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Forum Discussion
RAX40 router stability driver issues
I am having stability issues with the latest firmware. Are there any devices known to cause issues with older drivers specifically? I have seen it mentioned elsewhere in the forum.
I purchased a RAX40 here in Australia just a week ago. It also needs a reboot every day or two as it locks up and become unresponsive.
I'm going to see what support tells me.
jimi_AU wrote:I purchased a RAX40 here in Australia just a week ago. It also needs a reboot every day or two as it locks up and become unresponsive.
I'm going to see what support tells me.
Hey mate, I'm also in Australia. So that you don't end up with so much of a headache like most of us have, if you're able to, I'd recommend that you just return it and get something else. I've unfortunately missed the opportunity to return mine so I have no other option but to pester support and get Netgear folks on these forums to escalate. I'm currently using a beta firmware which looks pretty promising - have only ever had 1 initial WIFI drop the first day I installed the beta firmware. Since then it's been pretty rock solid for the most part.
Hi, my name is Jimi and I'm a RAX40 owner. It has been 4 days since my last reboot.
AA jokes aside, I think I have resolved my issues.
In case it helps others, here is what I did:
1. Downloaded the V1.0.3.80_1.0.1firmware from Netgear Support website: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/RAX40.aspx#download and saved it to my local computer
2. Logged into the router web admin console using a web browser on the computer
3. Navigated to the Router Update page
4. Uploaded the firmware image previously saved on the computer (NOT the "Check for new version from the Internet" option).
5. Once the firware update completed, performed a factory reset by using a paperclip to press and hold the reset button.
6. Reconfigured the router from scratch using the web admin console (NOT the Nighthawk Mobile App).
I have a feeling doing the factory reset after rather than before the firmware update is important.
For Reference: I have hardware version R1.05.
I did previously get a response from Netgear Support, but I personally did not find it helpful. Just in case others find it useful, I will paste the information below:
►Dropping/intermittent connection for both wired and wireless
How do I change the MTU size on my Nighthawk router?
https://kb.netgear.com/24015/How-do-I-change-the-MTU-size-on-my-Nighthawk-router
►Dropping/intermittent connection using wireless
How do I change the wireless channel on my NETGEAR router?
https://kb.netgear.com/23783/Improving-2-4Ghz-Wireless-Performance-by-Changing-Channel
►Still experiencing intermittent/dropping connection after changing MTU and wireless channel, follow the link below;
How do I update the firmware on my NETGEAR router with a web browser?
https://kb.netgear.com/23442/How-do-I-update-the-firmware-on-my-NETGEAR-router-with-a-web-browser
How do I perform a factory reset on my NETGEAR router?
https://kb.netgear.com/9665/How-do-I-perform-a-factory-reset-on-my-NETGEAR-router
How do I install my NETGEAR router using the router web interface?
https://kb.netgear.com/22697/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-router-using-the-router-web-interfaceI may last post I forgot to mention I used a computer connected to the router via an ethernet cable, not via wifi.
- If you hadn’t realised, everyone’s drop out issues are wifi related when they were on firmware version 1.38.80. I have a Philips Hue bridge connected via Ethernet but doesn’t get affected by the wifi drops obviously because it’s not connected via wifi. Where as everything else in the house is connected via wifi.
Also as mentioned previously, I’m not having wifi drop issues after installing the beta firmware from L2 support. I seem to be having increased stability with markedly longer uptimes without issue since removing an old HK1 Super Android TV box from my wifi network. I'm pretty sure it was an N wireless client but the box itself was lacking on specs or linux support so I couldn't really figure out the model of the USB wifi adapter it was using. My only hint was that it was experiencing internet issues first before all other clients and then the entire network would come down. I would have loved to do more troubleshooting with wireshark to help document the issue better but I didn't think of it at the time and now the box is gone and I won't be able to get a definitive answer. The router gui locked up during these crashes so I wasn't really able to get anything out of the logs at that point. Do you have any old wifi devices?
This is all good advice but each one is really a fix for a specific issue. The best shotgun attempt on the list has to be restoring the firmware over a good connection and then reseting the router to defaults before trying again.