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Forum Discussion
allarone
Jun 21, 2019Star
RAX80 regularly disconnects devices, then they reconnect
I recently “upgraded” from an R8000 thinking I would have better connectivity and faster speeds. Since purchasing the RAX80 I continually have devices drop their connection at random, then they reconnect within a minute or so. It is very aggravating when streaming tv and/or trying to connect to a web page. I have the latest firmware version installed and it continues to happen. I’ve rebooted many times but nothing works. I have been reluctant to do a factory reset. Anyone else have this issue or have a solution?
My experience with this problem is slightly different. In my case, the RAX80 simply slows a specific (random) system's connection down to a crawl. Rebooting the system dows nothing to fix this. The only fix I've found so far is to reboot the router and problem is gone.
Tech support has suggested changing the MTU setting to 1468. (Advanced>setup>Wan Setup) So far, I haven't noticed any improvement from this.
So they made another suggestion I haven't had the opportunity to check out yet. Here it is:
">>click on advanced on the top of the page
>>Then Select Advanced Setup
>>under Advanced Setup click on Advanced Wireless setting
under Wireless Advanced Settings (2.4GHz b/g/n) under Fragmentation Length (256-2346): changed the number 2346 to 2300
for CTS/RTS Threshold (1-2347): change the number from 2347 to 2301
do the same for Wireless Advanced Settings (5GHz a/n/ac)
Hit apply.
After this please observe the connection at least six hours."Perhaps this is worth a try. I have some other problems with this box. If they can't resolve them, I'g going to ask NetGear to buy the RAX80 back or replace it with something that is stable enough to actually work correctly. - My own optinion is that they shouldn't be messing with public domain code to run this box, generally, this has too many glitches and security issues. - You'd think they could afford to have professionals writing the firmware for these systems.
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- SAM_the_GAMLuminary
You are experiencing one of the many bugs with the latest firmware version 1.0.1.58. Best suggestion is to downgrade to the previous version 1.0.1.56
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll try backing it down and see if that helps.
Be weary! From what I can tell, Sam the Gam is the only one who seems to have little to no problems running *.56 firmware.
I had to downgrade to *.40 because .56 is a crap show.
- cliff344Apprentice
I recently picked up an RAX80, replacing an X8 (R8500). After updating it to the latest firmware, and getting it all set up to drop in and replace my X8, I find out how bad this router really is. I am very well versed with Netgear routers having used and owned previous an AC1450, R6250, R6700, and X4, and X8. All of these worked very well for me, as each was purchased as an upgrade to the next. This new RAX80 is by far the worst I have ever purchased. First time through setting it all up, had it up and running, and about an hour later, it reset itself and lost all settings back to factory settings. So then I spend another hour getting it set up again, and it seems to run very well. Go to bed, get up in the morning and all internal connections are lost and Wi-Fi signal is nonexistent. Reset, and same thing happens next day/night. Go back checked all settings and made a few small tweaks, and was running extremely well once more. Go to bed, next morning everything is disconnected again. Having my home set up with HA, it's important that my router is stable and working without this type of thing happening. So for now, I have a large very expensive paperweight, until Netgear does something to fix it. All of my previously routers ran for months with the need to be rebooted, this thing can make it 12hrs. Netgear please address this. This is the biggest piece of garbage I have ever had from you!
cliff344 Probably saying 'welcome to the club' is the wrong statement here. It's not a club you want to be in =(
For me personally, I'm running on an older firmware version and aside from missed security updates, and my VPN acting strangely, my router is mostly stable. You might try downgrading and see if you get stability there. I don't even know what the latest is anymore these days...
- cliff344ApprenticeI would like to try something, but you mention VPN issues, and thats another important feature I use/need regularly. So I’m not sure I even want to try that either.
- CaptGPFGuide
I agree with cliff344 - I've used Netgear for decades and they have always been rock solid - until the RAX80. The wireless connectivity has always been the bane of this wireless router, and it took 2 WEEKS of tech support call to stabilize it when I first got it. The router was most stable with ver RAX80-V1.0.1.58_1.0.24, but it appears that the changes to RAX80-V1.0.1.62_1.0.26 totally borked it.
Where I once had a stable wireless network, I now get DAILY COMPLAINTS on drops (which I myself have enjoyed). I am tempted to roll back to 1.58, but given the fact that this is an outward facing firewall for my home, I am hessitant due to the security bugs that were fixed with this release.
I suspect that the changes to the Beaconing and DMT could be the culprit, but I can't confirm becuase I can't even tweak those settings on this router!
Netgear, please fix this issue ASAP, or the RAX will be the last Netgear product I will ever purchase - let alone recommend to others. Please help everyone on this thread to be your advocate.
