I'm trying to retranslate/repeat Mikrotik RB941-2nD-TC with TP-Link EAP110-Outdoor unlucky

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

I attempted to deploy a TP-Link EAP110-Outdoor as a Wi-Fi repeater (wireless extender) for a MikroTik RB941-2nD-TC.
Although the TP-Link reported that the repeater setup was completed, the device consistently obtained an APIPA address (169.254.x.x) instead of receiving a valid 192.168.x.x lease from the MikroTik DHCP server.

When the EAP110 is connected to the MikroTik via Ethernet, DHCP works as expected and it receives a correct 192.168.x.x address. But connection is unstable.

After disconnecting Ethernet, the wireless backhaul fails and the TP-Link immediately after 10-15 minutes falls back to 169.254.x.x, indicating and getting self signed IP 169….

Anybody can support on this.

I will appreciate in advance.

Regards,

Aidas

2

This is to be expected. There is no cross-manufacturer solution for transparent WiFi repeaters, i.e. this only works (is only guaranteed to work) when the repeater and access point are from the same manufacturer.

3

Hi, dude.

Are you sure? there is no way for TP-link to communicate with Mikrotik?

I can’t utilize TP-link EAP 110 Outdoor as Wifi range extender/repeater in this particular scenario. Do I need to swap it with Mikrotik asset in this case:(?

4

Have used my hAP AX2 as "travel router", no problems whatsoever working with all kind of brands.

Care to share your RB941-2nD-TC's config?

5

Moreover @erlinden . WDS becomes involved only when the TP-Link EAP110-Outdoor is put into “Repeater Mode".
In this mode, the device attempts to create a Layer-2 wireless bridge to the upstream AP.
The moment the TP-Link tries to form a WDS link with the MikroTik, the connection fails — because they use incompatible WDS protocols.
I do have very few devices connected to my hAP lite TC via cable and wireless connection and they are working just fine.

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6

@erlinden please specify what are you after? I have upgraded firmware and router OS to recent version on my hAP lite TC yesterday.

7

After reading the OP, just a couple of things:

When you have both wired and wireless backhaul, you get into trouble. This can explain the unstable connection (where it should be stable).

I was looking for your config of the MikroTik:

/export file=anynameyoulike

Remove serial and any other private info, post as Preformatted text by using the </> button.

At what rate is the TP-Link connected to the MikroTik?

8

For testing purposes I moved TP-Link in same room. It's not stable either and issue persist.

9

Sure a TP-Link device can connect to a MikroTik device, but not as a “wireless extender”.

You can use it in router (NAT) mode and have a separate subnet behind it, and use double-NAT to get to internet.

When you want to have a transparent extender (i.e. all your devices in the same subnet) you could have bought another MikroTik RB941-2nD-TC and it would have worked (with appropriate configuration).

This is not because of wrongdoing of either TP-Link nor MikroTik, there just isn’t a provision in the WiFi standards for “wireless extenders” and every manufacturer has cooked their own solution, but they do not interwork. That is what you are encountering.

(even new MikroTik devices cannot connect to old MikroTik devices in this mode, because MikroTik changed their devices and old and new are no longer compatible. maybe new are now compatible with some more other manufacturers, but there is no specification for that)

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10

HI, @pe1chl.
I really appreciate your input:). So basically what are you saying I can utilize 2nd MikroTik RB941-2nD-TC and set it up as a wifi repeater without having any issues? Rite?

Setup MikroTik Router as WiFi Range Extender | Turn Mikrotik As Signal Booster

This youtube totorial works just fine and I can follow procedure?

Regards,

Aidas

11

Yes, when the existing AP is in mode “ap bridge” (which it is by default) and the additional one is configured in “station bridge” with a slave interface that is again “ap bridge” and these two are put in a bridge, that will work. Because “station bridge” and “ap bridge” (from the same manufacturer) can form a transparent bridge over WiFi.

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