RAX120 speeds are horrible

Question

My isp connection speed is 500mbps. &nbsp;When I run a speed test from the router I get 500 down and the up is all over the place from 20 to 500. &nbsp;When I run speed tests from my devices I'm getting 2mbps down. &nbsp;I've tried resetting the router. &nbsp;Does resetting it to default take the firmware version back down? &nbsp;Net gear wants money to help. &nbsp;This thing cost $400 and has been nothing but problems. &nbsp;Is there a magic bullet or is this router a very expensive lemon? &nbsp;If they could have fixed it via firmware updates they would have by now it's downloaded dozens of them. &nbsp;Support had me try all kinds of settings changes last year until my support ran out and now I'm sure it's even out of warranty. &nbsp;

michaelkenward · Answer

Epulliam&nbsp;wrote:
My isp connection speed is 500mbps. &nbsp;When I run a speed test from the router I get 500 down and the up is all over the place from 20 to 500.&nbsp; 
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What speeds are we talking about here? Wifi? Wired?
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How are you measuring them?
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Wifi depends on the clients. 20 Mbps is low,&nbsp; but it might be all that an old bit of kit can manage.
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It might be worth a bit of background reading.
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Understand Wi-Fi 4/5/6 (802.11 n/ac/ad/ax)
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@duckware knows their stuff and can bust a few myths and cut through marketing hype.
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It might also help if you told people what the modem is in front of this router, if there is one. The model number could be useful. Is it, by any chance, also a router, with a set of LAN ports on the back?The reason for asking is that a lot of people turn up here trying to put a router behind a modem that is also a router. That can complicate troubleshooting.
You might get more help, and find earlier questions and answers about your hardware, in the appropriate section for your device. That's probably here: Nighthawk Routers with WiFi 6 (AX) - NETGEAR Communities

Epulliam · Answer

Thanks for the reply.This is a current model expensive router, and I know it has the ability to run at high speeds.&nbsp; The fiber modem is a Alcatel-Lucent i-240g-c .&nbsp; I have a static IP and have that info entered in the router.&nbsp; When I do a complete factory reset on the router, I get good speeds for a few hours.&nbsp; I can get 200mb down and up (measured from the devices), but then it can be a few hours or a couple days later and it goes back to giving me 2mb down and 0.5mb up.&nbsp; There must be a problem with the router or firmware but I haven't been able to figure it out.&nbsp; These speeds apply to wireless and wired devices.&nbsp; I have removed the USB drive I had plugged into the back of the router, also.&nbsp; I measure using speedtest.net.&nbsp; I know the speeds are really this slow (2mb and under) because my devices lag and buffer.&nbsp; In the settings of the router, there's a place in the QoS section where you can run a speedtest from the router itself.&nbsp; When I run one from there, it shows my full bandwidth from my ISP for download (500mbps) but the upload can vary from 500mbps down to 20mbps.&nbsp; But when I run one from the device right after I get 2mbps down and 0.5mbps up.&nbsp; Has anyone figured this problem out?&nbsp; Before I posted this I read all of those posts and tried the recommendations for factory reset and disabling certain features.

antinode · Answer

&gt; RAX120 [...]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; RAX120[v1] or RAX120v2?&nbsp; Look for "Model" on the product label.Firmware version?&nbsp;&gt; [...] Does resetting it to default take the firmware version back&gt; down? [...]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No, but you should be able to do that, if you want.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your (actual) model number,and look for Downloads.&nbsp; (For older versions, under Firmware andSoftware Downloads, look for "View Previous Versions".)&nbsp; Find thekit(s).&nbsp; Download the kit(s) you want.&nbsp; Read the "Release Notes" filefor instructions.&nbsp; (In the User Manual, look for "firmware", and,especially, for a topic like "Manually Upload Firmware to the Router".)When that fails because of a deficient User Manual, try:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; https://kb.netgear.com/23960&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt; [...] The fiber modem is a Alcatel-Lucent i-240g-c [...]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, not really a "modem"?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Things generally work better with one router, not more.&nbsp; If you can'tdisable the router functions of that (not-really-a-)"modem", then youmight want to configure the RAX120 as a wireless access point.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your (actual) model number,and look for Documentation.&nbsp; Get the User Manual (at least).&nbsp; Read.Look for "Set up the router as a WiFi access point".

Epulliam · Answer

It's a RAX120v1I was told by my ISP that the routing functions were only enabled on the fiber modem if TV/Cable was also being provided, which I don't have.&nbsp; I will contact the ISP and verify this.&nbsp; If it turns out the routing functions can't be completely disabled, is there any reason for me to have this Nighthawk at all?&nbsp; It would seem to me like the reason it cost so much was because it is more powerful than a standard router (for routing/processing traffic).&nbsp; Or am I looking at this the wrong way?&nbsp; &nbsp;When I first had this fiber service installed, they gave me a basic linksys dual band router, which of course I immediately replaced with my own.&nbsp; I will find out what I can from the ISP about the fiber router/modem.Thanks for the help

antinode · Answer

&gt; [...] I will contact the ISP and verify this. [...]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Or, on the RAX120, look at:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ADVANCED &gt; ADVANCED Home : Internet Port : Internet IP Address.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If that's a public address, then the "modem" would seem _not_ to be arouter.&nbsp; If in doubt, then plug that address into the form at:https://whois.arin.net/ , and see what it has to say.&nbsp;&gt; [...] If it turns out the routing functions can't be completely&gt; disabled, is there any reason for me to have this Nighthawk at all?&gt; [...]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Better wireless-network performance? I wasn't involved in thedecision to get the RAX120, and I know nothing, but I'd expect it tooutperform the i-240g-c that way.

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RAX120 speeds are horrible

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