I think my question at this point boils down to "is putting a router in EasyMesh satellite mode the same thing as doing a factory reset?" I'm trying to add an AX55 to an AX73 v1.0 as an EasyMesh satellite, but when I put the AX55 in EasyMesh satellite mode the AX73 cannot find it, and the AX55 behaves as if it it has been factory reset. This makes me suspect that the operation to put the AX55 in satellite mode is actually failing, but I don't know how I can know that.

Details:

I recently noticed that with a firmware update my AX73 v2.0 router now supports EasyMesh. I had been waiting on this to add a second access point to my network, so I just bought an AX55, intending to use it as an EasyMesh satellite. I made sure both routers are on the latest firmware. (The AX73 v2.0 is on 1.0.9 Build 20230721 rel.61392(5553), the AX55 v1.0 is on 1.2.3 Build 20230603 rel.46473(5553)) I plugged the AX55 in to power with no ethernet plugged in to any port, connected to the AX55's WiFi with my computer, set a password but then exited setup (because I was unable to complete setup because the router is not connected to the internet). Then I went to Advanced -> EasyMesh, clicked "Change Mode", selected "Satellite Router", then clicked "Change".

After the progress bar in the modal that appeared reached 100% I noted that I was now connected to my AX73's WiFi, so I opened its interface, went to "Advanced -> EasyMesh" clicked "Add Satellite Devices", selected "TP-Link Router" then "Next". After hitting "Done", the dialog presented says "Searching for satellite routers..." for a few minutes, then eventually "No satellite router nearby."

My hypothesis at this point is that the AX55 is not actually getting into satellite mode. When putting the AX55 into satellite mode, the dialog right before you click "Change" says "Note: In case you need to revert your satellite router, press the Reset button to factory reset it." But that's never what I actually need to do. When the "Changing to Satellite Router mode..." progress bar is at 100% I can immediately see the AX55's default network names available in my computer's WiFi network list. If I connect to them, the router behaves as if it has already been factory reset. (It asks me to set a local password, and if I give it one then go back into "Advanced -> EasyMesh" it shows that it is still in "Main Router" mode.)

For anybody that has successfully added a device as an EasyMesh satellite, does a router that has been put into satellite mode behave the same as a router that has been factory reset, or is the fact that my AX55 is behaving that way evidence that my AX55 is actually not successfully getting into satellite mode?