I have been using the Archer C7 as my prime router in a stacked router setup.

My internet connection is provided by a Huawei 4G modem/router. On the LAN side this router has no DHCP and a fixed Ip address.

The TP-Link Archer C7 has its WAN port connected to one LAN port of the Huawei router/modem. On the WAN side the C7 has a fixed ip address in the same subnet as the LAN side of the Huawei.

The C7 provides LAN / internet access to all my clients (DHCP, different network segment as the WAN side), either via wifi (2.4GHz and 5GHz). This has worked for some months.

Except for one thing: On some clients after some months I did have a LAN connection, but no internet access anymore. Of course I checked all settings at these clients. All seemed to be ok on that side.

Until I thought of checking the firmware of the C7 this week. Appeared there was a new firmware, installed it and suddenly I had working internet access on all clients again.....

Apart from this, on the C7 nothing touched since I got it installed and working.

Until TODAY:

Today my internet connection via the C7 suddenly dropped, and I started to lose the 5GHz Wifi network provided by the C7 (2.4GHz was up).

When I checked the C7, it had the orange internet light. Seems simple, so I checked the Huawei modem/router.

The Huawei showed no service interruption.

A direct the internet connection from a client directly via the Huawei router works, both via WiFi (directly) as well as via a Xiaomi router when I configured that similar to the C7 and replaced the C7 with it.

So for now I replaced the C7 with the Xiaomi. At least I have a working internet connection......  

Having the C7 out of my infrastructure, I reconfigured it to verify its functionality once more by connecting it with its WAN port to one of the LAN ports of the Xiaomi.

Now the 2 wifi networks popped up (during the connection trouble the 5GHz one was gone!)

Again: Orange internet light.  Whereas I know the internet connection up to the Xiaomi is just fine.....

Did my C7 just die?