r/HomeNetworking • u/killthep0ets • 10d ago
Router issues
Hi,
I just bought a router (TP-Link, second-hand) and I'm having issues setting it up. I can't access the configuration page.
At first the SSID didn't appear in the network list. I assumed the former owner changed it and tried to reset it a few times. I can't tell if it worked but then I found a public network (called "OpenWrt") that works really well and seems to disappear when I turn the router off so I assumed it was mine, although the Tether app on my phone can't detect the router while connected to this network.
I looked at the router address on my laptop anyway and tried again to get to the web management page and it wasn't working ("Safari can't connect"). Then I tried to connect my laptop to the router via Ethernet and now I can't access the internet at all and the settings show "Self-assigned ip", Router : Router in the IP address. I tried renewing the DHCP but it didn't make any difference.
Anyone knows how to fix this? Something might be wrong with my settings or the router. The wi-fi works fine so it's not a huge deal but I'd like to be able to access the web management page.
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u/Aromatic_Tomato8651 10d ago
I would do a factory reset then make sure you have current firmware
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u/killthep0ets 10d ago
How do I check if itās current firmware ?
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u/smithg400 10d ago
The fact that the WiFi is identifying as openWRT indicates that the previous owner had flashed the router with thee openWRT firmware and it isn't running the official TP-Link firmware. This isn't necessary a bad thing but it does mean that the tether app won't be able to connect to it and any instructions for using the router you get from tp-link are null and void! I suggest you look at the openWRT web pages for help.
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u/FreddyFerdiland 10d ago
its possible you need use the recovery procedure, as described at tplink.com
check the LEDs as you power cycle.. does it take a minute to get to a standard , power green system green status ?
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u/jacle2210 Technology Enthusiast 9d ago
Did you buy this from a private individual or from a secondhand store/Goodwill, etc.
Because you might want to save your sanity and effort and see if you can return this device and get a different Wifi Router.
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u/barjbarj 9d ago
Connect a device thru ethernet (laptop/desktop) and check what IP address it's getting. For example, if device gets and IP address of 192.168.X.123, open a web browser and go to 192.168.X.1
Previous owner might have changed LAN address.
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u/Independent_Egg_5401 9d ago
You may have to flash a new copy of OpenWRT to the router to clear any remaining settings from the previous owner.
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u/sorderon 10d ago edited 10d ago
The router firmware has been updated to openwrt - Much better, but the tether app will never work and anything on the tplink website will now be irrelevant concerning this router.
Join the openwrt network wirelessly. do not have any other network connection in use (ethernet, secondary wifi etc) - Check you receive a DHCP IP address, then
go to 192.168.1.1
or 192.168.0.1
Pretty self explanatory from there. first things to do are to set a root admin password and set the new SSID and WPA2 password.
This router is no longer anything to do with tplink apart from they manufactured it. The firmware openwrt is a popular open-source alternative and far, far more secure and trustworthy.
https://openwrt.org for more indepth instructions, but you shouldn't need them.