Netgear Nighthawk wrong IP address being assigned

Master

Feb 16, 2023

entraee wrote:
Disclaimer: I'm not very familiar with tech terminology so please bear with me.

I am having an issue with my Nighthawk routers. I have an R7000 and as of today, 2/15/23, I have an AX12.

I've had the R7000 since 2020 and after a reset last Saturday, 2/11/23, the router started assigning incorrect IP addresses to my devices. The Router is using the 192.168.1.1 gateway and would assign IP addresses with 192.168.1.xxx to my devices. I would be able to access the internet w/ devices that have been assigned those IP addresses. Since the reset on 2/11, the R7000 started assigning IP addresses in the range of 192.168.7.xxx. Devices that are connected with the new .7 address say that they are 'connected' to the router but are unable to access the internet nor are they able to access the router. This is happening with both ethernet connected devices and wifi connected devices. I went through the whole trouble-shooting process:

1) I powered off the router to reset it (did not work, still being assigned the .7 addresses)
2) I disconnect the devices from the router then reconnecting after a period of time (did not work, same issue)
3) I powered off the router AND disconnected the devices from the router. I only reconnected the one by one after the router powered back on and has properly connected to the internet (based on the lights). (this did work temporarily - *SOME* of my devices were assigned the 192.168.1.xxx address when done in this way)
3a) However, should those devices disconnect from the router (such as powering off the PC), the incorrect .7 address is assigned again when the device reconnects
4) For some reason only wifi connections were being correctly assigned the .1 addresses but ethernet connections were not
5) Tried factory reset, still same issues as above.

This prompted me to believe the issue was with the router itself and that it somehow broke. Thus I purchased the AX12. I am still having the same issues where the .7 address is being assigned and devices assigned these addresses are unable to connect to the internet. I am currently only connected properly to the router by setting a static IP address on my PC to a .1 address. Only with a .1 address am I able to connect to the router to provide the attached screen. All the devices on the .7 address there are unable to connect to the internet.

Any help or insight on the matter is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

What is the name brand and model number of the modem/gateway/ONT that is connected upstream of your R7000? (Look on the label)

Please confirm the AX12 you refer to is a model RAX120?

Not clear where or how the RAX120 (?) is connected into your network. What is it connected to?

Kitsap
Master
Feb 16, 2023
entraee wrote:
I am on a fiber optic network. The ethernet cable from the ONT box connects directly into the R7000 and now the RAX120. Yes, the AX12 I referred to is the RAX120 (sorry the box was confusing and the AX12 was far more visible than the RAX120 label). I do not know what model the ONT is as it is hard to access. If it is of any help, I am on the Frontier FiberOptic network in California. They changed out my ONT box not long ago (around 6mo ago) and supposedly I have their most updated box as of that time. If it is essential to know the model of the ONT I try to access it later to see if I can find a model number.
The biggest question about the ONT is whether or not it is a combination device that is also a router. Does it have the ability to broadcast Wi-Fi? Does it have more than one Ethernet output port? If the answer to either one is yes, that is a big part of the problem. Two devices on the same LAN trying to perform routing functions is problematic. The model number for the ONT would confirm the answer to the question. Your IP address issues and lack of access to the internet are classic symptoms.

So you have set the R7000 aside and now have the RAX120 connected in its place?
- entraee
  Aspirant
  Feb 16, 2023
  As I understand it the ONT is not a router. It does not appear to broadcast its own wifi signal. I know this because even if I pull the plug on the ONT box, all the wifi signals I can connect to are the same so should either be that it is not capable of wifi or that wifi is not in operation. As far as I know, the ONT only has a single ethernet output port. If there are more, then only one had been in use and it had been connected to my router.
  
  I have set my R7000 aside and am currently using the RAX120 connected in its place. As additional info, I also run a Linksys switch for additional LAN connections but even my PC LAN connections that are connected directly into the RAX120 are getting incorrect IPs. The switch does not have wifi capability and can only do LAN connections. I have already tried disconnecting the ethernet for the switch while connecting my other LAN connections to the RAX120 and it does not solve the issue.
  - Kitsap
    Master
    Feb 16, 2023
    entraee wrote:
    As I understand it the ONT is not a router. It does not appear to broadcast its own wifi signal. I know this because even if I pull the plug on the ONT box, all the wifi signals I can connect to are the same so should either be that it is not capable of wifi or that wifi is not in operation. As far as I know, the ONT only has a single ethernet output port. If there are more, then only one had been in use and it had been connected to my router.
    
    I have set my R7000 aside and am currently using the RAX120 connected in its place. As additional info, I also run a Linksys switch for additional LAN connections but even my PC LAN connections that are connected directly into the RAX120 are getting incorrect IPs. The switch does not have wifi capability and can only do LAN connections. I have already tried disconnecting the ethernet for the switch while connecting my other LAN connections to the RAX120 and it does not solve the issue.
    As long as your switch is connected downstream of the RAX120 it should work fine. What is the brand name and model number of your switch?
    
    Your Ethernet connection should run through a single cable from your ONT to your RAX120 then to a computer if possible. Using DHCP your RAX120 should assign IP addresses to all devices downstream from a pool of addresses. Your RAX120 configuration sets the IP start point, such as 192.168.2.100 through 192.168.2.200.
    
    The ONT replacement a few months ago is still a possible start point. There is a chance the ONT itself reserves a LAN address for itself that is in conflict with the RAX120.
    
    It is becoming more important to know the details of what is on the label on your ONT. In fact a cell phone picture would be helpful.
    
    How long has it been since your powered down your whole network and did a sequential start? The sequential start begins at the outside and works its way in. Power down does not mean just shut off the switch, it means pull the power cord. Pull the power cord to your ONT, disconnect the output Ethernet, pull the power cord on your RAX120 and disconnect all the Ethernet connections. Power down the remainder of your network devices. Go back to your ONT, power it up and give it ample time to start and stabilize. Connect the Ethernet to your RAX120 and power it up. Give it plenty of time to boot and stabilize. One of the last indicators to illuminate should be your internet connection. Connect an Ethernet to a computer and boot it up. Access your RAX120 user interface and check the IP addresses and run a throughput capacity test to the internet. If you don't have a computer with an Ethernet port input, you can connect via Wi-Fi from the RAX120 and do the same thing.
    
    Connect and power up the remainder of your network devices. The IP addresses should all be within the range you set in your RAX120.
    
    Does your ISP support IPv6? If it does, you should enable IPv6 support in your RAX120 configuration.

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Netgear Nighthawk wrong IP address being assigned