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Forum Discussion
Nighthawk RAX120 - Fast Wireless Download Speed, Slow Wired
My ISP is Comcast/Xfinity with a 1-Gig subscription. When I hardwire my desktop directly to the Arris SB8200 modem, my download speed is approx. 940 Mbps. When I wire the desktop to the router and wire the router to the modem, the download speed drops to approx. 50Mbps. I'm using the same cable from the desktop to the modem as I use when I wire the desktop to the router (CAT5E). My wireless download speed on my laptop and phone both come in around 400 - 500Mbps when connected through the router. It is as if the router is throttling down the download speed or functioning as a bottleneck. I've been speaking with tech support for over 2 hours, but no luck after their many suggested adjustments. I had the same problem with the Nighthawk AX8 model that I had for about a week and returned today, swapping it for the RAX120. They are excalating this issue to one of their senior techs who will call me tomorrow.
I'm using firmware version 1.0.1.114 - This appears to be the latest version, although there is a .118BETA available that I can't seem to get downloaded onto the router.
Also, I want to reset the router to the factory settings. They had me change a number of settings which had no effect, so I'd like to change them all back. The tech indicated I should use a pointy object to depress the reset button on the back of the router, which I did depress, but the settings did not reset... I asked the tech for a link to an instruction manual for the router, but I haven't see that yet, so if anyone can point me in the direction of one, that'd also be helpful.
18 Replies
When you push the reset button, make sure the router is powered on and to push for 7-15 seconds. The lights should change when held long enough.
Make sure to disable any traffic monitoring, circle, qos, or anything like that.
Have you tried speedtesting a different hardwired device into the router?
Are you using link aggregation? I know the SB8200 supports it and so doe sthe RAX but its had issues from both arris and netgear.
here's where you can get the manual
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax120
Is there some way to edit my posts? It would be useful to clarify what I wrote previously as wel as fix some spelling errors.
When I attempted to factory reset the modem, I did hold the reset button down until the all the lights went out on the router except one. This took about 8 to 10 seconds. The tech on the phone indicated I would need to name the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz networks again as well as choose my password again, none of which reset after the reset. I'll probably just ask the escalation tech to help me through this when he/she calls.
I have not speed tested another hardwired device. Unfortunately, I do not have another device to hardwire (my laptop is a Surface Pro 6 with no ethernet port). We do know this hardwired desktop supports at least 940 Mbps download, as this is the speed when it is hardwired directly to the modem.
I'm not using link aggregation.
A couple things you can try.
1. When resetting, you can try going through the advanced----administration---backup settings. you can use this to erase and revert back to factory as well. Try this method.
2. Also, try reinstalling the firmware. if it didn't install properly/correctly, resetting only removes settings, it doesn't overwrite the firmware. Actually reinstalling can help with this.
3. Send Christian_R a PM. There's an actual beta firmmware for the RAX120. Maybe that firmware will help your issue. Plus it'd keep you in the loop for other RAX120 firmwares.
Bionanoscience, two comments for consideration…
[1] You can perform a factory reset of the router through the browser interface – see ADVANCED | Administration | Backup Settings | Revert to factory default settings | Erase
[2] Installing “Firmware Version 1.0.1.118 - Hot Fix” must be done manually, in my experience. Download “RAX120-V1.0.1.118_BETA.zip” from here, extract the “RAX120-V1.0.1.118.img” file to your desktop, and then upload it to your router through the browser interface – see ADVANCED | Administration | Firmware Update | Locate and select the upgrade file on your hard disk
RAX80
You see different people talk about enabling then disabling QoS , traffic metering, etc.. to get back to full speeds. This works, but only temporarily. Additionally, it has nothing to do with enabling or disabling anything. Every morning I wake up and perform a speed test on my 1g connection and see that I'm only getting 250Mbs download speed hardwired directly to my computer Cat6. I go into the router page under QoS settings and just hit the "Apply" button (without changing anything). My connection speed then jumps right back up to 700-800Mbs without making any changes at all. By the next day, the connection speed has already dropped backed down again. Netgear needs to address this issue as the router is obviously throttling back for some reason or another over time.
I am having the same exact issue with my RAX120. Router Firmware Version V1.0.1.122
1- test the speeds. They are low, 25-250mbps2- open router's QoS page, change nothing, click apply
3- test speeds again, now getting 400-600 mbps
4- wait a while5- test speeds. We are now back at step 1. Infinite Loop.
Seems like a prety glaringly reproducible issue. As far as I can tell from looking at this forum, Netgear has been knowingly selling us an entire line of routers that promise better performance that they do not even come close to delivering. I am developing the impression all of the RAX routers have the same issue. I RMA'd mine and the replacement is doing the same thing.
Seems it's not a quality control problem, in the traditional sense, where manufacturing inconsistencies can introduce possible bugs to a few units. This appears to be a flawed design that predictably performs this bad for all customers no matter what workarounds we try. The product appears fundamentally incapable of delivering the speeds promised for longer than 1 day. After months there is still no fix. How is there no class action lawsuit??There's an update available. Download, reset and test again.
I am also having the same issues with mine. Same model. I have done everything to test the speeds. My computer hardwired in with cat 6 still can't pull more then 100Mbps while my wireless can pull my 1 gig paid speeds. I have reached out to mediacom multiple times but they can't assist me as it's a router issue which i can't resolve.....
EpicLegacy, to clarify, is your router an RAX80?
Can you reproduce the problem with a different computer, connected to the router using Ethernet?
I just tested wired connection on my laptop. I'm now currently loking into why my Desktop PC isn't going past 100Mbps download. I have a EVGA X299 FTW K socket 2066 motherbaord. I just updated bios versions to the latest. Now looking into LAN drivers for the Killer port.
