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#21
You have to configure both your AP and your router. Both should have IPs on the same network, but the AP's must be static. I don't think your router will accept an address outside the DHCP range, so you'll have to reserve one within.
Since you said you set the router's address back, the AP should be visible to it (but it's address has sinced changed).
Connect the AP and some computer to the router's LAN ports.
Open a command prompt window. Type IPCONFIG and use the Default Gateway address to browse to your router's configuration page.
Go to Setup (Top) / Network Settings (Left)
Verify that your computer and the AP appear in the Number of Dynamic DHCP Clients table.
If they don't, stop right there and tell me.
Click on Reserve at the end of the line showing your AP in the table. Verify an address reservation has effectively been made for it.
In the router configuration tab, click on Save Settings.
Browse (in a new tab) to the AP configuration page using the IP address you've just reserved (You said that you knew the credentials). Make a note of:
The 802.11 Mode option (N, G, B)
The SSID
The channel number if not set to auto.
Since I don't know your AP, you'll have to find out where to go by yourself.
In the router configuration browser tab, go to Setup (top) / Wireless Settings (left).
Check that the 802.11 Mode option is the same as/compatible with your AP's.
Enable Auto Channel Scan: No on both devices.
Wireless channel: Ensure channel separation by using a different one for the router and the AP. 6 for the router and 1 or 11 for the AP are common in NorthAm. If you live in a WiFi crowded neighbourhood, you should ideally use some site-survey software to select the less crowded, or showing the weaker signals, channels.
Wireless Network Name: Using the same SSID is better for seamless roaming, but most wireless clients tend to stick with the first AP they find. Your security settings should then be the same on both devices.
With different SSIDs you can select the one you want to connect to. Moreover you should see both the AP and your wireless router in the list of available connections.
Even if you don't have to here, I'd suggest to keep the same security settings on both devices.
Wireless Security Settings: Security mode and passphrase must be set on both devices.
Do not forget to save settings before leaving a page.
Before leaving, ensure that you've changed the password from the default to access each device, and save the configuration in a file (Tools / System).
Save and reboot (Tools / System / Reboot).
Restart every device wired to the router and the AP.
Check the configurations by browsing to them (You'll have to enter the credentials again).
Try connecting wirelessly to the AP using the SSID and passphrase you set.
Since Canadians are known to be good with apologies :), I hope you'll accept mines for creating such a mess by telling you to reset instead of reboot your router. I guess drinking and browsing don't go well together.
Et voila, you're now ready to buy a new router and do it all over again (except for the AP part)....
Let's hope the homegroup is now fully functional. Who knows?
P.S. Don't throw away the D-Link. You can always use it as backup or as an AP, a range extender or a switch.
Last edited by mQ573; 22 Apr 2017 at 17:24.