I have an older Balance 5163 router (it’s working GREAT), I am wondering if any recommendations to add AP’s
I’d like to add a couple Peplink Pepwave AP as a cost effective solution.
Thoughts?
Hey there
Great you’re enjoying your Balance router!
There’s a few models to choose from, so perhaps better to identify what you’re actually looking to cover? House? Warehouse? Building?
Wi-Fi - Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi for any environment.
Personally my favourite is the AP One AX, but if you need more or less coverage the Lite or the Pro might be better suited.
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Well this has turned out to be a disaster, I purchased the One X mini as a test and have been unable to add it to the Balance Controller, I did open a ticket and in all honesty it has to be the worst support I have received in over 20 years in the technology industry.
Having invested in Peplink and mostly happy with the performance, this was the first ticket I have needed to open and despite the investment I can NOT have something that when there is an issue you guys hide under a rock.
Looks like Peplink is no longer the solution for me.
There’s something wrong there. Adding an AP (or more than one) to a router that has a built-in controller is trivial and normally “just works.” Can you clarify the exact model name and number of both the router and the AP you have? And, which firmware versions for both? (In particular, I am interested in the router which you describe as a “Balance 5163.”)
Normally the procedure is: Connect the AP to the LAN switch of the router or to a POE switch. Reset the AP (not always required, particularly if the device is factory new.) Configure the AP via the router’s GUI starting at AP | AP |AP Controller and working down the menu on the left side of your GUI.
Let us know, please.
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Thanks for the suggestion, yes, I have tried this with no success,
interestingly I get this error when that is set:
The AP seems to ignore the DHCP option and just gets an IP and acts as a stand alone AP:
Any thoughts much appreciated
Hi, @jeffrr
Please… Are you getting a support from Peplink team?
Why your RA (Remote Assistance) is enable?
Also…
Please… register the serial number of your device at IC2 (Incontrol)… doing this… the message about "not been added to any organization " will stop.
I don’t remember all screens at AC mini… but… I don’t remember to have so many options, like a standard peplink balance. MY ap_one_ent, don’t have Advanced tab.
CAPWAP? Why you configure this at your extended dhcp option?
Peplink (APs and controllers) , don’t need this kind of configuration.
Do you have AP from another vendor? CISCO, ARUBA, TP-LINK, etc…
About dhcp…
AC mini is a standard / standalone AP.
Please… look at your Peplink Balance…
Do you have a screen like this?
Dashboard > AP > AP Controller
Maybe your Peplink balance don’t have Integrated AP…
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I have opened a ticket but and was told to enable remote assistance on both the AP and the Balance router.
The ticket is in “Awaiting owner feedback” for 5 days despite several responses and questions on what feedback they require.
CAPWAP? Why you configure this at your extended dhcp option? -
this is automatically configured on the Balance router when you enable the AP
controller
Do you have AP from another vendor? CISCO, ARUBA, TP-LINK, etc… NO
The Balance router does have the AP controller
No words…
It is correct…
and… you can ping (system / ping ) your APs from Balance…
and ping your Balance from APs?
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Which Balance router is it specifically? The number you’re giving is probably part of the serial number, not the type. And which firmware version are you running on the Balance router?
If it is an older Balance firmware, newer AP firmwares might not work.
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Oh and thank you for your help, at least you are trying to help unlike the support ticket that continues to languish.
Hi… @jeffrr
Guy… look the firmware!!! 6.3.4 ?!? Too… tooo… tooo… old!
Why you not upgrade it?
8.4.1s032 is very stable version!
Ohh, God… you have hardware one! You cannot upgrade it!
This is the explanation, why your AP are not working!
You controller cannot manage your APs… because the APs are in firmware version up to date… but you balance it is not!
only the OLD APs will be recognize buy you bpl-305.
Like the ap one 300m.
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The Balance 305 is quite old (as you mentioned) and I see you have the last FW available for HW1 – 6.3.4. I must wonder if there are issues with this ancient FW, particularly in communicaetion with today’s APs running current FW – a lot has changed since 6.3.4.
Perhaps you can post the ticket # here and let us know what the folks at Peplink say about this?
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Hi, @jeffrr
The last update… 6.3.5s020
Peplink Balance 305hw1/380hw1-5/580hw1/710hw1-2/1350hw1
https://download.peplink.com/firmware/plb700/fw-b305_380_580_710_1350-6.3.5s020-build3648.bin
But… just to keep your bpl-305 hw1 up to date… This update will not solve the issue with ap ac mini or ap one enterprise or other new AP.
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ticket 25010554
this is the latest from the ticket support
Hi Jeff,
Please remove the AP from the switch and connect it directly to the Balance device. I suspect there is a loop in the network switch.
Kind regards,
I am no expert but this makes absolutely zero sense, given that (a) it is getting an IP from the router and (b) traffic from the AP is routed in and out of the router to the Internet
I can try this, although when I click the “Check for Firmware” Button, it returns “No Update Available”. Are we sure manually updating the firmware won’t cause any issues ??
Sure…
It is a " extra " firmware with edns corrections.
Peplink Balance 305hw1/380hw1-5/580hw1/710hw1-2/1350hw1
You can check about this firmware, here:
I use it at MFA-380… Just a lot of years, more old then yours bpl-305.
Because this… You need to download the file from the post and upload to your device.
Also… Peplink has a protection system… that deny you to upload a firmware that not belongs to your device.
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