Need help setting up an AP

Installing and Using OpenWrt Network and Wireless Configuration
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Yes it's the most basic thing ever I know but it's not working for me :joy:

Got main router up and running.

Now disconnected that and connected the one that's going to be the AP. The video I watched was old so lots of options were different, so I used the wiki and followed it's steps but the same thing happens.

So currently my pc isn't connected to the internet, it's connected via ethernet to LAN port 2 on the router I want to become an AP, and I'm working via luci.

The wiki says…

Set a static LAN address: Go to Network → Interfaces and on the General Settings tab, click on the Edit button of the LAN interface.

So I do that, it says use anything from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254, so I'm going with 192.168.1.2 to keep them close together.

Set the new IPv4 address, and click Save and Save & Apply.

I do that, it counts down from 80 gets to zero then tells me it didn't get a reply and to revert the changes, or force the changes. I tried forcing them, had to recover the reinstall firmware and couldn't talk to it at all.

What am I missing? It's literally the first step in the wiki and it don't work for me…

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You need to first disable DHCP server on the interface lan, then
switch LAN protocol to static (and enter IP address in the subnet and gateway and DNS to other router) or DHCP client, either way apply without countdowns. Then it is safe to connect to the network.

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That's the one I'm using, it don't work :joy:

5

Let’s see the config for the AP…

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):

Screenshot 2025-10-20 at 8.14.14 PM

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
6

I'll try that then, as that's not what the wiki says, it says change the IP on the LAN save and apply, then do the rest of the steps.

7

There's no config as yet it's currently a freshly flashed openwrt router. Zero changes.

Currently, pc is connected via ethernet into LAN port2 as it says don't use the WAN.

Set a static LAN address: Go to Network → Interfaces and on the General Settings tab, click on the Edit button of the LAN interface.

Although you could configure the wireless AP to use DHCP to obtain an address from the main router,

this guide will show how configure a static IP address for it.

By default, the main router will have an address of 192.168.1.1, so use 192.168.1.2 (or similar).

The wireless AP's address should be on the same subnet as your main router, but outside the DHCP range used when assigning addresses to connected devices.

Assuming that the DHCP server is running on an upstream OpenWrt device, this means that by default the wireless AP router IP should be between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.99. But be sure to check the DHCP pool range on your DHCP server to ensure that the address you use does not conflict with the DHCP server.

When adding multiple wireless APs, you could use 192.168.1.3, 192.168.1.4, etc.

Set the new IPv4 address, and click Save and Save & Apply.

So I edit the LAN, change the 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.2 and hit save and apply, it's does it's count down thing, then says no response and to revert the changes or I can force the changes (I tried that and had to restore the firmware as no luci on 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.2)

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Read this (although you aren’t changing the subnet)

1 Like
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Nope giving up for the night, I can't get it to work, reverts everytime.

Tried deleting the WANs, marking the LAN DHCP to ignore, always reverts the changes.

Luckily the other one is working fine, just got the 2.4ghz online but it's give the kids internet so kept them quiet.

Gonna try find a different guide as the wiki one doesn't work on RC1 that's for certain.

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"Re-open the web GUI: Navigate to new address you assigned in the previous step (e.g. http://192.168.1.2)."

Luci reverts in 90 seconds if you do not connect to the new IP.

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I wondered that so have tried it, I saw a video online where they also disconnect and reconnect the computer quickly after the save and apply, I assume to refresh the pc connection… tried that too.

It always reverts back.

I'm now wondering if I attempt the ssh method…

1 Like
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Happy 2026 everyone.

We are back in business, ssh method worked, editted the config file with vi, saved it, rebooted and now AP is at 192.168.1.2.

What's the next headache gonna be :laughing:

1 Like
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Just wanted to note after making a change you have to click the save and apply button to make the changes work. You can stack a number of changes up and have it all applied at once but you do need to click that button before anything you did will function.

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Unfortunately it was during the applying stage it had trouble and kept reverting them.

Doing it via SSH worked.

16

If you are on snapshot, switch to stable. I would practice changing the IP via luci until it works correctly. If you ignore this, you are 100% headed towards more headaches.

1 Like
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I'm on RC1 and it must be a bug as I tried every possible combination via luci and it didn't work… via SSH first go.

Weird.

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What setting you are changing?
What is in ubus call system board output?

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"kernel": "6.12.62",
        "hostname": "OpenWrt",
        "system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 0",
        "model": "ASUS ZenWiFi BT8",
        "board_name": "asus,zenwifi-bt8",
        "rootfs_type": "squashfs",
        "release": {
                "distribution": "OpenWrt",
                "version": "25.12.0-rc1",
                "firmware_url": "https://downloads.openwrt.org/",
                "revision": "r32353-9e9b05130c",
                "target": "mediatek/filogic",
                "description": "OpenWrt 25.12.0-rc1 r32353-9e9b05130c",
                "builddate": "1766089549"

I was trying to configure the second router as a dumb AP, following the openwrt guide and various other peoples guides, step one is connecting directly to the router via ethernet and changing its ip address from the 192.168.1.1 to something on the same subnet but different from the main router.

Everytime i tried it timed out and rolled back the settings, i tried opening the new ip in a browse during the countdown, tried reconnecting the ethernet during the countdown, tried connecting it to my network during its countdown, nothing helped, I even tried forcing the changes, but left me unable to get access to Luci or ssh on 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.2 and i had to do firmware recovery to regain access.

So i tried to change it via ssh and it worked first time.

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Please make a screenshot.... Switching to DHCP or changing IP via LuCI never failed/soft-bricked for me.

1 Like