08-25-2023, 03:54 PM
That's how long it took me to add a new WiFi point to our home WiFi network!
(Note that I still really like our Synology network, but...)
We added the SimpliSafe home security system, but our prior network of Synology rt2600ac router on the third floor and mt2200ac router on the first floor didn't have quite enough oomph to reach the basement door camera.
Extension options were: buy a 2200ac for the basement, or buy another 2600ac and run it in WiFi point mode. Turns out used 2600ac's are significantly less expensive on eBay, so I picked one up on ebay for about $50.
But it turns out that to use a 2600ac as a WiFI point, you have to upgrade the firmware on the main router (our old 2600ac) from 1.2.5 to 1.3.1. And the wizard will do that only if you already have a mesh network running.
No problem, thinks I-we already have a mesh-we have decent coverage in our liviring room, and I can see the green LED telling me that it's working.
But the wizard tells that there's a problem with the 2200ac.Turns out the green LED has been lying all these years-we've been running off the 3rd floor router, No problem, thinks i-I'll turn it off and back on, maybe in the worst case do a rest, and Bob's your uncle!
An hour and multiple reset attempts later, trying to connect both by WiFi and ethernet, and following extensive Googling, the 2200 continues to cycle through a series of LED colors, always ending in the red LED of death.
Hmm, says I. Maybe if I can manually upgrade the firmware, I can reach the 2200ac. So I download the firmware, go into the wizard, and click on the upgrade button. Nothing. I try again. Nothing. I try again, with 5 different versions of the upgrade firmware. Nothing.
Much gnashing of teeth, and ignoring of family. Ok, it's time to pull out the big guns-time to hard reset the main router-surely that's the problem! And I have the settings all backed up, so I can just do a 3 minute restore after the hard reset.
The hard reset goes fine, but it doesn't solve the freaking problem- I still can't upgrade the firmware. And, pouring salt on the wound, I can't restore the settings-none of my carefully crafted security and prioritization settings are showing up.
ARRGGGGHHHH! Much more gnashing of teeth, and now, venting to family. Deep breath, what am I missing?
I decided to try two things simultaneously, given the absolute absence of any useful information via Google or Synology's own website. First, I switch to Firefox from Safari. I mean, it couldn't hurt, right? Second, I logged in as administrator. Now, to be clear, I've done firmware updates before just as a user, but I figured it was worth a try. And it worked! Welcome to the glorious future of 1.3.1 firmware, comrades!
But...it turns out that 1.3.1 cannot reinstall the old settings. So I recreate all the filters (daughter was having a glorious time plowing through social media and shopping websites) and security settings-about another hour.
Then I finally turned on the new used rt2600ac, which is going to go in the living room, and there was a moment of grace--the seller had already upgraded it to the latest firmware. So I took it down to the living room, fiddle with the antennas to make the appearance spouse acceptable, and I was done. Five hours I'll never get back.
(Note that I still really like our Synology network, but...)
We added the SimpliSafe home security system, but our prior network of Synology rt2600ac router on the third floor and mt2200ac router on the first floor didn't have quite enough oomph to reach the basement door camera.
Extension options were: buy a 2200ac for the basement, or buy another 2600ac and run it in WiFi point mode. Turns out used 2600ac's are significantly less expensive on eBay, so I picked one up on ebay for about $50.
But it turns out that to use a 2600ac as a WiFI point, you have to upgrade the firmware on the main router (our old 2600ac) from 1.2.5 to 1.3.1. And the wizard will do that only if you already have a mesh network running.
No problem, thinks I-we already have a mesh-we have decent coverage in our liviring room, and I can see the green LED telling me that it's working.
But the wizard tells that there's a problem with the 2200ac.Turns out the green LED has been lying all these years-we've been running off the 3rd floor router, No problem, thinks i-I'll turn it off and back on, maybe in the worst case do a rest, and Bob's your uncle!
An hour and multiple reset attempts later, trying to connect both by WiFi and ethernet, and following extensive Googling, the 2200 continues to cycle through a series of LED colors, always ending in the red LED of death.
Hmm, says I. Maybe if I can manually upgrade the firmware, I can reach the 2200ac. So I download the firmware, go into the wizard, and click on the upgrade button. Nothing. I try again. Nothing. I try again, with 5 different versions of the upgrade firmware. Nothing.
Much gnashing of teeth, and ignoring of family. Ok, it's time to pull out the big guns-time to hard reset the main router-surely that's the problem! And I have the settings all backed up, so I can just do a 3 minute restore after the hard reset.
The hard reset goes fine, but it doesn't solve the freaking problem- I still can't upgrade the firmware. And, pouring salt on the wound, I can't restore the settings-none of my carefully crafted security and prioritization settings are showing up.
ARRGGGGHHHH! Much more gnashing of teeth, and now, venting to family. Deep breath, what am I missing?
I decided to try two things simultaneously, given the absolute absence of any useful information via Google or Synology's own website. First, I switch to Firefox from Safari. I mean, it couldn't hurt, right? Second, I logged in as administrator. Now, to be clear, I've done firmware updates before just as a user, but I figured it was worth a try. And it worked! Welcome to the glorious future of 1.3.1 firmware, comrades!
But...it turns out that 1.3.1 cannot reinstall the old settings. So I recreate all the filters (daughter was having a glorious time plowing through social media and shopping websites) and security settings-about another hour.
Then I finally turned on the new used rt2600ac, which is going to go in the living room, and there was a moment of grace--the seller had already upgraded it to the latest firmware. So I took it down to the living room, fiddle with the antennas to make the appearance spouse acceptable, and I was done. Five hours I'll never get back.