TP Link routers not working with my macs

[wolf1025]

I have now purchased two TP link Wi-Fi routers to use for my home network, which is exclusively Apple products. Mac mini, MacBook Pro times two, iPhones iPads etc. When the first one didn't work I figured it was a faulty product, so I bought another different one, same deal. Here's what's happening: it boots up fine, Connects with the modem, all the right lights are on but none of my devices will recognize the network. I monkeyed with the last one for about an hour and a half and finally after restarting it a dozen times got it to register but the next day after it had rebooted (it's on a timer to turn off at night) I had the same problem and just bailed. Now the second unit isn't connecting either, and I can't imagine that this is a thing with all Apple products and TP link router's, otherwise they would be 5000 articles on it. Does anybody have any experience or advice with this particular issue? Thanks in advance.

models: C3150, AC1750. Running Catalina and Big Sur, as well as up to date iOs.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I have a TP-Link Archer A20 and RE450 repeater in a largely Apple household. This set of devices replaced an Apple Extreme Base Station and Apple Express setup previously.

I've had no issues with any of my devices from Macs, iPhones, Apple Watches, Xbox, PS4, TVs, Echo, Nest, etc.

Are you using the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz networks? Are the firmwares up to date?

 

[wolf1025]

it wont recognize either 2.4 or the 5ghz signal. I need to connect to it manually and see if its a firmware issue, but I can tell you that when I was finally able to connect to my previous TP link router and look at the dashboard, everything was up-to-date. But still it wasn't connecting. Also when I would restart them they would take a really long time to come online like almost 10 minutes. Both this and the other one

 

[krs]

Three things I would try:
1. Check if your Macs see any WiFi network. I always see at least three or four others.
2. Check Network Diagnostics - that will not only show you which WiFi networks the Mac sees but also their signal strength and noise level
3. And if that gets you nowhere, contact TP-Link support

 

[wolf1025]

I have done 1 and 2. I see a bunch of wireless networks from my neighborhood. When I check network diagnostics, nothing comes up for the TP link device.

Im gonna try TP links chat support tonight before I give up completely and buy another router of a different brand, since it seems that should have nothing to do with it.

 

[krs]

It sure looks as if at least the WiFi portion of the TP-Link router does not work.
Do you have an Ethernet cable to connect that between the router and one of the Macs with an Ethernet port to see if the TP-Link router works at all?

 

[wolf1025]

Yes, I have an adapter and can connect to it via ethernet. I may try that to suss it out before i contact their support. But the weird thing is that all the lights on the router are functioning properly and indicate the Wi-Fi is working, I just can't see it with any of my devices

 

[krs]

But the weird thing is that all the lights on the router are functioning properly and indicate the Wi-Fi is working, I just can't see it with any of my devices

The light on the router being on that "WiFi is working" doesn't necessarily mean that WiFi is actually working. Depends where in the circuit the input to that light was picked up. I'm pretty sure it would not be driven by the actual WiFi signal from the router.
If WiFi diagnostics on the Mac show the frequency, channels, signal strength and noise threshold of other WiFi networks in the neighbourhood but nothing for your TP-Link router, I would think the problem is definitely with the router, not your other equipment.

 

[wolf1025]

The light on the router being on that "WiFi is working" doesn't necessarily mean that WiFi is actually working. Depends where in the circuit the input to that light was picked up. I'm pretty sure it would not be driven by the actual WiFi signal from the router.
If WiFi diagnostics on the Mac show the frequency, channels, signal strength and noise threshold of other WiFi networks in the neighbourhood but nothing for your TP-Link router, I would think the problem is definitely with the router, not your other equipment.

I would also, but what is the likelihood of getting two new/refurbished units, same brand, different models.. that all the lights are functioning on but are actually DOA? I don't know, I think I'll know more after I monkey with it a bit further and try to contact the tech support

 

[krs]

Are they refurbished or are they new?
If refurbished, who did the work? The factory or some third organization?
In the end it depends how a refurbisher does the final test - maybe they just turned the router on, saw all the lights come up and decided everything was fixed.

 

[wolf1025]

the first was off eBay, refurbished by an unknown entity, but the seller had a ton of feedback and almost perfect rating, so I trusted it. The second one was NIB.

 

[krs]

It is odd that you end up with two of them not working.
Just looking at your first post again -you said:

none of my devices will recognize the network

Does that mean the network name shows in WiFi on the Mac but the Mac cannot connect to it?
or does it mean the network name doesn't even show up - ie there is no WiFi signal from that router at all that the Mac sees.

 

[lclev]

If you can's "see" the tp-link router have you tried accessing it's setup menu to see if it is broadcasting an SSID? If the SSID is hidden you will not see it which can make accessing it a problem. You should be able to do this on a computer connected with an ethernet cable. The ip address is possibly something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.or 192.168.0.254. Default login is admin and password is admin. Open a browser and type in one of the IP addresses and see if it answers.

