thanks guys !
so i just tried bypassing my main router (TP Link AXE300) by going direct from my fiber ONT into the R3 WAN and am now am able to get into the OS
to further test, i put it back to the way i had it before (fiber ONT into AXE300 WAN & AXE300 LAN into R3 LAN) and i'm back to being unable to access the OS by typing "http://192.168.77.1/dumaweb/" into the search bar while connected to the AXE300's wifi network
lastly, if keep all the same and simply disconnect from AXE300 wifi and connect to R3 wifi, i am able to connect to dumaOS again, HOWEVER literally switching RIGHT back to the AXE300 wifi and my internet is broken – it’s as if the R3 is a parasite – I had to disconnect R3 LAN from the AXE300 LAN and now I have internet back again...unbelievably frustrating to say the least as this is literally wasting so much of my time I don’t even know if it’s worth it
not sure if that's the way it's supposed to be or not but i'm back to my original question of how / where do i integrate the R3 in the chain to allow me to use the OS of the R3 in tandem with the wired connections of my 10G switch and the wifi of the AXE300?
what i am looking for is this type of setup:
ONT – AXE300 10G WAN
AXE300 10G LAN – 10G Switch
10G Switch LAN – Gaming PC, Macbook Pro, ThinkPad
AXE300 2.5G LAN – 24 Port 2.5G Switch with all the rest of my stuff