Q: What does the 'Enable SSID Broadcast' option mean on the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router?

The Enable SSID Broadcast option on the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router controls the broadcasting of your Wi-Fi network name. When you check this box, the router actively broadcasts its name (SSID) into the air, allowing all nearby devices to easily detect the network when searching for available Wi-Fi connections. When this option is enabled: The router constantly broadcasts its SSID, making your network visible in the list of available Wi-Fi networks on computers, smartphones, and tablets. This is the default and most convenient operation, as it facilitates the connection of new devices without manual intervention. When this option is disabled: The network name is not publicly broadcasted. The network then becomes

Question 1

What does the 'Enable SSID Broadcast' option mean on the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router?

Accepted Answer

The Enable SSID Broadcast option on the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router controls the broadcasting of your Wi-Fi network name. When you check this box, the router actively broadcasts its name (SSID) into the air, allowing all nearby devices to easily detect the network when searching for available Wi-Fi connections.

When this option is enabled: The router constantly broadcasts its SSID, making your network visible in the list of available Wi-Fi networks on computers, smartphones, and tablets. This is the default and most convenient operation, as it facilitates the connection of new devices without manual intervention.

When this option is disabled: The network name is not publicly broadcasted. The network then becomes

Question 2

Why does the DHCP server of the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router automatically reactivate after a reboot and how can I prevent it?

Accepted Answer

The DHCP server of the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router may automatically reactivate after a reboot for several reasons, including a settings save issue or a software bug. Here’s how to understand and resolve this problem:

Possible Causes

Settings not saved correctly: If you disable the DHCP server but do not save the changes correctly, the router may reactivate this function upon reboot.
Firmware bug: An outdated or faulty firmware version may prevent the permanent application of the settings.
Unintentional reset: Some devices or actions may restore the default settings.

Solutions to Apply

Disable and save the DHCP server correctly:
- Log in to the router's web interface via its IP address (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
- Go to the DHCP section and uncheck the Enable DHCP Server option.
- Save the changes by clicking Apply or Save.
Update the firmware:
- Check the official TP-LINK website to see if a firmware update is available for the TL-WR841N model.
- Follow the provided instructions to perform the update, which may fix bugs related to saving settings.
Reset the router to factory settings:
- Press the reset button located at the back of the router for about 10 seconds.
- The router will reboot with factory settings, then reconnect to the interface to reconfigure the DHCP as needed.
Check network interactions:
- Ensure that no other device or software is automatically changing the router's settings.

By following these steps, you should be able to prevent the DHCP server from automatically reactivating after each reboot of the TP-LINK TL-WR841N.

Question 3

How to connect a powerline adapter to the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router using an RJ-45 cable: LAN port or WAN port?

Accepted Answer

To connect a powerline adapter (Powerline Communication) to your TP-LINK TL-WR841N router using an RJ-45 cable, you need to use one of the LAN ports and not the WAN port.

Explanations:

LAN Ports: These ports (usually black) are used to connect devices to the local network, such as a computer, a printer, or a powerline adapter. Therefore, you should connect your RJ-45 cable to the powerline adapter through a LAN port.
WAN Port (yellow): This port is reserved for the connection between your router and your modem or your Internet source. It should not be used to connect a powerline adapter.

Steps for the connection:

Plug one end of the RJ-45 cable into one of the LAN ports of the TL-WR841N.
Connect the other end of the RJ-45 cable to your powerline adapter.

This configuration allows your powerline adapter to be part of the local network and to transmit the Internet connection through the electrical current in your home.

Question 4

How to assign a static IP address to the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router after disabling the DHCP server?

Accepted Answer

To assign a static IP address to your TP-LINK TL-WR841N router after disabling the DHCP server, you first need to access the router's web configuration interface. Open a browser and enter the current IP address of the router, which is by default 192.168.0.1, or access it via http://tplinklogin.net. Log in with your credentials (by default, the username and password are often admin/admin).

Once logged in, go to the Network menu and select the LAN submenu. This page displays the configuration settings for the router's LAN interface, where you can set its static IP address. In the IP Address field, enter the desired static IP address for the router, in dotted decimal notation (for example, 192.168.0.2 or any other address in the same subnet).

Then check the settings for Subnet Mask and Default Gateway. The subnet mask should normally be 255.255.255.0. The default gateway is usually the IP address of the main router on your network. These values must match your existing network configuration to ensure compatibility.

After configuring the static IP address, click the Save or Apply button to validate the changes. The router will restart and connect to the new IP address. You will then need to access the web interface again using the new IP address you just configured.

Regarding the disabling of the DHCP server, go to the DHCP menu in the configuration interface. You will be able to disable the router's DHCP server by unchecking the corresponding option. This step is important if you are using another DHCP server on your network or if you want to manually assign IP addresses to all devices. Make sure that all devices connected to the router have a static IP address configured before completely disabling DHCP.

Question 5

How to configure the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router as an access point and disable the DHCP server?

Accepted Answer

To configure your TP-LINK TL-WR841N router as an access point and disable the DHCP server, start by connecting your computer to the router either via an Ethernet cable to one of the four LAN ports or via Wi-Fi. Then open a web browser and access the router's IP address by entering 192.168.0.1 in the address bar. Log in with the default username and password, which are both admin.

In the administration interface, go to the DHCP → DHCP Settings menu. On this page, you will find the DHCP Server option. Uncheck the box to disable the DHCP server. This step is essential for the router to function as an access point without assigning IP addresses. Once the change is made, click the Save button.

Next, go to the Network → LAN menu to change the router's IP address. Change the IP address (default 192.168.0.1) so that it is in the same subnet as your main router. For example, if your main router uses the address 192.168.1.1, set the TL-WR841N to 192.168.1.2. Ensure that the subnet mask is set to 255.255.255.0 and that this IP address is not already in use by another device. Save the changes.

Physically, connect a LAN port (numbered 1, 2, 3, or 4) of the TL-WR841N to a LAN port of your main router using an Ethernet cable. Do not connect the WAN port of the router, as it is intended for the Internet connection. The LAN ports of the TL-WR841N are all 10/100 Mbps Auto-Negotiation connections.

Then restart the router to apply all the changes made. You can do this by going to System Tools → Reboot or by turning the device off and on again using the power button. After the restart, your TP-LINK TL-WR841N will function as a Wi-Fi access point, extending your existing network without an active DHCP server. Wi-Fi clients will automatically receive their IP addresses from the main router via the DHCP enabled on it.

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