. However, as you have noticed neither of those modes are supported by the DSL-AC68U.

There is an experimental firmware build by GNUton that enables repeater mode.

GitHub - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng: Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers

Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

Release Unstable: gnuton-snapshot-feature-repeater · gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

GNUton's Asus Merlin changelog Date: October 19, 2021 Release: gnuton-snapshot-feature-repeater FIXED: regression in PPPoA for DSL-AX82U

github.com

 

[Skwisgaars]

What you're describing is called "Media Bridge mode". At a pinch you could use Repeater mode and connect your PC to one of the LAN ports. However, as you have noticed neither of those modes are supported by the DSL-AC68U.

There is an experimental firmware build by GNUton that enables repeater mode.

GitHub - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng: Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers

Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

Release Unstable: gnuton-snapshot-feature-repeater · gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

GNUton's Asus Merlin changelog Date: October 19, 2021 Release: gnuton-snapshot-feature-repeater FIXED: regression in PPPoA for DSL-AX82U

github.com

Awesome, thanks for that, might give it a go. That github link mentions AiMesh as a native mode that you can use only with other asus routers, do you know if that could achieve what I'm trying to do here?

 

[ColinTaylor]

Awesome, thanks for that, might give it a go. That github link mentions AiMesh as a native mode that you can use only with other asus routers, do you know if that could achieve what I'm trying to do here?

Sorry, I don't know as I don't use AiMesh. It sounds promising though and it would mean that you could use a more recent stable firmware rather than the old experimental version.

P.S. I've been assuming that your "2nd AC68U" is also the DSL- model.

 

[Skwisgaars]

Yea that's all good, might experiment with Ai mesh if the custom firmware on the 2nd AC68U doesn't work. Primary router is the DSL AC68U yea.

Do you know if there's any documentation on how to set up the media bridge mode with the custom firmware? Would it be similar to This?

 

[ColinTaylor]

Would it be similar to This?

That's the way it's normally done.