Xr1000 V2 having DNS issues and unable to connect to websites

Ok got new Modem today. Still same issue. I ordered a new XR1000 replacement should be here by thursday. If you want to do some testing i am game. i am wondering if its the new firmware update or possible hardware?  Thanks. 

I intalled the firmware update it keeps asking me to install on the top. So i believe i went backwards in firmware? It seems to be working well now. We will see in a few hours if i have the same issue. Might be the new firmware update. I used 7zip to unzip it. 

Ok still having the same issue even going back on firmware. getting new router tomorrow from Amazon. 

I'm having the same issue. Internet is "lost" for thirty seconds to a minute. Error messages often reference "DNS". It then comes back. Interestingly during one of these outages, I could access my NASs, but not the modem (on its "management when in modem mode" address, 192.168.100.1)

The Nighthawk has been in use since June 2024, but these failures started about 10-15 days ago. 

Modem is a Virginmedia HUB4 in "modem" mode. It's about a week old (coincidence?). VM decided I needed a new modem/hub, but the issues started before it was installed - indeed it was while on the VM site looking for answers, that they offered a new hub.

Nighthawk firmware is XR1000v2-V1.1.0.22_2.1.34.

Started out with settings for "Internet IP Address" & "DNS Address" as "Get Dynamically/Automatically from ISP"

Router MAC Address is "Default"

Adblocker is not enabled.

Currently using Static addresses for DNS Servers, namely 8.8.8.8 (Google) and 194.168.4.100 (VM's "primary DNS server")

)Hi,

 yes that was my next idea. 
The Nighthawk has one Ethernet connection, which is to a Cisco gigaswitch - all the downstream units hang off the Cisco. So as an experiment I moved the Ethernet cables for the two main PCs from the Cisco straight into the Nighthawk.
No change: conclusion is the problem is upstream of the Cisco. Strike one, LOL.

so then I work upwards, and the choice is either (a) factory reset of the Nighthawk, or (b) take the Nighthawk out of circuit using the VM Hub as router. So discussing this with “the management” - and to be fair, she used to be the IT Director for her organisation - were going for option (b)!

However as she has pointed out “never start an IT project on a Friday afternoon” (and she has had some experience of this……..)

so it will be a couple of days before I get round to it, and TBF, it works most of the time, but with a few glitches that shouldn’t be there.

And I do find it coincidental that these issues arose, and we “suddenly” needed a new modem!

Hey ho!

Even though my degree is Computer Science, I went into spacecraft electronics engineering……it’s a damn sight easier than IT! 😂

Man i was hoping this was going to get solved with new Router i was trying to recreate the situation and just a few minutes later it happened. Just for a second but it happen. Keep you updated. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Turning off Adblocker now.  See if it happens again. 

ok sounds good. I am going to wait a week or so. So far it has only happend a couple of times. i am getting some DoS stuff on the router., Not sure if that should be of concern. Thanks. 

ok so far no issue with the New Modem directly plugged in. I do notice a little lag. But does not time out. 

Hi folks.  I'm glad that I'm not the only one experiencing this frustrating issue.

So I first noticed it about a month ago as well, and that's about when I switched from using my Arris Surfboard cable modem to Xfinity's XB8.  SO, naturally I assumed (incorrectly it turns out) that their XB8 had introduced and was the root cause.  After much troubleshooting however, that doesn't seem likely.  I worked with Xfinity tier 2 internet support and we eliminated my router, switch, etc. and just went coax > modem > ethernet > single computer and poof - the issue was gone and unreproducible.

Then, I began reintroducing the rest of my components into the network one at a time, and as soon as I reconnected my XR1000v2 router - BAM - issue's back!  This happens on all pc's and laptops, in all of the major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera), and with almost any website (when it actually happens, which is very random).  As the OP stated, I'll open up and/or browse to a website and it instantly starts spinning and ends in a few dns errors, but within 1-2 minutes the website(s) all pop up and everything works fine again.

Next I completely factory reset it and set it up as basic as possible, and it seemed ok for about a day, but sadly the issue popped right back up within 24 hours.

I'm literally at my wit's end trying to figure this thing out.  Is there any network troubleshooting software or something that can help up 1) determine exactly what is happening, and 2) which piece of hardware is causing this?

I guess our common devices is our first clue to determining if it actually is an issue with the XR1000v2.

