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Nighthawk WiFi 6 Router #MR 70 WiFi Goes Down
My network starts at a Cox cable router. That provides WiFi but doesn't reach the whole house well so I added a Netgear MR70 mesh system (firmware V1.0.3.34_2.0.58). That used to work fine, but recently the WiFi isn't working reliably.
The configuration is: a short ethernet cable from the cable router to the MR70 base, then ethernet from the MR70 base to a switch, then to the rest of the house. That includes ethernet to both of the MR70 satellites. The MR70 base serves as the system router, at least it does as far as I know. Everything on ethernet works perfectly.
My iPhone 14 is the only WiFi-connected device in frequent use. It connects to either the cable router's WiFi or the MR70 WiFi. Because of the better coverage I want it on the MR70. However, I often find the phone connected to cable WiFi. Lately that is daily. When I tell the phone to change to the Netgear WiFi it tries, but after a few seconds it reverts back.
If I power down, and back up, the MR70 base, and wait a few minutes, my phone will be able to connect and stay connected to the Netgear WiFi. BUT, within a day or so I will find it back on the Cox WiFi, and it won't get back on Netgear until I power that down and back on.
Possibly important... I have Tesla solar with two Tesla Powerwalls. Both the Cox router and the MR70 are plugged into a UPS. Originally that was an APC unit, but the last time I tried to make sense of this problem I read something about UPS reaction times and bought an Eaton 5S 550/700, replacing the APC. However I am not aware of significant power issues.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks!
3 Replies
RHinCT wrote:
My network starts at a Cox cable router.
......
The configuration is: a short ethernet cable from the cable router to the MR70 base, then ethernet from the MR70 base to a switch, then to the rest of the house. That includes ethernet to both of the MR70 satellites. The MR70 base serves as the system router, at least it does as far as I know.
Therein lies the problem. Two routers are a bad idea.
You don't tell us what cable router is but what you see could well be a consequence of stringing two routers together.
Two routers on your network can cause headaches. For example, you can end up with local problems with addresses on your network. Among other things, the other router can misdirect traffic to addresses that the Netgear router usually handles, such as routerlogin.net or the usual default IP address for a router, 192.168.1.1.
This explains some of the other drawbacks.
What is Double NAT? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
Unless you have specific reasons for using two routers – to create two separate networks for example – it is often easier to use just one router and then to set up the second router as a wifi access point (AP) with a wired connection to the main router. Netgear advises this, as does just about every site you will visit.How do I change my NETGEAR router to AP mode? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
But that has its own drawbacks:Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support
It may be possible to put the modem/router into modem only (bridge) mode and then to use the second device as the router. Knowing what that modem/router is might make it easier to advise.There are other strategies, but we'd need to know more before anyone can diagnose what might be happening. As well as telling us what that first router is, explain what the problem is. What do you mean by "the WiFi isn't working reliably"?
Just another user with time on their hands.
Thanks for responding.
The cable router:
FCC ID: G695CGM414X IC: 431C-CGM414X PN: CGM4141COX
https://www.cox.com/residential/support/technicolor-cgm4141.html
As well as telling us what that first router is, explain what the problem is. What do you mean by "the WiFi isn't working reliably"?
The only Wi-Fi device I use all the time is my iPhone 14. After restarting the Netgear router my phone connects to it and stays connected until... it doesn't. That is when I find
(a) The phone is now connected to the Cox Wi-Fi.
(b) When I change it to use the Netgear it goes through the motions, then reverts back to Cox. It could not connect.
(c) I can repeat step b as often as I want, it never connects.
(d) The Netgear base station light is Red. I failed to say that in my original message.
e) Unplugging power from the Netgear router, waiting a bit, and plugging it back in, fixes the problem. I takes a minute, or maybe to, but the light is blue and I can connect again.
I can believe that two routers is not a great idea. However, keep in mind that all my ethernet devices, including the computer I use for hours ever day, have NO router problems, ever. They all see the Netgear as the router. So the Wi-Fi aspect "stops working" but not the router feature.
RHinCT wrote:
The cable router:
FCC ID: G695CGM414X IC: 431C-CGM414X PN: CGM4141COX
https://www.cox.com/residential/support/technicolor-cgm4141.html
That is a gateway, a combined modem/router.
After restarting the Netgear router my phone connects to it and stays connected until... it doesn't. That is when I find(a) The phone is now connected to the Cox Wi-Fi.
It is down to your phone to decide which wifi source to connect to. Don't be surprised if the poor thing gets confused if you throw two two nearby wifi sources at it. The way to fix that probably is down to you. Get the phone to play ball or remove the source of the confusion, that gateway.
(d) The Netgear base station light is Red. I failed to say that in my original message.By "base station, I assume you mean the MR60 router. The red light means that it is not connecting to the Internet. That may be because off the confusing presence of the first router.
I can believe that two routers is not a great idea. However, keep in mind that all my ethernet devices, including the computer I use for hours ever day, have NO router problems, ever. They all see the Netgear as the router. So the Wi-Fi aspect "stops working" but not the router feature.Your choice. Stick with a wonky network and put up with the troublesome phone or work out how to take the first router out of the network and use it just as a modem. (There are other options, but they can be a bit more complicated.)
technicolor cgm4141 bridge mode - Google Search
Just another user with time on their hands.
