December 5, 2021: Difference between revisions
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{{dc|O}}{{start|ur trusty AirPort Extreme has served us well for years,}} but it’s showing its age. I think we could have kept using it a bit longer, but it’s started acting a bit quirky, so I decided to preemptively replace it and tweak the network at the same time. | {{dc|O}}{{start|ur trusty AirPort Extreme has served us well for years,}} but it’s showing its age. I think we could have kept using it a bit longer, but it’s started acting a bit quirky, so I decided to preemptively replace it and tweak the network at the same time. | ||
So, with the success of the travel router build, I decided to get a router/wireless access point that could run OpenWrt. After a bit of reading, I decided upon the [https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/archer_a7_v5#hardware TP-Link Archer A7 v5]. It’s relatively cheap [https://amzn.to/331cW2N on Amazon], compared especially to the Apple base station I’m replacing. I set it up with the stock firmware, and it ran pretty good. I waffled a bit on flashing it, but most of my online reading and viewing convinced me to just make the upgrade. | So, with the success of the [[November 25, 2021|travel router build]], I decided to get a router/wireless access point that could run OpenWrt. After a bit of reading, I decided upon the [https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/archer_a7_v5#hardware TP-Link Archer A7 v5]. It’s relatively cheap [https://amzn.to/331cW2N on Amazon], compared especially to the Apple base station I’m replacing. I set it up with the stock firmware, and it ran pretty good. I waffled a bit on flashing it, but most of my online reading and viewing convinced me to just make the upgrade. | ||
This morning was time. The web-based flash did not work, so I had to use the TFTP method. My old iMac running Mojave had one built-in, and the process was pretty easy following [https://www.wirelessphreak.com/2016/07/using-built-in-tftp-server-on-os-x-el.html this guy’s minimalist how-to]. The only indication I had that it was working were the LEDs on the front of the router. The power light blinked as the firmware was installed, then after a couple of minutes, the LAN port I was plugged into lit up. No wireless connections were possible at first, so I had to manually assign an IP to my iMac to connect to LuCI. Bam, I was in. A quick flash to the current version of OpenWrt, and then I had my wireless connections up in a couple of minutes. | This morning was time. The web-based flash did not work, so I had to use the TFTP method. My old iMac running Mojave had one built-in, and the process was pretty easy following [https://www.wirelessphreak.com/2016/07/using-built-in-tftp-server-on-os-x-el.html this guy’s minimalist how-to]. The only indication I had that it was working were the LEDs on the front of the router. The power light blinked as the firmware was installed, then after a couple of minutes, the LAN port I was plugged into lit up. No wireless connections were possible at first, so I had to manually assign an IP to my iMac to connect to LuCI. Bam, I was in. A quick flash to the current version of OpenWrt, and then I had my wireless connections up in a couple of minutes. | ||
Revision as of 05:34, 7 December 2021
New Network
Our trusty AirPort Extreme has served us well for years, but it’s showing its age. I think we could have kept using it a bit longer, but it’s started acting a bit quirky, so I decided to preemptively replace it and tweak the network at the same time.
So, with the success of the travel router build, I decided to get a router/wireless access point that could run OpenWrt. After a bit of reading, I decided upon the TP-Link Archer A7 v5. It’s relatively cheap on Amazon, compared especially to the Apple base station I’m replacing. I set it up with the stock firmware, and it ran pretty good. I waffled a bit on flashing it, but most of my online reading and viewing convinced me to just make the upgrade.
This morning was time. The web-based flash did not work, so I had to use the TFTP method. My old iMac running Mojave had one built-in, and the process was pretty easy following this guy’s minimalist how-to. The only indication I had that it was working were the LEDs on the front of the router. The power light blinked as the firmware was installed, then after a couple of minutes, the LAN port I was plugged into lit up. No wireless connections were possible at first, so I had to manually assign an IP to my iMac to connect to LuCI. Bam, I was in. A quick flash to the current version of OpenWrt, and then I had my wireless connections up in a couple of minutes.
I had a bit of configuring to do, but I look forward to putting this guy through his paces over the next few days.
