Moving to OpenWRT because the previous wireless extender (tp-link RE705X) did not have a strong enough signal & the EA7500v1 I had laying around had outdated software. Everything worked fine with the RE705X, and all I did was replace the EA7500 with the RE705X.
I use an old windows laptop (L2 & 172.16.1.72 in the network picture) as a file server so I can access pictures / documents from any computer in my home, but lost wireless connectivity when I put in the EA7500. I temporarily tried physically wiring L2 to the WRT extender, but that stopped all access to the server, so I have moved L2 back to the main network because I can access it from C1 and C2 this way.
When I ping L2 from L1, I get a response, but when I ping C2, I don't.
From L1, I can access both the router (via 172.16.1.254) and WRT (via 172.16.1.188 AND 192.168.1.1 IP’s) interfaces.
All of C1, C2 and L1 are running windows 11. L2 is running windows 10.
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
First things first...
Please provide a diagram that doesn't react the addresses. RFC1918 addresses are not sensitive information and therefore are safe to show here. This can go a long way to making your diagram more understandable.
Next, What port is used on the EA7500 to connect it to the upstream network (wan or lan)?
And, let's see the config of the EA7500.
Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button (red circle; this works best in the 'Markdown' composer view in the blue oval):
Remember to redact passwords, VPN keys, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:
ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall
1 Like
I have updated the picture in my original post.
The EA7500 connected to the network via the WAN port.
Here is the 5 commands you asked me to run:
root@OpenWrt:~# ubus call system board
/etc/config/fir{
"kernel": "6.12.66",
"hostname": "OpenWrt",
"system": "ARMv7 Processor rev 0 (v7l)",
"model": "Linksys EA7500 V1 WiFi Router",
"board_name": "linksys,ea7500-v1",
"rootfs_type": "squashfs",
"release": {
"distribution": "OpenWrt",
"version": "25.12.0-rc3",
"firmware_url": "https://downloads.openwrt.org/",
"revision": "r32486-30527a4c34",
"target": "ipq806x/generic",
"description": "OpenWrt 25.12.0-rc3 r32486-30527a4c34",
"builddate": "1768954854"
}
}
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/network
config interface 'loopback'
option device 'lo'
option proto 'static'
option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
option netmask '255.0.0.0'
config globals 'globals'
option ula_prefix '[mac address removed]:/48'
option packet_steering '1'
config device
option name 'br-lan'
option type 'bridge'
list ports 'lan1'
list ports 'lan2'
list ports 'lan3'
list ports 'lan4'
config device
option name 'lan1'
option macaddr 'XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'
config device
option name 'lan2'
option macaddr 'XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX'
config device
option name 'lan3'
option macaddr 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
config device
option name 'lan4'
option macaddr 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
config interface 'lan'
option device 'br-lan'
option proto 'static'
option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
option netmask '255.255.255.0'
option gateway '172.16.1.254'
config device
option name 'wan'
option macaddr 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
config interface 'wan'
option device 'wan'
option proto 'dhcp'
config interface 'wan6'
option device 'wan'
option proto 'dhcpv6'
config device 'guest_dev'
option type 'bridge'
option name 'br-guest'
config interface 'guest'
option proto 'static'
option device 'br-guest'
option ipaddr '192.168.3.1/24'
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/wireless
config wifi-device 'radio0'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/1b700000.pcie/pci0001:00/0001:00:00.0/0001:01:00.0'
option band '5g'
option channel '104'
option htmode 'HT20'
option cell_density '0'
option country 'CA'
config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
option device 'radio0'
option network 'lan'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
option encryption 'psk2'
option key 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
config wifi-device 'radio1'
option type 'mac80211'
option path 'soc/1b500000.pcie/pci0000:00/0000:00:00.0/0000:01:00.0'
option band '2g'
option channel '1'
option cell_density '0'
option country 'CA'
option htmode 'HT40'
config wifi-iface 'wifinet1'
option device 'radio0'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
option encryption 'psk2'
option key 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
option network 'guest'
option macaddr 'random'
option isolate '1'
config wifi-iface 'wifinet2'
option device 'radio1'
option mode 'ap'
option ssid 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
option encryption 'psk2'
option key 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
