Connect mAP lite to an device and access it remotely

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi,

I have a problem connecting a mAP Lite to an device that behaves like an AP. Here is the setup:

The device that I need to connect is and color LCD screen that has only a wireless interface to witch I connect with my laptop and manage it. So I bought a mAP Lite a planed to connect the mikrotik to the LCD device AP , but the 2 devices simply can’t connect. I have no problem connecting my laptop to the LCD AP and my mobile phone also.

When I scan the wireless interface (mAP lite winbox) it detects the AP and all the parameters are good, after connecting to the AP in the interface says “searching for network” and cant connect.

Does somebody know where is the catch how can I make this work?

2

This LCD screen is creating a network (i.e. it acts like an Access Point, right?
Then for the mAP lite to connect to it it must be setup as client (station).
There are a couple different station modes available on a Mikrotik connecting to an AP that is not also Mikrotik.

See:

There could be also a mismatch with authentications methods, but in this case you should have different errors when attempting to connect.

Post your configuration for review, following the instructions here:

3

Here is the config from the mAP Lite

2025-11-18 16:24:53 by RouterOS 7.20
software id = XXXX-XXXX

model = RBmAPL-2nD
serial number = XXXXXXXXXXX
/interface wireless security-profiles
set [ find default=yes ] authentication-types=wpa2-psk mode=dynamic-keys
supplicant-identity=MikroTik
add authentication-types=wpa-psk,wpa2-psk mode=dynamic-keys name=bilbord
supplicant-identity=""
add authentication-types=wpa2-psk mode=dynamic-keys name=bilbord2
supplicant-identity=""
/interface wireless
set [ find default-name=wlan1 ] country=china disabled=no security-profile=
bilbord ssid=W62_1525320153
/ip firewall connection tracking
set udp-timeout=10s
/interface ovpn-server server
add mac-address=XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX name=ovpn-server1
/ip dhcp-client
add interface=ether1
Interface not active
add add-default-route=no interface=wlan1 use-peer-dns=no use-peer-ntp=no
/ip firewall nat
add action=masquerade chain=srcnat log=yes log-prefix=MSQ out-interface=wlan1
/ip hotspot profile
set [ find default=yes ] html-directory=hotspot
/ip ipsec profile
set [ find default=yes ] dpd-interval=2m dpd-maximum-failures=5
/system clock
set time-zone-name=Europe/Belgrade
/system identity
set name=mtk-LCD-AP

Maybe this can more explain

4

Yep, your posted configuration is a sort of "AP/router" configuration, you want instead a station/router or station/bridge one

For the wireless settings, you need for the moment just (for a station/router):

/interface wireless security-profiles
set [ find default=yes ] authentication-types=wpa2-psk mode=dynamic-keys
supplicant-identity=MikroTik

/interface wireless
set [ find default-name=wlan1 ] country=<your_country> disabled=no  mode=station ssid=<the_SSID_of_the_LCD> password=<the_password_of_the_LCD_if_any>

But the mAP right now has no ip addresses set, maybe you want to add a DHCP client to the wireless interface (presuming that the LCD screen is also running a DCHCP server:

/ip dhcp-client
add interface=wlan1

or set a suitable IP address in the LCD network:

/ip address
add address=w.x.y.z/24 interface=wlan1 network=w.x.y.0

and set an IP address to ether1 as well:

/ip address
add address=192.168.88.1/24 comment=defconf interface=bridge network=\
    192.168.88.0

If you want instead a station/bridge, a bridge is needed, so you want a bridge (since you are running v7.20 in station-psudobridge mode you should have rstp disabled on the bridge):

/interface bridge
add  name=bridge

/interface bridge set [find where name=bridge] protocol-mode=none

Later, if needed, we will talk about using a fixed, non-automatic MAC address on the bridge.

Assign (temporarily) an IP address to the bridge (otherwise you will only be able to connect to the device via MAC with Winbox):

/ip address
add address=192.168.88.1/24 comment=defconf interface=bridge network=\
    192.168.88.0

(or whatever network the LCD screen is set to)

with both the wlan1 and ether1 interfaces added to it:

/interface bridge port
add bridge=bridge interface=wlan1
add bridge=bridge interface=ether1

Then you might also need a DHCP client on the bridge (that would get the IP address from the LCD screen if it actually runs a DHCP server):

/ip dhcp-client
add interface=bridge

(alternative to the fixed IP address seen before)

Then the wireless settings, you need for the moment just:

/interface wireless security-profiles
set [ find default=yes ] authentication-types=wpa2-psk mode=dynamic-keys
supplicant-identity=MikroTik

/interface wireless
set [ find default-name=wlan1 ] country=<your_country> disabled=no  mode=station-pseudobridge ssid=<the_SSID_of_the_LCD> wpa2-pre-shared-key=<the_password_of_the_LCD_if_any>
5

Hi Jaclaz

Thanks you for your help and effort

I have configured the wireless settings as your example, in my case i need to access the LCD device from remote and i need to use the mAP in station mode.

After applying the wireless settings that you suggested I have the same result , the interface is still "searching for network” and in the status tab the channel is constantly changing trough the spectrum.

The AP that I need to access has in Scanner list channel 2412/20g/(28dBm) and has a signal strength -73dBm.

Please be aware in wireless configuration the STATION mode is default for which is does not appear in config export line.

Should I consider downgrade to v6 ROS or there is another solution?

6

Post your current configuration, there may well be some other settings that were overlooked.

7.20 and later have shown some strange quirks, so if you want to use v 7, it would be better if you downgraded to 7.19.6.

For the use you have there is not actually any problem in running the older v6.x.
I posted here - JFYI - a surely working configuration for a hap lite (very similar to the mAP/mAP lite, it only has more ports) for comparison: