Connect and configure your MikroTik
Setup has seven guided stages for a new router, or five for an internet-ready network. You need local WinBox access, a backup, stable RouterOS v7.20 or newer within v7, and a device with internet access to keep this guide open.
- Identify: choose New router or Existing network. Setup progress is saved against this router.
- Prepare: secure the administrator account and download a password-protected backup in WinBox. Keep the factory firewall. A router reset without defaults needs a baseline LAN and firewall configuration first.
- Internet: follow the DHCP, static-IP, or PPPoE uplink instructions. Test IP connectivity and DNS separately, then set the clock.
- Connect: paste the private, expiring setup command into WinBox → New Terminal. Wait for a verified tunnel, REST management, and network discovery.
- Customer Wi-Fi: review the suggested open guest SSID and detected local radios. ISP550 creates virtual access points and an isolated guest bridge without changing existing Wi-Fi. Choose MikroTik Wi-Fi, an external access point on an unused Ethernet port, or both on the same guest network.
- Review: confirm the exact SSID, radios, subnet, isolation, and unchanged existing networks. ISP550 saves a configuration export before applying changes.
- Verify: forget any old network, join the displayed SSID without a Wi-Fi password, receive an address, open the captive portal, authenticate, reach the internet, and check accounting. With both access paths selected, move the same device between them in both directions and confirm its session continues.
Keep existing networks working
Do not factory-reset a router serving customers. Connection installs management access only. Customer setup uses ISP550-owned objects and blocks conflicting configurations. Global PPP RADIUS changes require explicit acknowledgement. Older ISP550 scripts may have created untagged objects: back up and review those locally before migrating them.
Wi-Fi, Hotspot, and PPPoE are different layers
Wi-Fi association connects a device to the radio. ISP550 customer Wi-Fi is intentionally open, so it does not ask for a Wi-Fi password. Hotspot then redirects that connected device to the captive portal for a voucher or subscriber login. PPPoE is an optional advanced service for routers and CPEs that dial with credentials; it does not redirect phones to a captive portal.
For an external access point, use bridge mode with DHCP and NAT disabled. Configure an open customer SSID and enable wireless client isolation on the AP. When using MikroTik Wi-Fi and an external AP together, give both the same SSID. Connect the AP or a switch serving several APs to the selected guest port. Session continuity requires the customer device to keep its MAC address and guest IP while moving between them.
Recover an interrupted setup
- Return to Routers → your router → Resume setup. Refreshing does not create another router.
- If the setup command expired before installation, generate a fresh one for the same router. Registration retries preserve its existing credentials.
- If a download failed, rerun the command within its 30-minute lifetime. Once installation is acknowledged, continue in the dashboard.
- Check the terminal error, internet access, DNS, clock, and trusted certificates. Do not disable certificate verification.
- Device mode must allow Fetch and, when selected, Hotspot. Some changes require physical confirmation on the router.
- Use Refresh discovery after repairing local settings. A fresh connection and conflict-free preflight are required before configuration.
- Retry unfinished services after an error. Successful services in the same configuration revision are retained.
Backups and removal
The pre-change configuration export is available in setup. It is not a replacement for your password-protected local binary backup: RouterOS exports omit sensitive values. Keep local access available for recovery. Removal cleans up managed customer services before scheduling local management retirement and removing the hub peer. Offline or failed cleanup remains pending; reconnect and retry removal.
Diagnostics and support
Download diagnostics from setup or the router overview. The report includes connection checks, discovery errors and operation status, and excludes command scripts, exports, credentials and setup links.