Cisco Business CBW 140AC Access Point - no connection to router

[ales.honsa]

Hello,

I'm using Cisco Business CBW 140AC Access Point for wifi with Cisco router. In the router I set static IP address to the access point MAC. The access point is powered by PoE injector. Untill tuesday all worked OK. In tuesday happened short power outage that reseted all HW including the router and the access point. After that there is no wifi network and propably the access point is not connected to the router. For expample when I do scan by SoftPerfect Network Scanner there is no any IP regarding the access point (no static, no any other).

Behavior of the access point is that it repeats following cycle (propably how it tries to connect ro the router). Light on LAN port on the router is turn off. Light on the access point is turn off. The light on the access point strats to quickly green blinking and then the light on the router LAN port turn on. After some time the light on the access point becomes solid green. After another shorter time it starts to slower green blinking. After another time it becomes solid green. Finally it turn off and the light on the router LAN port also turn off.

I tested both LAN cables (the cable between the router and the injector, the cable between the injector and the acccess point) and their are OK. I tried to replace PoE injector and this not helped (so the injector is also OK). I also tried to change LAN port on the router and this not helped (so the port is OK). I also reseted the router - no help.

In about half of November I had same problem after short power outage. But after some repeated disconnecting of the access point from powered LAN it started to work. I also disconected and again connected the injector from power supply. But now it is without any positive progress.

Problem is similar like reported by user ronb7gens in https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless/cisco-140ac-ssid-not-broadcasting-can-t-connect-to-wifi-network/td-p/4700066 But main difference is that the access point is without IP and I'm not able to ping it. Also I don't have some other access point. I have only this one.

Does anybody have idea how to make it working again, please? Can be helpfull to use console port? I have console cable (RJ-45 to RJ-45 variant), but I don't know how to use it.

[Rich R]

Hi Ales

Probably the first thing you should do is a Factory Reset of the AP and then reconfigure it as new.
Go to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/smb/product-support/small-business/wireless-mesh-100-200-series.html and look for the Factory Reset All Devices in CBW article.

The Quick Start guide for configuring it is at 
https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/csbap/cbw_series/CBW140/QSG/CBW_140AC_QSG_EN.pdf

Also more articles listed at https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/business-100-series-access-points/series.html#~tab-documents.

If you regain access to the AP make sure the software is fully up to date (10.10.1.0):
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/business-100-series-access-points/series.html#~tab-downloads
The software release notes
Release Notes For Cisco Business Access Points, Firmware Versions 10.0.1.0 to 10.10.1.0 (PDF - 240 KB) 06/Dec/2024
Upgrade process:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/smb/wireless/CB-Wireless-Mesh/2063-Upgrade-software-of-CBW-access-point.html

There's also a possibility that the AP hardware has failed.

[ales.honsa]

Hi,

thanks for answer. But problem is that I'm not able to access AP. It is not generating any wifi including wifi for administration setup.

I have also worries that HW of AP failed. Fortunatelly AP is still in warranty. But I will wait if there will be some idea for solution. For example by console port, but I don't know how to use it.

[Rich R]

Hi Ales

If you go to that article then click on then there's a link to Reset a CBW AP back to Factory Default Settings where there's a section: Reset to Factory Settings Using an Open Paperclip which does not require network/web access to the AP: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/smb/wireless/CB-Wireless-Mesh/2120-reset-to-factory-default-cbw.html#reset-to-factory-settings-using-an-open-paperclip

Reset to Factory Settings Using an Open Paperclip

If you have direct access to the AP, you can simply use an open paperclip or another thin, strong object that fits inside the Mode button. Make sure the power is off. Press and hold the Mode button of the device and then power up the AP. After a few seconds, the device LED will begin blinking alternating green/amber for 20 seconds, then switch to green/off. Once the Light Emitting Diode (LED) pattern changes to green/off, release the Mode button and allow the device to continue booting up.

The 145AC LED blinks red/amber during the 20-second countdown while the Mode button is pressed.

Timing is everything:

• The Mode button should be pressed and held before it gets powered up. Once the AP is powered up, continue to hold the Mode button for 30 seconds before you release it.
• If the Mode button is pressed after bootup starts, the factory default reset will be ignored.
• If the Mode button is pressed for over 60 seconds, the factory default reset will be ignored.

[ales.honsa]

OK. I didn't notice that method in my mistake. I tried this way of reset few times and it doesn't helps.
It looks that AP really failed.
Can be usable to do some by console port?

[Rich R]

Possibly but none of us have experience with these APs.
There isn't any documentation for console access that I noticed and the quick start guide only says "RJ-45 Console Port (For tech support only)" so it's probably only intended to be for Cisco TAC.  If you capture the logs and share them here we might be able to make some sense of them.