OpenWRT Router + EAP615s Question

[freeme62410]

Greetings all. I am very new so please bear with me. I may say things that dont make sense so please bear with me.

I recently built an OpenWRT NUC for my home router, bypassed my ATT gateway using wpa-supplicant method, and purchased a pair of EAP615 (v1.6) for access points. Both APs have 2.4/5ghz on set to same SSID, encryption, password and are on different channels/frequencies. Working great as far as I can tell, except handoffs are slightly inconsistent on my phone.

I purchased these APs with the understanding they were one of the only compatible Wifi6 APs with OpenWRT. This is probably going to sound stupid, but I did not expect them to just work out of the box without doing anything in OpenWRT. I was fully expecting to have to follow this guide from OpenWRT on Dumb APs.

My goals are relatively simple, I just want good wifi in my house. Fast roaming is a plus. I already reduced the tx power of the APs and am getting DECENT handoffs, but fast roaming would be nice.

I have a couple questions about this, some probably stupid but I want to be sure:

1. Can I just run it like this? I dont see anything in the settings about DCHP server or "Access Point" mode so I assume they are always just dumb aps? I dont have to worry about IP assigment or any problems just running it on TP Link's firmware? I understand there's no fast roaming with this option.

2. What benefits, if any, would I have by flashing openwrt on these and setting up Dumb APs in Openwrt according to this guide? Versus just using TP Link's firmware, or TP link's firmware plus an omada controller.. https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/dumbap

3. Would purchasing an Omada controller (and staying on TP link FW) effectively achieve my goals (good wifi, no problems with routing/ip assignment, and fast roaming), but without all the setup in OpenWRT? The setup with OpenWRT looks a bit tricky. I'm sure I could figure it out but if I can find a controller for cheap, is that an option? Wont cause any issues?

Another concern/question I have with all of this is the dumb ap guide mentions disabling wpa supplicant (I saw another guide saying I had to use WPAD non basic - which I also dont have) so I'm pretty confused about that. I need wpa supplicant on to authenticate my connection with ATT. So i'm not even sure I have the ability to run them on OpenWRT with my specific situation having to run wpa-supplicant?

Thank you in advance to the great minds here who make life just a little easier

[slh]

@freeme62410

I purchased these APs with the understanding they were one of the only compatible Wifi6 APs with OpenWRT.

One of a few dozen, at least.

@freeme62410

I did not expect them to just work out of the box without doing anything in OpenWRT. I was fully expecting to have to follow this guide from OpenWRT on Dumb APs.

That depends on the question if you are using the as-is, with their OEM firmware or if you did flash OpenWrt to them, in the later case you will have to follow the dumb-AP guide.

@freeme62410

Would purchasing an Omada controller (and staying on TP link FW) effectively achieve my goals (good wifi, no problems with routing/ip assignment, and fast roaming)

That is something you will have to ask TP-Link or determine yourself.

[freeme62410]

@slh

That depends on the question if you are using the as-is, with their OEM firmware or if you did flash OpenWrt to them, in the later case you will have to follow the dumb-AP guide.

Well to be frank with you, i wasn't sure they could be used as-is (with OE firmware). I thought I had to do the Dumb AP guide. Otherwise, I probably would have went with better APs. That's okay right? Sorry for the dumb question. I just want to make sure there's not going to be any routing/dhcp/ip address issues, which I assume not. For some reason, I was under the impression OpenWRT had to manage the wireless aps for everything to work properly. But if I can just use the OE Firmware no problem, I'll just buy the controller and get fast roaming that way.

[monsterlabbit]

You won't have any issues, the APs can be used as is.
AP = Access Point, they just provide access (via WiFi). Your router handles routing and DHCP.

[freeme62410]

Thanks! Thats what I expected but i just wanted to know without question. I figured as much. TYSM for your time.

I actually switched to an EAP670 instead based on that info and am now getting my max theoretical bandwidth pretty much to every corner of my house. It drops only about 10%-15% in the corners of my home with the single AP. Pretty remarkable and great unit for what it is. Very happy now!