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WAX214 - issues with stable work
hi
I have purchased two AP WAX214 and unfortunately it seems that devices work not so stable.
We have installed them 2 weeks ago and after this time I cannot say that it was a good decision.
There is some issue with stable work and/or there is the issue with correct displaying of uptime value. This value is all the time not bigger than few/several hours. I could detect few times device self-reset without any reasons. One time device had been crashed and I lost contact with it. Removal of power cable for few seconds helped to reset and get it back to the live.
The other thing is network scanner It does not detect WPA3 networks correctly. I see these kinds of networks as WPA2 even if all other devices see it as WPA3.
We have two AP WAX214 and both has same problem.
The other thing that is disappointing, when user moves in the building with his device, he might lost connection with internet when device is switching signal from one AC to second one. It can takes sew second to get connection back. This is visible for WPA3 networks. WPA2 has roaming option and it prevent from this problem.
I think Netgear must definitly improve the situation by changes in FW. Now WAX214 is simply speaking not a good choice.
Today I decided to send these APs back to Amazon. Thank you for your help.
10 Replies
Hi Borsuk
Borsuk wrote:There is some issue with stable work and/or there is the issue with correct displaying of uptime value. This value is all the time not bigger than few/several hours. I could detect few times device self-reset without any reasons. One time device had been crashed and I lost contact with it. Removal of power cable for few seconds helped to reset and get it back to the live.
Please open ticket with Netgear Customer Service via https://www.netgear.com/support/contact.aspx
Borsuk wrote:The other thing that is disappointing, when user moves in the building with his device, he might lost connection with internet when device is switching signal from one AC to second one. It can takes sew second to get connection back. This is visible for WPA3 networks. WPA2 has roaming option and it prevent from this problem.
The WAX214/218 are intended and should be deployed as single standalone AP device only.
For building a multi-AP network supporting 802.11k/v the WAX610 AX1800 and it's coming up AX3600 pendant are the much better only choice. When Insight managed, you get 802.11r seamless roaming, and much more.
Don't shoot the messenger - I don't really understand the idea of these "essential" APs either.
Borsuk wrote:The other thing is network scanner It does not detect WPA3 networks correctly. I see these kinds of networks as WPA2 even if all other devices see it as WPA3.
Be aware that neighbor AP scanning is intrusive in any case - it can disrupt existing sessions (especially time sensitive stuff like unbuffered/lightly buffered live video or audio). The key feature should be about free channels (a constant changing target), about rouge APs on air with the same SSIDs, potentially weak security configs of your own APs/wireless routers, and signal levels to get an idea of the distance (or location if operating on lower power). I'd be very careful if it says only eg. WPA3 or WPA2. To provide complete and comprehensive data about all the information available on the neighboring WiFi beacons, better use sophisticated devices or applications.
Regards,
-Kurt
Yes. I regret that I didn’t know that WAX214 is designed to work as standalone product... It would help to take proper decisions.
This information is not placed in datasheet. From customer perspective it might looks like cheating.
But does not matter. It seems to be not so big problem now. Finally, devices works.
If comes to the scanning, please note that I am not a hacker. I have just used the built-in scanner into the WAX214 to scan my own network.
Netgear has provided me with this tool so I just wanted to check if it works and how it works. This scanner detected the SSID handled by my other WAX214 as WPA2. But in fact, this is WPA3. Isn't it strange? I think so !!
I do not believe that this scanner provided some danger functionalities. It most probably does the same what each Wi-fi device does. Scan the "air" to determine what SSIDs are available, how they are encrypted and what is their power (means power of signal).
Nevertheless, thank you for your information. I will open the ticket
Offside comment: This is my first Netgear device. First impression you can make only one time. If you know what I mean.
I have made ticket. This is a second ticket to them I made in last 2 weeks and same situation.
there is no refference number. First ticket is not answered till now so this one probably will be treated in same way.
Firts ticket was about scanner. Scanner is not critical for me but random resets seams to be...
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