I just received and configured a Peplink Balance 20 dual wan router. I have successfully configured many static IP routers in the past, but the Peplink will not broadcast the SSIDs I created. The SSIDs are both enabled for broadcast. When connect by ethernet cable to the laptop, I have access to the internet, but upon disconnection from the laptop, it is incommunicado. The status light is green, and the ISP cables attached to the WAN ports of the router show active input. No matter what I do, I do not see the SSIDs. After much frustration the first time, I did a factory reset and started over. Same result.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Do you suppose there are no SSIDs broadcast because the Balance 20 does not contain an access point? Do you have an AP connected to the B20?
Seriously? There is no AP in the Balance 20? If so, I am very surprised that isn’t prominently noted in the ads and user manual. I was actually thinking before that I might set up an AP to solve the problem, but I thought that was a crazy workaround thing to have to do.
Yes. Seriously. The Balance 20 has an excellent AP controller built-in. However, as is the case of most of Peplink’s Balance series routers, there is no internal AP. Rather, Peplink allows the owner to place APs where they are needed – which is very often not in the same location as the router.
One may compare Peplink’s Balance series of routers here and the spec sheet for your device is here. There is no deception here – the spec sheet is clear that this model does not include an AP. (One may note the model 20X has a similar name but is a very different product; the latter has a built-in AP.) A comparison of APs may be found here.
OK, well, I learned something. I bought this from Amazon and would NEVER have done so had I known that it had no internal AP. Now that I look at the Amazon info, it says: Connectivity technology: Wired. I guess that’s what that means.
I was looking to replace my Synology 2600 because the failover doesn’t work very well. I guess I will keep looking. Thanks for your help.
I configured an old Linksys as an AP, connected it to the B20, and the world is good again. The B20 seems to work great. You have to remember that I am a 76 year old retiree living in the southern jungle of Costa Rica, so a lot of these things are a bit beyond my pay grade. For some reason we have 2 pretty fast providers here but they can often go out, and that is why I needed a good dual wan router. The Synology 2600 did not do well, but so far, I am very happy with the B20.
Again, thanks for your help.
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Ok, so you are “on the air.” Good! As a next step you may want to look at the Peplink APs. If you decide to go that route you’ll end up with a nicely integrated solution. You will be able to fully manage the AP via the B20’s GUI. It’ll be about as close to “plug-n-play” as you’ll get. You’ll never have to touch the AP – except to physically connect and position it.
Thanks, Rick. I will take a look.