Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

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alexT
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:15 pm

Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by alexT »

Hello,
In this post I finally found out I can't have a wire connection between two routers located in separate buildings because the ethernet cable buried underground is probably faulty.

So I am using Router 2 in Wireless Bridge/Repeater mode. But this works for a few days and then suddenly the SSID that it is rebroadcasting goes down. I know Router 1 doesn't go down because the guest network (which Router 1 is broadcasting but Router 2 is not repeating) stays up. Router 2 usually starts working again after turning off and on again.

Could this be some kind of a IP conflict and how should I troubleshoot it?

(And I thought I thought networking is easy.) Sorry about all the external links below. Forum says attachment quota reached.

Router 1 connections basic
https://pasteboard.co/JwSTxaG.png
Router 1 dhcp
https://pasteboard.co/JwSTKKN.png
Router 1 routing
https://pasteboard.co/JwSTXmX.png
Router 1 overview
https://pasteboard.co/JwSUYUa.png

Router 2 connected hosts
https://pasteboard.co/JwSQDPC.png
Router 2 routing
https://pasteboard.co/JwSSGAj.jpg
Router 2 connections basic
https://pasteboard.co/JwSSVLj.jpg
Router 2 overview
https://pasteboard.co/JwSThAh.jpg

ispyisail
Moderator
Posts: 5180
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by ispyisail »

I haven't studied this topic.......

Have a look at STA Manager, I've never used it but I understand its designed to reconnect wifi networks automatically

Image

Lantis
Moderator
Posts: 6735
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:33 am
Location: Australia

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by Lantis »

Doesn't work for bridge mode :(
http://lantisproject.com/downloads/gargoyle_ispyisail.php for the latest releases
Please be respectful when posting. I do this in my free time on a volunteer basis.

ektus
Posts: 241
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:26 am
Location: Germany

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by ektus »

Simply enable ping watchdog (destination: Router 1) on Router 2 and select "restart wifi" as action (or issue custom command "wifi" for older versions).

ispyisail
Moderator
Posts: 5180
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 3:15 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by ispyisail »

Image

alexT
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:15 pm

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by alexT »

@ektus,
there is no "retart wifi" option.
The options for action are:
  • Reboot
    WAN reconnect
    Run Custom script
I set it on REBOOT for now.
My setup:
Image
Last edited by alexT on Sat Oct 24, 2020 6:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

alexT
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:15 pm

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by alexT »

So this is a normal thing, for the bridge to disconnect every couple of days - or something wrong with my setup?

ektus
Posts: 241
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:26 am
Location: Germany

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by ektus »

Yes. :lol:

Software has bugs, some are very hard to find and eliminate. I've had problems with Bridge disconnecting frequently, thus disrupting the VPN connection that was routed over that bridge. There was an error message on the client, though, stating incompatible mode changes from the host (wide channel in congested area?).

That aside, as you haven't got the "reconnect" entry, select "custom" instead and enter the command

Code: Select all

wifi
there. That's way faster than rebooting.

alexT
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:15 pm

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by alexT »

Hi ektus,

Thanks for the explanation. I've been struggling with this for so long, I was thinking I'm cursed. Everytime it went down I would howl!

Here's my setup now:
Image

Thank you again!

alexT
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2020 5:15 pm

Re: Wireless Bridge/Repeater router keeps disconnecting

Post by alexT »

Related questions:

Repeater is broadcasting on a different SSID. Does that reduce reliability of the connection?

Would it help if the channel is different? Right now Router 1 is channel 11. Repeating router is set at 6.

Repeater does not repeat the guest SSDI's of Router 1. So is there a way to create guest networks on Router 2 (the repeating router)?

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