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Solved
RAX120 V2 Constant Random Reboots
The router reboots frequently sometimes every 30 minutes. I have noticed that the router reboots under heavy system load of +50% on the processor. The only way I have been able to drastically lesse...
- Installed beta firmware 1.2.3.33 on it and then turn fan on in debug.htm. Just check mark it , don’t click on apply.
And bought a cool pad from amazon $10 . 4 days in a row no restart and router works perfect.
Laptop Cooling Pad，ESGAMING Laptop Cooling Stand Laptop Cooler 10-15.6 Inch 2 USB Ports 2 Fans with Blue LEDs https://a.co/d/dXVVnxw
Don't hit apply after turning fan on. Not necessary and it reboots router
Installed beta firmware 1.2.3.33 on it and then turn fan on in debug.htm. Just check mark it , don’t click on apply.
And bought a cool pad from amazon $10 . 4 days in a row no restart and router works perfect.
Laptop Cooling Pad，ESGAMING Laptop Cooling Stand Laptop Cooler 10-15.6 Inch 2 USB Ports 2 Fans with Blue LEDs https://a.co/d/dXVVnxw
And bought a cool pad from amazon $10 . 4 days in a row no restart and router works perfect.
Laptop Cooling Pad，ESGAMING Laptop Cooling Stand Laptop Cooler 10-15.6 Inch 2 USB Ports 2 Fans with Blue LEDs https://a.co/d/dXVVnxw
Today the problem got much worse. Instead of a reboot every few days, it started rebooting every few minutes (around 15 min).
The change was likely a new device streaming to another, both connected wirelessly. On top of that, my WAN speed went from 600 Mbps to 900 Mbps. This goes to support overheating as root cause. CPU utilization is a noticeable higher, but still under 15%.The fan is already "always on" under debug.htm. Thermal_FAN.htm shows sensor temperature as "NaNC."
Now I turned off 2.4 GHz WMM hoping for an improvement on how frequently the reboots happen, and I also bought a FAN (140 mm, USB) that will arrive in a couple days.
- The 140mm AC infinity fan I posted has helped me immensely. Hopefully we get a firmware fix soon that deals with the heat issue...but the fan has greatly improved performance for me.
- So now with the fan always on (it makes a weird sound now), a laptop cooling pad, and the beta firmware update, it still drops every few days, but at least it auto resets rather than me having to power cycle like I used to.
I bought a usb fan and place on the router. It did slow the reboots but does not stop the reboots. The reboots dropped from 3-10 per hour to 6-10 per day. Heat is a situation, but it is not resolved.
I disabled 2.4 GHz WMM, enabled fan always on in debug.htm, put a 140 mm fan on top of it, and it still reboots.
After the reboot, the fan always on setting is disabled, and the internal fan stops. Has anyone else noticed that?
It is also pretty reproducible. I have a Tablo DVR via wireless (because of antenna location and no wiring there), and the router reboots after a few minutes streaming (HD 1080 8 Mbps) from the DVR to a TV wired to it.
I just can't understand why Netgear is not capable of releasing a new firmware to address obvious issues like the fan speed, sensor temperature, etc.
- Because it's just a temporary solution. They probably know what caused this thing cuz it's already known for long long time. They just couldnt do anything with just software updates. I guess the main problem is hardware. Netgear just wants to take this longer and slower until we giving up and buy the new one. Shame on NG
Try putting the fan under the router, not on top. Have the fan blow air in the direction from the bottom to the top.
nestorsamelo wrote:
I disabled 2.4 GHz WMM, enabled fan always on in debug.htm, put a 140 mm fan on top of it, and it still reboots.
After the reboot, the fan always on setting is disabled, and the internal fan stops. Has anyone else noticed that?
It is also pretty reproducible. I have a Tablo DVR via wireless (because of antenna location and no wiring there), and the router reboots after a few minutes streaming (HD 1080 8 Mbps) from the DVR to a TV wired to it.
I just can't understand why Netgear is not capable of releasing a new firmware to address obvious issues like the fan speed, sensor temperature, etc.
I will try to put the fan under it, blowing air up, but to be frank I don't expect that to work.
You can see its own fan blowing air down, and if you see pictures of its internals, you can see the CPU is not under the PCB, but on top.