option network 'guest'
option macfilter 'allow'
list maclist 'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/dhcp
config dnsmasq
option domainneeded '1'
option boguspriv '1'
option filterwin2k '0'
option localise_queries '1'
option rebind_protection '1'
option rebind_localhost '1'
option local '/lan/'
option domain 'lan'
option expandhosts '1'
option nonegcache '0'
option cachesize '1000'
option authoritative '1'
option readethers '1'
option leasefile '/tmp/dhcp.leases'
option resolvfile '/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
option nonwildcard '1'
option localservice '1'
option ednspacket_max '1232'
option filter_aaaa '0'
option filter_a '0'
config dhcp 'lan'
option interface 'lan'
option start '100'
option limit '150'
option leasetime '12h'
option dhcpv4 'server'
option dhcpv6 'hybrid'
option ra 'hybrid'
list ra_flags 'managed-config'
list ra_flags 'other-config'
config dhcp 'wan'
option interface 'wan'
option ignore '1'
config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
option maindhcp '0'
option leasefile '/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
option leasetrigger '/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
option loglevel '4'
option piofolder '/tmp/odhcpd-piofolder'
config dhcp 'guest'
option interface 'guest'
option start '100'
option limit '150'
option leasetime '1h'
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall
config defaults
option syn_flood '1'
option input 'REJECT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'REJECT'
config zone
option name 'lan'
list network 'lan'
option input 'ACCEPT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'ACCEPT'
config zone
option name 'wan'
list network 'wan'
list network 'wan6'
option input 'REJECT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'REJECT'
option masq '1'
option mtu_fix '1'
config forwarding
option src 'lan'
option dest 'wan'
config rule
option name 'Allow-DHCP-Renew'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'udp'
option dest_port '68'
option target 'ACCEPT'
option family 'ipv4'
config rule
option name 'Allow-Ping'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'icmp'
option icmp_type 'echo-request'
option family 'ipv4'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-IGMP'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'igmp'
option family 'ipv4'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-DHCPv6'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'udp'
option dest_port '546'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-MLD'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'icmp'
option src_ip 'fe80::/10'
list icmp_type '130/0'
list icmp_type '131/0'
list icmp_type '132/0'
list icmp_type '143/0'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Input'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'icmp'
list icmp_type 'echo-request'
list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
list icmp_type 'bad-header'
list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
list icmp_type 'router-solicitation'
list icmp_type 'neighbour-solicitation'
list icmp_type 'router-advertisement'
list icmp_type 'neighbour-advertisement'
option limit '1000/sec'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Forward'
option src 'wan'
option dest '*'
option proto 'icmp'
list icmp_type 'echo-request'
list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
list icmp_type 'bad-header'
list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
option limit '1000/sec'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-IPSec-ESP'
option src 'wan'
option dest 'lan'
option proto 'esp'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule
option name 'Allow-ISAKMP'
option src 'wan'
option dest 'lan'
option dest_port '500'
option proto 'udp'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config zone 'guest'
option name 'guest'
option network 'guest'
option input 'REJECT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'REJECT'
config forwarding 'guest_wan'
option src 'guest'
option dest 'wan'
config rule 'guest_dns'
option name 'Allow-DNS-Guest'
option src 'guest'
option dest_port '53'
option proto 'tcp udp'
option target 'ACCEPT'
config rule 'guest_dhcp'
option name 'Allow-DHCP-Guest'
option src 'guest'
option dest_port '67'
option proto 'udp'
option family 'ipv4'
option target 'ACCEPT'
root@OpenWrt:~#
So it would seem that you really should be setting this device up as a simple bridged AP. Fundamentally, this means you connect via the lan port instead of the wan and set the lan IP to be an address on the main/upstream network. This means that the AP is transparent and the devices connected to your OpenWrt wifi are just like any others connected to the upstream lan.
Since you have a guest network, you can also do this via the bridged AP... a few minor changes and it'll work.
1 Like
system
April 9, 2026, 2:01am
5
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