Can’t seem to access network using LAN port on NWA130BE.

Andrew_em

I have just purchased two NWA130BE and one NWA50AX Pro.

The setup I want to create is:

My cable router wired to the uplink port on one NWA130BE.

The gateway NWA130BE is smart meshed to the other NWA130BE

This setup seems to work fine and my devices can roam between the two APs and the mesh connection is excellent.

I have an Ethernet cable from the location of the NWA130BE into my garden office which is too far to connect via mesh.

I want to connect the NWA50AX Pro to the meshed NWA130BE.

I’ve been trying all morning to get it to work, but it won’t connect.

I have the Ethernet plugged into the NWA50AX Pro’s uplink port and into the meshed NWA130BE’s LAN port.

I thought it was the Ethernet cable at first but it’s fine.

I brought the NWA50AX Pro into the house and it connects fine via smart mesh, and I can connect client to it.

But when I plug the NWA50AX into the LAN port of the meshed NWA130BE it still seems to connect via the mesh.

I tried plugging my laptop into the LAN port on the meshed NWA130BE and it isn’t given an IP address. If I plug it into the uplink port it does get an IP address but obviously I can’t access anything.

So I think something is setup wrong!

I have two SSIDs, one with layer two protection and the only authorised MAC address is the gateway NWA130BE for my IoT devices.

So yes, I can’t seem to get the NWA50AX to connect as a wired access point to the meshed NWA130BE.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @Andrew_em,

So the 'mesh' has been very stable since all the help with setting it up - I really do appreciate it!

💯

I think that using NAT mode for them will reduce the demand on my router's dhcp pool will it (if the NAT mode doesn't need an IP for every device on that SSID). Have I misunderstood this?

Using NAT mode will reduce the IoT device to request DHCP IP from your router, since the AP will act as an DHCP server to provide IP address to them. Reference link

Additional question - do you know if there will be issues with Sonos if I enable NAT mode on the SSID they are connected to (because the different Sonos devices connect to different APs),

I suggest not to do this since:

1. NAT mode limitation: clients can't communicate with other clients associated with other AP.
2. You need to change SSID when you try to control your Sonos via iPhone.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @Andrew_em,

No, the LAN port doesn't support NAT mode.

Andrew_em

well after I asked this question the two 130BEs started acting weird. They won’t connect to each other at all.

the main node won’t allow any devices to connect to it.

Going to have to send all this gear back to Amazon.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @Andrew_em,

Please enable the wireless bridge function on your meshed/repeater NWA130BE.

Andrew_em

Just to make sure my desired setup is clear:

 

My router —(wired)— NWA130BE (gateway AP) —(wireless)— NWA130BE (Mesh AP - using 6ghz band for uplink to Gateway AP)—(wired)—NWA50AX Pro (Office AP)

 

My understanding is that I should setup smart mesh on both the Gateway AP and the Mesh AP (the two NWA130BEs and select the preferred mesh uplink band (optional, but makes sense for me).

 

I thought that wireless bridge was a setting that was used where the two APs are purely replacing a ethernet cable and not broadcasting any SSIDs – am I wrong?

 

So should I configure the Gateway AP to have smart mesh enabled and wireless bridge disabled, the Mesh AP to have both smart mesh AND wireless bridge enabled, and the Office AP to have only wireless bridge enabled?

 

I want them all to broadcast the same SSIDs and be on the same LAN.

 

What is the reason the gateway AP is not sending traffic down the LAN port to my switch? I have had to connect the switch to my router, which I suppose is OK, but I thought the Gateway AP could do this.

 

Any idea why the Gateway AP was not allowing loads of devices to connect the last time I turned it on?

 

Is my best option to reset everything to factory and start again? I would like this gear to work as it seems to be very good when I managed to get things to connect. But it does seem to lose connection with my router and then the wifi seems to get messed up and the devices get thrown off.

 

I need to work out if this can be sorted out ASAP as I have another mesh product that I bought this to replace, and that product is close to the end of its return window.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @Andrew_em,

I thought that wireless bridge was a setting that was used where the two APs are purely replacing a ethernet cable and not broadcasting any SSIDs – am I wrong?

No, the wireless bridge function connects two network segments between two mesh APs.