(You can see the pictures here:
https://openwrt.org/inbox/toh/netgear/netgear_rax120_nighthawk_ax12
By the way, potential OpenWRT support is the only reason why I haven't returned this yet.)Anyway, this is either a bug in firmware that should have been fixed by now, as suggested by the temperature sensor reporting "NaNC", or even worse, it is a hardware design flaw.
I am shopping for an ASUS router myself. Better UI, allows me to disable WPS, and doesn't reboot spontaneously like this.
- The built in fan does not blow air down. It is an exhaust fan. If you put your face up to it you can feel the warm air coming up. That's why I put my 140mm fan at the bottom to force cool air up throught the vent on the bottom. Make sure you you have your bottom intake fan on the side that pushes air up. Since doing this I havent had a single reboot in over 2 weeks. Obviously a firmware fix is in line regardless but this solution goes a long way. Heat is always an enemy to electronics whether it's a router or a stereo receiver, or a computer. They need to breath.
I have asked over and over again for beta firmware for this device with none being sent and no response from the team. How do I get my grubby little mitts on beta Firmware Version 1.2.3.33!
- I've had no reboots now for over 2 weeks just placing a 140mm usb fan under it and setting exhaust fan in debug to always on. No beta firmware.
Is this still the case? Can you send a screenshot of your uptime?
I am leaning towards this being a heat issue as well, but mainly a bad batch. I see I get reboots when I am using the NAS drive heavily. The CPU usage skyrockets and this thing gets HOT to the touch on top. Once I disconnect the drive, and you can feel the router cool down, it becomes stable. I have fans on the way to see if that will help.
Couple of notes, moving the power supply to a different wall socket (even circuit on the house), using many different UPS units including my HT power conditioner, disabling this WMM setting all did not help at all. The fact is, this thing reboots when a heavy load is put on it, and it is hot to the touch (not to burn you, but for electronics, it's most certainly in overheating territory.)
The beta firmware didn't do anything for me, and enabling fan always on didn't help while using my NAS.
After the fans come to test, I'm almost tempted to open this thing up, maybe thermal paste bad from the factory somewhere. Something along those lines
I'd get a laptop cooler under ASAP. The longer heat exposure the more damage there will be to the electronics.
dude8370 wrote:
I am leaning towards this being a heat issue as well, but mainly a bad batch. I see I get reboots when I am using the NAS drive heavily. The CPU usage skyrockets and this thing gets HOT to the touch on top. Once I disconnect the drive, and you can feel the router cool down, it becomes stable. I have fans on the way to see if that will help.
Couple of notes, moving the power supply to a different wall socket (even circuit on the house), using many different UPS units including my HT power conditioner, disabling this WMM setting all did not help at all. The fact is, this thing reboots when a heavy load is put on it, and it is hot to the touch (not to burn you, but for electronics, it's most certainly in overheating territory.)
The beta firmware didn't do anything for me, and enabling fan always on didn't help while using my NAS.
After the fans come to test, I'm almost tempted to open this thing up, maybe thermal paste bad from the factory somewhere. Something along those lines
I like how the title of this thread says "solved". Absolutely not solved.
I'm actually not sure it's heat related. It doesn't get that much hotter than 75° where my router is, but regardless, it will drop at night when it's cool or during low use periods. I think it's just a defective product that Netgear doesn't want to admit to.
- I believe it's both heat related and software related. This issue wreaks of memory leaks in it's behavior.
I will say at least they are still working on the issue and I feel like they feel it’s solvable. Otherwise there would have been a V3 or they’d stop selling it.
- I did like this, look at the pictures > .
- The second photo
This works as well:
Laptop cooler under the router. Been using these since 2012 under ANY router I use.
- I somewhat agree. But most if anything like me will buy a different brand. If they fix it soon I'll stick with them.
Glad the new firmware is working! A while back I exchanged For v1 Which has been completely flawless. My old v2 Unit while unstable at the time had ever so slightly better range, not much the difference is negligible . Hoping to see the best!
I tried using a laptop cooling pad with a fan. It didn't stop the problem but it seems it speeds up the rebooting process so that the wifi is not down as long. But I still have my router rebooting several times a day.
What is the first 3 characters of your routers serial numbers please.
Did you get ahold of the beta FW file for this yet?
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6 is recommended.
David22066 wrote:
I tried using a laptop cooling pad with a fan. It didn't stop the problem but it seems it speeds up the rebooting process so that the wifi is not down as long. But I still have my router rebooting several times a day.
