NWA50AX as repeater, power only over PoE?

musicplace
musicplace Posts: 6  Freshman Member
First Comment Friend Collector
in Wireless

Hi,

I have 2 NWA50AX in simple "Root" and "Repeater" mode. The root is normal PoE, both data and power.

In testing, I could not get the 2nd unit to work as repeater until I removed the PoE/data cable and used the adapter for power. This makes sense if the WiFi connection and the ethernet connection were conflicting somehow.

But in production, I'd rather not have to power the Repeater unit with the power adapter.

What is the best way to use Ethernet cable to get power to the Repeater unit without causing the 2 data paths conflict between wifi and ethernet? Is there a NWA50AX setting? I think my only other option is is using the switch security to mark the port "unauthorized" to kill traffic (or perhaps a layer 2 filter, etc)?

Thanks in advance!

All Replies

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,245  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate
    edited April 29

    Hi @musicplace,

    Once the NWA50AX changes to repeater mode, the Ethernet link status will be down, and the PoE will be on. Therefore, you will get power from the Ethernet cable, but no data traffic will pass through it.

    Zyxel Melen


  • musicplace
    musicplace Posts: 6  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector

    Thanks for your info Zyxel_Melen!

    So, you're saying that it should work just fine to plug in a standard PoE network cable if the NWA50AX is configured in Repeater mode - and it will simply ignore the incoming Ethernet data?

    That's not what happened in my testing - at least, I could not get the Repeater to function unless I disconnected the data cable and plugged in the AC power adapter. Then the device worked great as a Repeater. Is there another configuration option I should check that might cause this behavior?

  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 3,788  Guru Member
    100 Answers 2500 Comments Friend Collector Seventh Anniversary

    So what the problem with just powering the AP Repeater with PoE and don't connect it to the network?

  • musicplace
    musicplace Posts: 6  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector

    I guess that's just ignorance on my part… I don't know how to power it with PoE without connecting it to the network?

  • musicplace
    musicplace Posts: 6  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector
    edited April 28
    https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/77071#Comment_77071

    Oh, I see; you mean just unplug the other end of the cable from the switch & plug it into a PoE injector with no data. Unfortunately, in this scenario the poe power is not coming from an accessible switch in a closet - it's coming from a "PSE" switch in the ceiling that gets PoE++ power from the closet and then distributes PoE+ power to several devices; to remove data from that "source" PoE++ cable would remove it from all devices on that switch.

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,245  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate
    https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/77069#Comment_77069

    Hi @musicplace,

    Thanks for update. May I know if your AP registed to Nebula? If so, the mesh behaviors are different between standalone mode and Nebula mode. My previous comment was from standalone mode.

    For Nebula mode, you have these methods to power up the repeater AP:

    1. (PoE power up) Connect the repeater AP to a PoE switch which doesn't connect to a gateway to have uplink connection.
    2. (PoE power up) Disable link of the repeater AP connecting port on the switch (If the switch has this option).
    3. (Adapter power up) Remove the Ethernet cable and use the adapter to power up.

    Hope it helps.

    Zyxel Melen


  • musicplace
    musicplace Posts: 6  Freshman Member
    First Comment Friend Collector

    Hi & Thanks again!

    This is standalone; I haven't tried Nebula yet.

    I think I need to retry the PoE option now that the units are in a different environment. If I still don't get the expected results, I'll open a new thread.

    Thanks for your info/patience…

  • PeterUK
    PeterUK Posts: 3,788  Guru Member
    100 Answers 2500 Comments Friend Collector Seventh Anniversary
    edited April 29

    I wonder is someone sells a RJ45 male one end and female the other without the Data lines?

    you could get this and wire only power

    Maxhood RJ45 Screw Terminal, RJ45 Male to 8 Pin Screw Terminal Connector, 8P8C to 8 Pin Ethernet Connector Breakout Board Cable for Cat5 /6/7 Ethernet Extender AV CCTV Network Adapter 12inch : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

    Or a switch with ACL to drop all traffic would work

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,245  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate
    https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/comment/77105#Comment_77105

    You can still try these methond for the repeater AP:

    1. (PoE power up) Connect the repeater AP to a PoE switch which doesn't connect to a gateway to have uplink connection.
    2. (PoE power up) Disable link of the repeater AP connecting port on the switch (If the switch has this option).
    3. (Adapter power up) Remove the Ethernet cable and use the adapter to power up.
    Zyxel Melen


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