Also refurbished is a word I would not want to see attached to my router. There was a reason they needed refurbishing. This also means TP-Link support might not be of help. You might try resetting the router to default settings. Here is a link on how to do it: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/497/

I has a router die at work during the height of COVID and had to fall back on a Walmart purchase. I picked up a TP-Link Archer AX1800 ($89). I am now running two servers and a whole bunch of computers on a 26 port Cisco switch plus a huge number of wireless connections (especially on Sundays ). And we stream to Facebook twice a week. All of this through that router. We have multiple Apple devices that all connect to it or through our access points.

If nothing works, I suggest a new router - not refurbished - and READ THE DIRECTIONS when you set it up. I always use manual as I want it my way and I hate the "easy" wizards they tend to include.

Lisa

 

[wolf1025]

It is odd that you end up with two of them not working.
Just looking at your first post again -you said:

Does that mean the network name shows in WiFi on the Mac but the Mac cannot connect to it?
or does it mean the network name doesn't even show up - ie there is no WiFi signal from that router at all that the Mac sees.

The network name doesn't even show up/there is no signal from that router that my Mac products see

 

[wolf1025]

If you can's "see" the tp-link router have you tried accessing it's setup menu to see if it is broadcasting an SSID? If the SSID is hidden you will not see it which can make accessing it a problem. You should be able to do this on a computer connected with an ethernet cable. The ip address is possibly something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.or 192.168.0.254. Default login is admin and password is admin. Open a browser and type in one of the IP addresses and see if it answers.

Also refurbished is a word I would not want to see attached to my router. There was a reason they needed refurbishing. This also means TP-Link support might not be of help. You might try resetting the router to default settings. Here is a link on how to do it: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/497/

I has a router die at work during the height of COVID and had to fall back on a Walmart purchase. I picked up a TP-Link Archer AX1800 ($89). I am now running two servers and a whole bunch of computers on a 26 port Cisco switch plus a huge number of wireless connections (especially on Sundays ). And we stream to Facebook twice a week. All of this through that router. We have multiple Apple devices that all connect to it or through our access points.

If nothing works, I suggest a new router - not refurbished - and READ THE DIRECTIONS when you set it up. I always use manual as I want it my way and I hate the "easy" wizards they tend to include.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa, this is good advice, I'm going to try to connect via ethernet tonight and see if I can suss it out any better. I don't generally love refurbished electronics, but I was trying not to spend 200 bucks on a quality router. Sounds like you found a good one for $90, but I haven't had a lot of luck with this brand as of yet. Previous Asus, and Netgear router's have been seamless, but I was wanting better performance and better range

 

[MacInWin]

(it's on a timer to turn off at night)

Why? Just leave it on all the time. It could be that turning it off by pulling the power is causing it to reset to factory, requiring you to have to reconnect it again every time. Just leave it plugged in and running.

 

[krs]

You should be able to do this on a computer connected with an ethernet cable. The ip address is possibly something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.or 192.168.0.254. Default login is admin and password is admin. Open a browser and type in one of the IP addresses and see if it answers.

The IP address of the router should be printed on the name plate at the bottom of the unit - so is the default login and password

 

[lclev]

While I agree that turning it off is not necessary but it should never reset the router when you turn it back on. I can attest to that given the number of power outages I have at my house when the battery backup finally dies! But I do know some feel the need to turn them off at the wifi can give some people problems sleeping - or so claims my girlfriend....

Lisa

 

[MacInWin]

@Lisa, I think one of his devices might be a router, but the other should be a repeater. No reason to get two routers, as they could conflict unless one was put in a bridge mode only. TP-LINK reuses model numbers for both routers and extenders/repeaters, so it's not easy to tell from what Wolf 1025 has given us. I tried TP-Link extenders but stopped using the because if the repeater ever lost connection, it had to be completely setup again to get back working. That seems to be what Wolf is seeing, so I jumped to a conclusion.

Wolf, can you describe the network a bit? Are you using two routers with one in bridge mode, or is it one router and one repeater/extender? Is the router connecting to your ISP directly, or did the ISP provide a router, and if so, is that router in bridge mode?

 

[lclev]

Well it is a bit confusing as I see TP-Link has a router and range extender with the model number of AC1750. That makes it clear as mud! I took the information Wolf1025 provided to mean two different routers had been tried.

At work I have a modem for the fiber optic service and it connects to the TP-Link router which then links to the 26 port Cisco switch and that branches out to various computers and wireless AP's. So when Wolf1025 says modem that is what springs to my mind. SO we could use some more details!

I am not a fan of repeaters as they tend to loose connections, loose settings and when they are connected have slow speeds.

Lisa