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Network Help (Ubiquiti Access Points)

Posted on 1/3/25 at 4:23 pm
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 4:23 pm
Hi all. I'm having some problems with my home network and could use some help. Sorry for text wall, but I'm not a network guy and will try to provide as much detail as I can.

Spectrum is our service provider and we've got their1 gig internet plan. A couple of weeks ago, my wife was having problems connecting to WiFi on her work computer. She spoke with her IT department and their conclusion was that it was an ISP issue. We called Spectrum and a tech came out and determined that our router needed to be replaced to accommodate the 1 gig plan, but she didn't think that was causing the connectivity issue. FWIW, we reset the old router/modem right before the router was replaced, and my wife was able to connect. In any case, the Spectrum tech replaced the router because we were only getting like 400mbps and we pay for a gig. The new router upped our speeds significantly.

Our network includes the Spectrum router and modem in a central tech closet. We have three Ubiquiti U6 lite access points throughout the house/garage, and a Linksys router in our outside area which acts a relay/extender. The access points are POE and the linksys router is hardwired with CAT6. Prior to the tech replacing the router, we had no connectivity issues except for my wife's computer, and everything was functioning as it should. WiFi signal was very strong throughout the house and in our outside area.

After the router was replaced, the access points were still connected to the original network. In other words, if you pulled up the wifi network access settings on a device, it would show both the old network (XXX-01), and the new network (XXX-44). You could connect to either, but the old network didn't provide internet connectivity. We also noticed that the farther reaches of the house were not getting internet connection, so I figured it had something to do with the access points.

After speaking with the IT guy that installed the network, I reset the Ubiquiti access points to try to get them to forget the old (XXX-01) network and adopt the new (XXX-44) network. Now, I'm unable to connect to any of the access points. All three of them show up on the app and indicate that they're "ready for setup," but when I try to connect to them to get them to adopt the network, I get the "Cannot Reach AP" message. I've tried to reset them all numerous times.

The linksys router relays the connection outside fine, but for some reason, these access points have stopped working. It may be a long shot, but does anybody with network experience have any ideas? I'm at my wits end here and need to get this resolved, because half my house's smart features aren't functioning because of the lack of connectivity. Ubiquiti was no help, FWIW.

Thanks in advance.

This post was edited on 1/3/25 at 4:24 pm
Posted by gpburdell
ATL
Member since Jun 2015
1551 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 5:04 pm to
How are the APs connected to the router?

If done correctly, you should be able keep your existing wifi ssid (XXX-01).

Also since you have APs, ideally you should disable the wifi on the Spectrum router to reduce interference.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
9948 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 5:06 pm to
quote:

She spoke with her IT department and their conclusion was that it was an ISP issue


quote:

Prior to the tech replacing the router, we had no connectivity issues except for my wife's computer


This is lazy as shite troubleshooting on their part, and now you have a proper mess. So we've got thermostats, light bulbs, TVs, phones, etc., all working fine, but the laptop they're pushing group policy updates to, running various types of software (updates, data loss prevention, security software,) and the problem is the ISP.

I have no experience with Ubiquiti, and hope others will chime in, but BS troubleshooting like that is maddening.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 5:36 pm to
quote:


How are the APs connected to the router?


The APs are connected to the router via POE through a switch.

I think it may be too late to keep the original WiFi SSID just because they've been reset.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 5:36 pm to
quote:

but the laptop they're pushing group policy updates to, running various types of software (updates, data loss prevention, security software,) and the problem is the ISP


Yes, I agree. Unfortunately that's water under the bridge at this point. It is maddening.
Posted by TAMU-93
Sachse, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1071 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 5:55 pm to
It sounds like you are setting these AP up via the mobile app in stand alone mode. With three APs, you really should be running the network controller.

Anyway, the mobile app does the initial configuration through bluetooth. So you'll need bluetooth turned on. The app will need bluetooth and location services permissions. And you'll have to be very near the device you are configuring.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 6:16 pm to
I've got the UniFi software on my computer as well. I tried to download the controller (Mac OS) but my computer won't recognize the file. That said, when I open the UniFi controller app in my browser, I can see all 3 access points. When I click "Adopt," it won't complete and I get this prompt on all three. The "Click to Resolve" prompt brings me to a troubleshooting list which basically walks me through resetting the APs.

Posted by TAMU-93
Sachse, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1071 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 6:37 pm to
And how are you resetting the APs? Are you holding down the physical reset button for 10 seconds? And is the AP powered on while you're doing this?
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 6:37 pm to
Yep - holding down reset button for 10+ seconds. The AP powers on and off and then resets. AP remains connected to POE while resetting.
Posted by s14suspense
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
15111 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 6:48 pm to
FWIW I run the controller software on an old arse 2011ish plastic MacBook that’s hardwired to a unifi switch.

Can you factory reset your whole system almost? Forget everything and start over.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 6:52 pm to
I could try that - not really sure how though.

When running the controller, do you run the UniFi app too? I've got the UniFi app and when I open it, I manage it in my browser. When I download the "controller" itself, it's a .bin file and my Mac won't recognize it to open it.
Posted by s14suspense
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
15111 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 6:56 pm to
Yeah, it’s just the app that pops up a window to manage in browser.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 7:17 pm to
I think I just resolved the issue. I noticed awhile back that my BBQ thermometer wasn't connecting to our outside network. The outside network is named "pool," but it is basically just a relay through a Linksys router that is hardwired to the main Spectrum router. I read online that multiple routers in a network may cause interference with each other, so I unplugged that router and my thermometer had no issue then connecting to the main network.

I just unplugged the outside router and the access points immediately connected. Do you guys have any idea why this may be the case? Should Iook into some other option out there?
Posted by s14suspense
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
15111 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 7:21 pm to
No clue. Thought about that somewhat that it was weird you had an extra lynksis router on the network but I’m with you and I don’t see why it couldn’t work. Get rid of it for now, and see if it’s still needed and if so, find a Unifi solution for the pool area.
Posted by TAMU-93
Sachse, TX
Member since Oct 2012
1071 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 7:29 pm to
Both routers are running DHCP. They are assigning IP addresses in different subnets. Turn off DHCP on the linksys router. Better yet, replace that router with another U6 lite.

Edit: Google how to configure your specific router for AP Mode.
This post was edited on 1/3/25 at 7:39 pm
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5771 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 8:47 pm to
Appreciate all of the help/insight
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