NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
MR80/MS80 speeds collapse to 5–7 Mbps until reboot
I have an MR80 router with one MS80 satellite. The system initially performs well after rebooting (with download speeds of over 500 Mbps even on Wi-Fi devices connected to the MS80 satellite), but after several hours or days, performance suddenly collapses and remains degraded until the mesh system is restarted.
After the most recent reboot, my monitoring log recorded the following:
- At 5:02 PM, with 5.09 hours of router uptime: 504 Mbps download, 110 Mbps upload, 15.9 ms idle latency, and 0% packet loss.
- At 5:12 PM, with 5.26 hours of uptime: 7.35 Mbps download, 5.72 Mbps upload, 14.8 ms idle latency, and 0% packet loss.
- Subsequent tests remained around 5–7 Mbps in both directions across numerous Speedtest servers.
The failure was abrupt rather than gradual. Idle ping usually remained around 14–20 ms, but latency under load frequently exceeded 500 ms during downloads and 1,000–2,500 ms during uploads.
A desktop computer connected by Ethernet through the MS80 is affected. Wi-Fi devices connected through the satellite also experience the slowdown. In previous occurrences, the MR80’s internal Internet speed test continued to report more than 900 Mbps, indicating that the modem and ISP connection were still functioning normally.
The problem initially occurred approximately every four days, but following the latest reboot, it returned after only about five hours. Restarting the MR80 restores normal performance temporarily, with devices connected through the satellite returning to several hundred Mbps.
I have also experienced recurring connectivity problems in which multiple smart-home devices appear disconnected or unreachable. Restarting individual devices does not reliably resolve this, but restarting the MR80 does.
Troubleshooting already performed includes:
- Updating the MR80 and MS80 firmware.
-Confirming that the modem is operating in bridge mode.
-Disabling UPnP.
-Confirming that IPv6, Traffic Meter, and parental-control features are disabled.
-Rebooting the modem, MR80, and MS80.
-Testing different Ethernet cables and switch ports.
-Testing multiple independent Speedtest servers.
-Monitoring latency, packet loss, download speed, upload speed, loaded latency, and router uptime.
Several existing community discussions describe nearly identical MR80/MS80 behavior: satellite-connected devices suddenly falling to approximately 5–10 Mbps, including devices wired directly to the MS80, while the MR80’s Internet connection remains fast. This suggests that the MR80/MS80 wireless backhaul is entering a defective low-throughput state.
Is this a known firmware or backhaul issue? Are there any diagnostic logs, hidden backhaul-status pages, hotfix firmware versions, or other tests that can identify why the MR80/MS80 link abruptly becomes limited to approximately 5–7 Mbps?
Current MR80 firmware version: V1.1.8.20_3.1.112
Current MS80 firmware version: V1.1.8.20_3.1.112
(Summarized with ChatGPT)
5 Replies
Does this happen with a ethernet connected PC and wireless devices at the MR or just only with devices connected behind the MS?
Does this happen with the MS turned OFF?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.
How many MS are deployed?
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update?
Thank you for responding.
During the degraded state:
- A desktop computer connected by Ethernet behind the MS80 drops to approximately 5-7 Mbps.
- Wi-Fi devices connected through the MS80 experience the same severe slowdown.
- Wi-Fi performance near the MR80 has also been reduced, although not always as severely as performance through the MS80.
- The MR80's internal Internet speed test continues to report more than 900 Mbps.
I have not yet tested an Ethernet-connected computer directly at the MR80 during the degraded state, nor have I tested whether the problem develops with the MS80 powered off. I will perform both tests the next time it occurs.
The modem is a Netgear CAX80 operating in modem-only bridge mode, so the MR80 is the only active router. The connection between the modem and MR80 is capable of delivering more than 900 Mbps, as confirmed by the MR80's internal speed test.
I have one MS80 deployed.
My home is approximately 1,000 square feet. The distance between the MR80 and MS80 is approximately 40 feet, with one wall between them.
My current wireless channels are Auto on 2.4 GHz and 48 on 5 GHz. I have also tried channel 44 on 5 GHz.
Both units are running firmware version 1.1.8.20. After installing this firmware, I factory-reset the MR80 using its physical reset button and reconfigured the network. I have not independently factory-reset the MS80 using its physical reset button since the firmware update.
The most notable evidence is that the connection changed abruptly from 504 Mbps download and 110 Mbps upload to 7.35 Mbps download and 5.72 Mbps upload within approximately ten minutes, while idle latency and packet loss remained normal. The degraded speeds then persisted across multiple independent Speedtest servers.
The problem has become significantly more frequent. The speed degradation is now occurring every few hours rather than every several days. Yesterday, I observed the connection drop back to approximately 5-7 Mbps only about 30 minutes after normal performance had been restored. Rebooting still restores normal speeds temporarily, but the interval before the next slowdown is becoming increasingly short.
What FW is on the CAX80 thats in modem only mode?
Please post a copy and paste of the modems connection status and event log page.
MS and MR would need to be factory reset at the same time to help check this.
Update since my last post:
I factory-reset the CAX80 and regained access to its administration interface.
CAX80 information:
- Hardware version: 1.01
- Firmware version: V5.1.1.8
- Cable firmware version: V1.02.08
The CAX80 cable diagnostic reported Good for Internet access, downstream status, downstream power, downstream SNR, upstream status, and upstream power.
All 32 downstream channels were locked. Downstream power ranged from approximately -3.5 to -4.9 dBmV, and downstream SNR ranged from approximately 41.5 to 43.6 dB. All displayed correctable and uncorrectable counts were zero.
Four upstream channels were locked with power levels between approximately 34.0 and 35.3 dBmV.
The event log recorded Dynamic Range Window violations, upstream profile changes, commanded-power adjustments, and one synchronization failure/loss-of-sync event during the several minutes immediately following the CAX80 factory reset and reprovisioning. The modem subsequently reported a good connection and received valid IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
A direct Wi-Fi test through the CAX80 measured 1,112 Mbps download. I then returned the CAX80 to modem-only/bridge mode.
During a short healthy-state comparison through the MR80:
- With the MS80 powered on: 378 Mbps download and 114 Mbps upload
- With the MS80 powered off: 467 Mbps download and 119 Mbps upload
I have not yet operated the system long enough with the MS80 powered off to determine whether the recurring degraded state develops without it.
I then completed the suggested simultaneous factory reset. I factory-reset the MS80 first and immediately factory-reset the MR80. Both units were configured from scratch without restoring a saved configuration. Both are running firmware V1.1.8.20_3.1.112.
Post-reset results:
MR80 internal Internet test:
- 946.50 Mbps download
- 115.39 Mbps upload
- 7 ms ping
Wi-Fi device connected through the MR80:
- 516 Mbps download
- 114 Mbps upload
- 14 ms idle ping
- 1 ms jitter
Desktop computer connected by Ethernet through the MS80:
- Before reset: 574.01 Mbps download, 113.68 Mbps upload, and 17 ms ping
- After reset: 560.26 Mbps download, 115.10 Mbps upload, and 26 ms ping
The current wireless settings are Auto on 2.4 GHz and channel 44 on 5 GHz. I have restarted the monitoring script and will leave the configuration unchanged. If the degradation returns, I will capture the MR80 internal test, direct MR80 Ethernet and Wi-Fi tests, MS80 Ethernet and Wi-Fi tests, router uptime, and backhaul status before rebooting anything.
Screenshots of Event Log and Connection Status are from after CAX80 reset and before entering bridge mode.
