Mesh Network Manual

Method to create a Mesh network with 2 global AX3600 routers in any region without needing to activate SSH.

(Extracted from: (https://github.com/ShotokanZH/MiWiFi_Mesh_Node_Adder)

Tutorial created by Kvi from Forocoches and edited by @Moisitor:

---Information---

• The issue with AX3600 routers with international firmware is that when they are reset to factory settings, they are configured with the SG (Singapore) region by default.
• In the process, you first need to install one of them normally (referred to as the main AX), and during the initial configuration phase, it will ask for the region, and you would typically choose Spain. The other one (referred to as the dumb AX) should be reset to factory settings using the rear button and left powered on near the main one, but without connecting any network cables to it.
  - The problem here is that you have one configured in the ES region and the other in the SG region. To create a Mesh network, both need to be in the same region. There is a Python script that bypasses the region checks and allows them to be paired together, so let's see how to do it:

---Requirements---

• You should already have one of the AX3600 routers (referred to as the main one) connected and configured with the internet in any region.
  - The other one should be left very close (1m), powered on, freshly reset (using the rear button), and wait for 1-2 minutes before starting the process.
  - Your PC should be connected to the main AX router.
  

---Let's Begin, there are only 9 steps---

• 1- Download and install Python 3.9.2:
  - When installing, check the "Add Python 3.9 to PATH" option.
  (Some users installed the current Python version, and the script did not work for them)
  
• 2- Download addmesh.py and requirements.txt from here:
  - Copy both files to a Windows folder, let's assume it's C:\Mesh - The necessary files are located here:
  Xiaohack.es/files/archivos
• 3- Open the command prompt (CMD) and navigate to that folder (in our case, type cd/ [ENTER] and cd Mesh [ENTER])
  
• 4- Now, let's install some required Python packages by typing:
  python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
• 5- Run the script by typing:
  addmesh.py
• 6- It will ask for the IP address of the main AX router, which is 192.168.31.1 by default unless you've changed it.
• 7- It will ask for the password to access the main AX router. If it's correct, it will respond with "Login: Ok"
• 8- Here, you should enter the MAC address of the 5GHz network of the dumb AX router.
  - If you have the router very close (1m), powered on, and reset 2 minutes ago, it should display the MAC address.
  - You need to enter the MAC address of the 5GHz network. If you can't see it, you can find it using a mobile app like WiFi Analyzer
  

  

• 9- It will display the message: "adding as mesh node". - Wait for 2-5 minutes until both blue lights on the dumb AX router are lit, and then you can move it to its final location.
  - Using a web browser, access the main AX router, and under the section "Mesh," where all connected devices are listed (click on the first icon), you will see the IP and MAC of the dumb AX router.
  - It is recommended that both routers be connected by cable in their final positions, from a LAN interface of the main AX router to the WAN interface of the dumb AX router, creating a wired mesh network.
  - Image of the entire process: (I assigned the IP 192.168.7.1 to my main router, originally it is 192.168.31.1)
  

  

• The dumb AX router configured in the mesh network may not appear in the Miwifi app due to being in different regions.
  - You should be able to manage the main AX router through the app.
  - It goes without saying that the transmission power for a unmodified global AX3600 router will be as allowed in Spain, not the maximum possible (30dBm or 1000mW), which will be more than sufficient for many users.
  - You can follow this tutorial for any two AX models, really. I tested it with a Chinese AX5 as the main router (region CN) and the second router was a reset global AX3600 (region SG).