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betterfaster's avatar
betterfaster
Guide
Jul 10, 2024

AX12 RAX120 v2 5GHz cuts out / stops working after connecting device to network

Router: AX6000 WiFi Router (RAX120) v2 AX12

Serial: 6JY

FW: V1.2.9.52 (same running FW version for many months, solved reboots during USB SDD file transfer)

When problem started: Between July 3 and July 7, 2024

 

How I noticed a problem: Came home July 7, 2024 after the holiday and on July 8 I opened my work Macbook laptop, which is only connected to 5GHz SSID and I noticed that WiFi was not connected. I cycled WiFi on the Macbook, reboot the MacBook etc. Reconnected to the 5GHz a few times and no matter what I did the moment I connected to the 5GHz network it would just disappear from existence. I disconnected the USB SDD as well; didn't help. I tried another Macbook, a Windows PC, and an iPhone and all caused the same problem; 5GHz would disappear as if it suddenly died. The Windows PC managed to keep the 5GHz alive for a minute or two (likely because it is old, WiFi 5 card inside, you will see why this is important in a second). As I was trying to connect to 5GHz with various devices and it would disappear for 1-2 minutes, the WiFi router was fine. It didn't reboot. Lights all blinked. Ethernet connected to Windows PC worked fine while 5GHz disappeared. 2.4GHz would sometimes work, sometimes not when the 5GHz disappeared after connecting a device to it.

 

Root Cause: When I turn off "Enable AX - This WiFi mode will enable AX features such as OFDMA" 5GHz works perfectly. It never disappears from existence. No cut outs. No nothing. Flawless. My old Windows PC likely can't use this feature so somehow it kept 5GHz alive for a minute or two before 5GHz cut out.

 

What I think Happened between July 3 and July 7, 2024?: I have been using the AX OFDMA feature for many months without issue. I did not change anything such as settings or add devices to the network. There was a major heatwave at this time. My home hit 93F max 2 days in a row. Maybe the router overheated somehow? It should be rated for 104F so I don't see how that was the problem. Why I come home and suddenly a feature causes 5GHz to break is odd.

 

Any advice on how to get OFDMA mode back?

4 Replies

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  • betterfaster's avatar
    betterfaster
    Guide
    Jul 10, 2024

    Contacting support is not an option because I went to the support page and it says my support and warranty is over. I had this router for almost 2 years now.. and it says to talk to the community instead.

    • betterfaster's avatar
      betterfaster
      Guide
      Jul 14, 2024

      Thank you for the suggestions. The router seems to work well enough with OFDMA off and once you are downloading 100 or 200MBps (yes big B) it doesn't matter so much to try to turn OFDMA on so I'll leave it be.

       

      In general this router has been a thorn in my side in general for 2 years and I'll probably use it until WiFi 7 routers become cheaper and move away from this one.

       

      If you could kindly let Netgear know that I tried their brand due to the great looks of the router, the good price, 5Gbps WAN, and large range... but after actually using a Netgear router I likely won't return to the brand for my next purchase. They really need to spend more time on listening to customers and making low touch fixes for existing products. At this point having to do a factory reset is too much to ask for considering I did nothing, changed nothing and 5GHz just broke during July 4th holiday.

       

      FURRYe38 has been single handedly keep customers happy (thank you very much for your support with this router over the years). Netgear as a company needs to try harder though, a lot harder.