I'm new to using OpenWRT, and I'd like to know if there's a way to keep the master Wi-Fi active when the client Wi-Fi disconects

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

***I'm new to using OpenWRT, and I'd like to know if there's a way to keep the master Wi-Fi active when the client Wi-Fi disconects.

2

That's the default ?

3

I suspect that you are talking about a situation where you have a concurrent sta (client) mode connection from your router to an upstream wifi network and a downstream (AP mode) connection from your router to your devices.

This is typical in the travel scenario where a router will be used to connect to hotel/cafe/public wifi. And yes, the AP mode must necessarily shut down when the sta mode connection is not established because the channel selection is mandated by the upstream network and your router's sta mode connection.

With that in mind, there are two ways to mitigate the issue -- these can be used together, as well:

  1. use a device with multiple radios, and designate one of them for use connecting to the upstream while the other is always available in AP mode.
  2. Use travelmate which will gracefully handle the situation if/when the upstream network connection cannot be established. After a timeout, it will simply disable the sta-mode connection attempts and bring up the AP.
3 Likes