NetBox 5 AX not visible to legacy devices (LHG5/SXT 5 ac) — how to connect?

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hello everyone,

I’m trying to use a NetBox 5 AX as an Access Point to connect some older MikroTik devices like LHG5 and SXT 5 ac, but I can’t get it to work.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:
• NetBox 5 AX is running RouterOS v7 with the wifiwave2 package.
• I want to set it as an AP Bridge, but in wifiwave2 there’s only “AP” mode available — no “AP Bridge” option.
• I’ve tried different frequencies (like 5180, 5300,5745,…), channel widths (20/40/80 MHz)
• Security is disabled for now (open network), just to simplify the test.
• However, LHG5 and SXT 5 ac can’t see the NetBox signal in scan, and even when manually setting SSID and frequency, they fail to connect.

My questions:
• Has anyone successfully connected legacy 802.11a/n/ac devices to a NetBox 5 AX?
• Is there a compatibility issue between wifiwave2 AP mode and older MikroTik clients?
• Is there any workaround — like specific channel, frequency, or configuration — to make this link work?

I’d really appreciate any guidance. Thanks in advance!

2

Yes. True “station-bridge” mode is not possible if AP and station are using different generations of wifi/wireless driver. One possibility is to try with station-pseudobridge (but has some limitations). BTW, AP mode in wave2 drivers includes AP-bridge mode, that’s not separate mode any more.

Using “normal” AP and station modes should allow to create connection also betwer+en devices running different generations of wifi drivers … but using it means routing traffic instead of bridging traffic.