So I’m getting closer… I can now see my AP via Netinstall v6.42.10 - sometimes. It seems to be a bit touchy with respect to how long I hold down the reset button before the AP will be seen by Netinstall. I followed these https://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:Netinstall instructions to the letter. Unfortunately I now seem to be experiencing the same issue with Netinstall that many before me have: I can see my AP and the package to install, I press the ‘Install’ button, the app thinks for a couple seconds, but the package does not install, the ‘Reboot’ button does not appear, and the Status returns to ‘Ready’. (See http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/can-not-get-netinstall-to-install-packages-or-routeros/116379/1 and http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/netinstall-sending-offer-but-not-installing/98794/1).
The net out of those posts is that there is some combination of Windows 10 and ethernet cards that just won’t work with Netinstall. I’ve tried disabling the firewall, running as Admin, disabling network cards, compatibility mode, etc. As I don’t have a spare switch, the concensus seems to be that I need to go find a USB to ethernet dongle which seems a bit extreme. I may see if I can find an old XP (!) laptop to try out. Other suggestions welcome.