WiFi router won’t activate without Internet

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[lwerman]

I’m using an ASUS RT-AX3000 in my motorhome. As long as I connect it with Internet on the WAN port it works great.

When we’re at a location where I can’t supply Internet, the router fails to go active and provide a WiFi network. Is there a setting that I haven’t found in the router? Is there a name for that feature setting? Is there a router that will setup a WiFi network without Internet that is not large & expensive? It does need to have a USB port supporting a backup drive for our devices.

Many thanx………..Len

• This topic was modified 7 months, 4 weeks ago by lwerman.

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That is a very strange issue.
Normally you would use your browser to connect to the router (via cable or wifi) and then configure the router, or use the router app to connect (definitely via wifi).

Have you tried a router reset – hold the reset button down for 10 seconds?

cheers, Paul

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Yes Paul, very strange, and yes reset several times.

After a reset I can indeed set it up using the app on my phone. The issue shows up after config is done & the router is working. Powering up the router without Internet access will prevent establishment of the WiFi network.

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Do you have the latest router firmware installed?

--Joe

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Joe,

No, just checked & found the latest. When I installed the router in December 2023, I updated it then to 3.0.0.4.388_23925. When I get my hands on it again I’ll update to 3.0.0.4.388_24762.

Thanx…….Len

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Are you using the router’s IP address as your Gateway and DNS server (instead of your ISP’s DNS)? I don’t believe there should be any IP reference outside the LAN. ie., not on the WAN side, if you are using just the internal network.

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PKCano,

Your question isn’t quite clear to me. The router’s LAN IP, I have set to 10.1.104.1 and I point the DNS to Google, 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4.

Had to follow an unusual process when I first tried to setup.

Couldn’t do the initial setup manually. Had to scan the QR code on the bottom of the router. Had to use the ASUS phone app to set the SSID & PW as well as the admin user name & PW before it would activate the WAN connection.

Now, if the WAN Internet is dead, the router won’t activate my WiFi network when I power it on. I can’t say for sure if removing the WAN connection (connected to a DOCSIS modem), or just Internet, will break the WiFi while it is still on.

Thanx……Len

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Yo can’t reach the Google DNS at 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4 if you don’t have a WAN (Internet) connection on the router. Try setting the DNS and Gateway to 10.1.104.1 (router’s IP) on the LAN side when you are running just an internal/local network and use those settings on the computers on the LAN side.

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It will be something dumb like “using an ASUS account to manage the router requires internet access”.

Can you reset the router, connect a laptop via wifi and then connect to the IP address via your browser?

cheers, Paul

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Try this : https://homenetworkgeek.com/can-a-router-work-without-the-internet/

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Are your devices failing to connect or not seeing the router at all?

cheers, Paul

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I confess to not being a fan of Asus. In the old days, the knee jerk response would be to read the documentation but having dealt with Asus, this would be a waste of time. If you have explained things correctly, this is quite worrying. I last configured a new Asus router just over a year ago and it did not act like this. FYI: there are HP printers that will not print without an Internet connection.

To be clear, when the router boots up off-line, it does not even create the SSIDs for its Wi-Fi networks? If so, what happens if its on-line doing Wi-Fi and then goes off-line?

As to fixing things, my one guess is the optional Trend Micro security software embedded in the router. If its there and enabled, try turning it off.

Get up to speed on router security at RouterSecurity.org and Defensive Computing at DefensiveComputingChecklist.com

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Thanx all…..

I’ve been out of town for a few days. I’ll try everyone’s suggestions in a few days when I get my hands on that damn router again & follow-up with the results.

Len

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