So should I configure the Gateway AP to have smart mesh enabled and wireless bridge disabled, the Mesh AP to have both smart mesh AND wireless bridge enabled, and the Office AP to have only wireless bridge enabled?

The correct configuration should be:

1. Gateway AP enables smart mesh as a root AP.
2. Mesh AP enables smart mesh as a mesh/repeater AP and enables wireless bridge.
3. Office AP doesn't need to enable smart mesh or wireless bridge(NWA50AX Pro doesn't support it).

What is the reason the gateway AP is not sending traffic down the LAN port to my switch? I have had to connect the switch to my router, which I suppose is OK, but I thought the Gateway AP could do this.

This could be gateway AP port setting, or AP and switch VLAN setting. Please help to check the port setting in Site-wide > Configure > Access points > AP & port settings first.

In addition, you can also connect a PC to the gateway AP's LAN port to check if the LAN port works. I also did a local lab with the same AP model and a web-smart switch. My PC can get IP address and connect to the uplink device/Internet.

Here's my topology: VPN300 ==== NWA130BE ==== XGS1250-12 ===== PC.

Any idea why the Gateway AP was not allowing loads of devices to connect the last time I turned it on?

I need the timestamp and event log to check it. Please enable Zyxel support access and the timestamp so I can help to check.

Is my best option to reset everything to factory and start again? I would like this gear to work as it seems to be very good when I managed to get things to connect. But it does seem to lose connection with my router and then the wifi seems to get messed up and the devices get thrown off.

No, you don't need to factory default the devices. Please ensure the device's configuration status is up to date after you change the configuration.

Andrew_em

Thanks, I have gone through and set up based on your suggestions. I have not yet connected the 50AX Pro as I want to see if the main mesh is stable.

I have allowed support access. I tried the lan connection on the main gateway AP to my unmanaged switch between 10pm and 10:15pm GMT and it didn't seem to get an IP.

Any help there would be appreciated.

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @Andrew_em,

I tried the lan connection on the main gateway AP to my unmanaged switch between 10pm and 10:15pm GMT and it didn't seem to get an IP.

Do you mean the unmanaged switch can't get an IP? Since it doesn't have a management interface/VLAN, it won't have an IP address, whether static or DHCP.

If you mean a PC connected to the unmanaged switch, you can have a simple test directly connecting the PC to the gateway AP's LAN port. If the PC can't get a DHCP IP address, please check your router's DHCP server setting and the DHCP pool.

Andrew_em

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/75595#Comment_75595

First, thanks for your helpful posts! I think I am nearly there!

my mistake. I meant the devices connected to the switch didn’t see the internet. I’ll try that suggestion.

Almost everything seems ok now, but my MacBook Air will not connect.

The WiFi MAC address is 32:ee:c7:d7:ba:40 and the WiFi indicator has a ‘!’ Covering it.

This is fairly critical to solve, if you could take a look and let me know. The first connection attempt was 7:38.

I’ve just forgotten the wifi network in system settings and rebooted the MacBook and retried at 7:55. Still unable to connect.

The iphone attempted to connect at 8:12. It’s MAC address is 6E:E0:3A:9D:FF:AC

Zyxel_Melen

Hi @Andrew_em,

Thanks for your feedback. I will check the event log. Before that, may I know which MacBook Air is it? This question is that I want to check the WiFi adaptor.

Andrew_em

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/75619#Comment_75619

it’s a MacBook Air 13” bought in sept 2021.

13-inch MacBook Air - Space Grey
Pickup Date: TomorrowCheck-in Window: 16:15 - 16:30
With the following configuration:Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU, 7‑core GPU and 16‑core Neural Engine8GB unified memory256GB SSD storageRetina display with True ToneBacklit Magic Keyboard - BritishTouch ID

The iPhone is a 12 - it was connected earlier then I had to disconnect to try to reconnect a smart device. Once I had done that it wouldn’t connect again.

Andrew_em

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/75619#Comment_75619

now my work laptop can’t connect. At 9:14 I connected but it’s saying connected with no internet access.

This is fairly critical. If I can’t work then I can’t use this equipment.

MAC address of laptop (surface laptop)

50:28:4A:6A:ED:18.

This laptop is a corporate issued one so everything is locked down.

I’ve never had it unable to connect to wifi before!!

help!! Please