By the way, I'm using a Xfinity XB8 modem/gateway (in bridged mode with custom security settings opened up as wide as possible - every security feature disabled), a NetGear XR1000v2 router, a NetGear GS108 8-port unmanaged gigabit switch, everything including all pc's and laptops connected using CAT6 550MHz cables.

OK so today is the big testing day. I've removed the Nighthawk and rebooted the VM Hub 4 into "modem + router" mode. LAN is back up and running (both wired and wireless segments).

So we will see what happens!  Wish me luck!

Who is your ISP ?

Mine's Xfinity/Comcast cable

Nope, I've tried with extra feature like geo filter, qos, traffic controller and ad blocker all turned off.  And it happens on devices regardless of how they're connected - some on wi-fi, some hardwired directly to the router and some hardwired to the switch.

I've tried to hardwire a second router directly to the Xfinity modem/gateway, but it won't pull wan ip, dns, etc..  Must be some setting that they have to prevent multiple routers?

I've also tried (myself after letting the Xfinity tech off of the phone) connecting a pc directly to the gateway, but it won't get internet even by manually assigning addresses (probably not using the correct addresses though tbh).

I have spectrum. And it was to both of you. I am getting a new Router to see if i have the same issue. So far connected just to the Modem i am having no problems. 

Yes, I am having this issue too which has completely stopped the show. From out of nowhere maybe a week ago, I have started seeing these slowdowns, errors and DNS issues occur on all browsers for just one PC initially, now on every device in the network.

To dot point what i have carried out/confirmed:
- XR1000v2 Firmware is up to date
- I have tried cold booting everything (Modem first, wait 2 mins, power up the XR1000v2, wait like 5 mins, same issue occurs)
- I don't have adblocker enabled in the XR1000v2, turned it off because it was slowing the hell out of the thing out of the box
- I originally had my DNS set to my ISP's recommended DNS and when these issues started occurring, I changed those to Google's DNS for Pri and Sec (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), cold booted again as above process. No change.
- Rebooted all devices on network, same symptoms, no change.

All I can really say without ability to access any diagnostic logs (apologies if I am able to get to these, but at a glance couldn't see where they live) is that the router was working, and now all of a sudden it had started to freak out. Before i ripped it out, it was displaying a Pink LED on the internet connection which tracks that there was a problem there.

Kind of a bummer as I dropped extra $$$ on this router because I've had Nighthawk products in the past and they have been absolutely bulletproof. this new router was good, but now i cant even connect to it. it is screwed up badly. Looking at previous posts from others it seems like factory reset wont fix it either.

After typing this out on my phone, I have plugged in my last Router (Non-Netgear) instead, and everything has come online perfect. So it ain't any issue with anything external, ISP, settings etc. The issue has to be an issue with the router.

As mentioned, I have been a big fan of Netgear products historically, but this has really soured my opinion of the product.

I will keep an eye out for any updates that might fix the issue, but if i dont see anything soon i might take the router back for a refund. I need something that is reliable and not just going to up and stop working sporadically

ISP is Virgin Media (VM) in the UK.

To recap.

1. The XR1000V2 was purchased last June (2024) and has been working pretty well, with one exception: I was always unable to log on to the admin pages from my PC (having given it the requisite four minutes waiting time), unless first rebooting the NH. I could then access the admin pages for a couple of days, before it wouldn't load. However, I was always able to access the pages from the NH App on my mobiles). Curious but not a show shopper.

2. About three weeks ago my wife reported that she was getting DNS failures (hence no internet) from her (Ethernetted) Win 11 PC. But her Win 10 laptop was fine when we plugged both into a GS 305 switch sitting on her desk. At this time I had not noticed any outages from my Win 11 PC (ethernet) or iThings (wifi).

3. Our first investigations centred on her PC (which had been working just up to this point). Configuration looked OK. But she reported an increasing frequency of DNS failures, and eventually looked at VM's support pages. They did a test of our connection and decided that we needed a new modem. This duly arrived about a week (and a bit) ago, was duly installed in "modem" mode. This did not solve the issue of the DNS failures and indeed the issue seemed to spread to my PC & iThings!  Curiously though, access to the NH admin pages from my PC started working.

4. So it was time for a change. The NH was removed, and the VM Hub4 re-installed in "Modem + router" mode, connecting straight into the Cisco Gigaswitch. And it has been fine ever since. Indeed my wife has reported that "internetting" seems subjectively quicker than before.

5. The next step is to monitor for a few days, then reinstate the Nightwalk (having performed a factory reset).

Was there an automatic update to the NH firmware in the last few weeks? Current version is noted in a previous post