For travel automation technicians, OpenWRT offers a flexible routing tool to streamline operations.
For travel automation technicians, OpenWRT offers a flexible routing tool to streamline operations.
I'm just getting started with OpenWRT and I found a lot of guides online, but the details aren't quite clear. I'm an automation expert who usually works with Ethernet setups, and these devices often come with pre-set IP addresses that need changing during setup so everything stays on the same network. Recently, I've been reprogramming PLCs and replacing them, which is why I prefer Ethernet. I realized I needed to reset all of them and then connect a wireless router to speed things up. I used an old TP-link router, adjusted it for my network, and added another access point to the Wi-Fi port. It works but it's a bit bulky. I'm looking for something USB-powered with all the features I need, but I can't find PLC or HMI-style devices. The router has a Luci GUI under advanced settings, but changing IP addresses often breaks internet connection. I'm worried about missing something and hope someone can help me out—maybe through a detailed explanation or a video call. I think the Ethernet ports on the back could act as a switch, letting everything communicate with each other and with my laptop. The three ports don't need internet, but having access would be helpful. The laptop can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or USB tethering, depending on whether I'm at work or on a call. Anyone have any advice?
I believe I solved most of it last night. The devices are there but not visible unless I adjust the laptop’s network settings on this network. OpenWRT isn’t detecting them because of its static TCP/UDP connections, so they don’t appear in the GUI. However, pinging works when I switch the WAN port to another LAN socket. If I set my PC to a static IP—like 192.168.1.169 with a 255.255.0.0 network—I can now ping all devices that were missing for the past couple of days. I was so focused on keeping the laptops on DHCP that I missed the subnet settings blocking communication. It turned out to be a simple oversight. As a reminder, sometimes people seeking help online get frustrated when they don’t find a quick solution, especially if others dismiss their efforts or say they’re too lazy to try themselves. But it’s worth noting that a few helpful replies could have saved time. If you’re reading this, maybe take a moment to double-check those settings before assuming something is broken.
there was an issue with my laptop configuration. previously, I had to manually connect each device and change my IP settings on the network adapter every time I added something new. now it works smoothly—just plug everything in, use the factory software of each device, and if it responds, the software recognizes it. then I can set the IP to match the rest of the network without constantly adjusting a 255.255.0.0 subnet mask.