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koa132435's avatar
koa132435
Star
Oct 10, 2020

RAX120 WIFI Drops Signal (duplicated) when set for 160Mhz problems

I want to love this router but has some software or firmware problems. Router drops signal for at least ~3 dbm when configured for 160Mhz, this does not happen when configured for 80 MHz

My setup

Laptop with AX200 latest drivers --- 12ft ---->RAX120

  • Scanned the network with inSSIDer  channel 36, 40, 44, 48, 56, 60, 64 available, no signals
  • RAX120 Configured for AP 160Mhz, MU-MIMO and TX beamforming checked
  • Signal received at laptop measured around -41dbm
  • Initial PHY speed 2.4Gbps for transmit and receive ( CMD netsh wlan show interfaces)

When there is no traffic the PHY and signals remain steady 2.4gbps for both, rx and tx and signal at -41dbm.

When there is traffic ( e.g. speed test  using speedtest.net)  signal drops to -44/-43 dbm. 

This behavior is not present if the router if configured for 80Mhz.

 

Are you experiencing the same? Has this been reported before?

 

Also, I noticed that when MU-MIMO is check at 160Mhz configuration in ther router then signal variation (PHY speeds) are greater.

 

 

 

 

 

3 Replies

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  • koa132435's avatar
    koa132435
    Star
    Oct 10, 2020

    One more thing with the 160 Mhz noted above. If I am too close to the Router. let's say 3ft the router never renogiate speed back to 2.4gbps even if I am got back to 12ft away from the router. I need to disconnect from the RAX120 AP and connect back.

    • koa132435's avatar
      koa132435
      Star
      Oct 12, 2020

      I got different router , AX88U,  and I do not see the problem/behavior I experience with the RAX120. I actually see the opposite with the AX88U, signal increases when my laptop starts transmiting or receiving traffic. I have a sustained throughput with the AX88U of 850Mbps. With the RAX120 it varies 500-800Mbps even when the RAX120 has better signal levels :-(.

       

      It seem this is Netgear related, maybe the way the implemented power related behavior or wmm. I really like the hardware specs of the RAX120 but it seems firmware is still not ready, sadly.

      • Christian_R's avatar
        Christian_R
        NETGEAR Employee Retired
        Oct 16, 2020

        Hi koa132435, 


        Thanks for your feedback regarding the RAX120. Please let us know if you still have the router and need further assistance.

         

        Christian