How to Configure MAC Clone on MERCUSYS Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi Router if it fails to connect to the internet?

This Article Applies to:

Why do we need to do MAC Clone on Halo?


Some ISP may register the MAC address of your computer or your old wireless router when dialing up the internet for the first time via modem. If you use Halo to share your internet connection, the modem may still register the MAC address of your computer or the old wireless router, in that case, it's necessary to configure MAC Address Clone on the Halo so that it has internet access.


Situation 1: No old router, the PC has internet when connecting to the modem directly, but the main Halo does not.
 

Step 1: Disconnect the main Halo to the modem, and connect your computer to the modem. Make certain the computer has internet access when connecting to the modem.
If the computer has no internet access, it’s suggested to contact your ISP. 
 
Step 2:  Refer to the link to check the MAC address of the computer, which is also called the Physical address, and then write down its MAC address.
 
Step 3: Disconnect the computer to the modem and then connect the modem to the main Halo. Connect your phone to Halo’s Wi-Fi, and go to the More > Advanced >MAC Clone page on the Halo App.


  
Step 4: Enable MAC Clone, then you will see two options, Use Client MAC Address and Use Custom MAC Address.
Select Use Custom MAC Address. Enter the MAC address of the computer manually in the form of XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX and then tap the Save button to save the settings.
Then you can test if the Halo is working or not.


 
 

Why can't I select Use Client MAC Address to do the MAC Clone?


Due to the WAN/LAN auto-sensing design, Halo will not assign a valid IP address to the client connection on the other Ethernet port if it has no internet access. Thus, we need to check the MAC address of the client and type it manually during the MAC Clone process.

 

Situation 2: Have internet from the old wireless router when it’s connected to the modem, but no internet when the main Halo connects to the modem.

Here are two methods for your reference.
Method 1: Find the MAC address of the old wireless router on its web-based interface.
Step 1. Disconnect the main Halo to the modem, connect the old wireless router to the modem, and then connect a PC to the old wireless router.


 
Step 2. Here we take MR80X as a demonstration.
Log in to the old wireless router’s web-based interface, to get some help, please refer to the article How to log into the web-based interface of the MERCUSYS Wireless AC Router?
Note: If your old router is not a Mercusys router, please contact your old router's support for assistance.


Step 3: Click Advanced->Network>Internet, then check the MAC Address on the MAC Clone Part, take a picture of the MAC Address.


  


Step 4: Disconnect the old wireless router, and connect the main Halo back to the modem. Then connect your phone to Halo’s Wi-Fi, and go to the More>Advanced>MAC Clone page on the Halo app.
Enable MAC Clone, Select Use Custom MAC Address. Enter the Internet MAC address of the old wireless router manually and then tap the Save button to save the settings.
Then you can test if the Halo is working or not.


  

 
Method 2: Select the old wireless router’s MAC address on the Halo app.


Step 1. Connect the main Halo to the modem, then set up the satellite Halo and connect it to the main Halo via Wi-Fi, and then connect the WAN/Internet port on the old wireless router to the satellite Halo.
Then connect a phone to the main Halo via Wi-Fi.


 
Step 2. Open the Halo app, go to More>Advanced>MAC Clone page on the phone. Enable MAC Clone, tap Use Client MAC Address, select the old wireless router, and then tap the Save button to save the settings.
Then you can test if the Halo is working or not.