Use regular port as uplink?

[lakedude]

I have a TPLINK Archer C7 AC1750 wired/wireless router that evidently got lightning hit along with our cable modem and one (but not the other) phone. The cable modem has been replaced and it works but the uplink port on the Archer C7 does not seems to work. The wired part of the system already works with the uplink cable plugged into port 1 instead of the uplink port. The wireless is not happy however. The wireless could be out as well but I suspect that the uplink port is really the problem. Nothing works with the uplink cable plugged into the uplink port. Can another port be programmed to be used as the uplink port or do I need a new wireless router?

 

[VirtualLarry]

The wired part of the system already works with the uplink cable plugged into port 1 instead of the uplink port.

I don't think that things are working the way that you think that they are working. Unless you've re-mapped router LAN port1 to WAN in the router settings.

 

[lakedude]

I don't think that things are working the way that you think that they are working. Unless you've re-mapped router LAN port1 to WAN in the router settings.

That sounds like exactly what I want to do. Can you be of any assistance? I want to turn a regular port into a WAN port.

 

[lakedude]

If I plug the computer directly into the cable modem it works fine. If I plug the computer into the router and the modem to the WAN port of the router the connection says "limited" and nothing works (wired or wireless). If I (incorrectly) plug the modem into any of the 4 regular LAN ports, my computer will say "connected" and it will work just fine. That is how it is hooked up right now and how I'm posting this message. Wireless does not work for internet access at all regardless of how I plug things in. The blue "WAN" port is toast almost for sure.

 

[lakedude]

Curiously I can not access the Archer C7 when it is hooked up this way. It becomes transparent in the network. In order to log in to the C7 the uplink cable must be in the proper location or disconnected...

 

[VirtualLarry]

That sounds like exactly what I want to do. Can you be of any assistance? I want to turn a regular port into a WAN port.

I was speaking more generally; I don't have knowledge of whether that specific router can do that. I know some Asus routers with "multiWAN" can do that, and recent build of Shibby Tomato can too.

I fear that you may need a new router.

 

[lakedude]

TPLink support might let me RMA the old one. Meanwhile we are dead in the water WiFi speaking...

 

[NL5]

TPLink support might let me RMA the old one. Meanwhile we are dead in the water WiFi speaking...

I am no expert, and maybe you already know this, but I believe you are exposing your network directly to the internet by connecting it the way you are. (internet is on the back side of the firewall)

 

[JackMDS]

There are WIFI Router for less than $20.

Example - http://www.microcenter.com/product/383878/300Mbps_10-100Mbps_Wireless_N_Home_Router

Or this for few $$$ more - https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-3-In-1-...=1472353602&sr=8-8&keywords=asus+wifi+routers

Get one for the time being and you would have WIFI and protection from the Internet Junk.

Later on you can use it as a secondary Access Point to get nice Wireless coverage.

 

[lakedude]

There are WIFI Router for less than $20.

Example - http://www.microcenter.com/product/383878/300Mbps_10-100Mbps_Wireless_N_Home_Router

Or this for few $$$ more - https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-3-In-1-...=1472353602&sr=8-8&keywords=asus+wifi+routers

Get one for the time being and you would have WIFI and protection from the Internet Junk.

Later on you can use it as a secondary Access Point to get nice Wireless coverage.

Alright Jack, you talked me into it. I got a cheap router from WalMart. Curiously it did the same thing, having "limited" (limited meaning none) connection until I RTFMed. The splash screen never came up so I had to go to wwwdotrouterlogindotcom to get the router to work with our wired computers. The old C7 is quite a bit more router than this new one but it should be for over twice as much investment.