I've always read reviews on products where I was having similar problems and either fixed it from comments, waited until a fix was coming, or just lived with it. However this is a much different case because house runs on wifi and more importantly my home security. So this is my first time ever writing a review. I'm having constant disconnects and I have to admit to my wife that I bought something that's a piece of crap. Giving her the chance to say I told you not to buy it. I"ve always bought Netgear routers because they have always been stable and reliabile which made me happy. This is my first chance wanting to buy top of the line router ($300+) and I fell stupid. Please fix this issue. I don't care if you have to disable a few features, but at least make the connection stable.
Same issue as everyone else. Constantly disconnects and I have to unplug power from the wall to reconnect. A fix sure would be nice!!!!!!!!!!!!
- GabboCHApprentice
I've been discussing with a Level2 support guy & so far hes given me no indication that these are known issues or that anyone is working on them.
I have to provide the router config & logs & he will forward me ase to the engineering team.
However, it looks like RAX owners are in it for the long-haul...
- cliff344Apprentice
That's about on par for Netgear. Seems like it was ONCE a great company with great products. Now their support and R&D has fallen short to the consumer. So sad.
I'm in the need to hard reset my router several times a day club as well with theRAX80. My story is like everyone else: the RAX80 locks up, nothing can connect to the internet and cannot access the admin console via wifi or ethernet at 192.168.1.1/start.htm, attempted to select channels manually thinking there might be interference, disconnecting the printer from ethernet since it's throughput is 100MB/s whereas the rest of the LAN is 1000 MB/s. None of the things I could logically try improved the stability. I was having these issues when I purchased the router three or four months ago (and was running the latest firmware then) and so when V1.0.1.64_1.0.27 came out I was hopeful that it had finally addressed the stability issues. No such luck and if anything I'd say it got slightly worse, from 1 or 2 hard resets a day required to now needing 2 or 3.
And also, like other users I went to Netgear for the RAX80 specifically because I had used previous Netgear products (N600, and originally WRT54g) because they stayed up for months on end without needed intervention. I had tried other brands, which which proved to be not as reliable, in the interim when upgrading routers in the early days, and those went back to the store under the 30 day return policy because they had the type of issues I'm now experiencing with Netgear! I want Netgear to fix this or exchange the product for something reliable that works.
Even out of the box this thing has proved to be troublesome. The iOS configuration app simply did not work because the firmware on the router was not compatible with the latest iOS app. It's disappointing to see this level of poor quality in a product. That initial time setting up I wasted a good hour because the warning messages were useless and made it seem things were "sort of" working. Once I figured out it wasn't going to work I realized you could simply go to the web interface just as on previous routers and bypass the iOS app altogether. I agree with the other posters who have called this router garbage, unfortunately.
Netgear, since we are already your beta testers, why don't you send us some ACTUAL beta software that attempts to address these stability issues, logs what is going on when it locks up, and let us feed the data back to you, or point us to a previous firmware version that is known to be stable and instructions on how to flash it??
- GabboCHApprenticeIf you open a support case you can send them logs from the router.
If you goto the router IP/debug.htm (e.g. 192.168.0.1/debug.htm you can turn on logging (Press Start Capture) and then each time an issue occurs click "save debug logs".
However, with the number of people experiencing the same issue for several months I'd expect that we would be testing new firmware by now rather than still trying to explain what the problem is.excellent, thank you for the link to their debug setup!
- I can no longer take these disconnects. I'm selling mine on Ebay and going to get some Google nest routers. I need some reliability for my home security.
- I've been a netgear user since 2008 but I think it's time for us to part ways.
My WIFI routers have all been Netgear going back to WRT54g, and then N600. So I've used netgear exclusively over a decade and a half. WRT54g was rock solid on stability. N600 had the occasionally lock-up but it had literally months of up-time before any issues. Unbelievable that they can ignore this issue on RAX80 where up-time is never longer than 24 hours, and usually requires resetting the router several times a day.
- cliff344Apprentice
We need to get a good class action lawyer to step in here and stick it Netgear. Most of should demand refunds for this $300+ piece of junk.
- anfibilInitiate
What a piece of junk! I just "upgraded" to this router as well (after seeing moderately positive reviews online). Nothing stays connected to it on my 5Ghz network. I spent hours trying to figure out why my 3-year old asus router was giving me higher speeds than this. That problem is still not solved. But it's hard to even try to work through it because every 5min my devices keep dropping out of the network. Come on, Netgear! This is not a $10 router. Ridiculous.
anfibil , sorry you got duped by the reviews online. Every time I see positive reviews for this router I cringe and want to respond in the comments, but I just don't have it in me to make accounts for the various sites.
They seem to review them for a short amount of time and don't really put the router through the ringer like a regular customer would.
This router really is a piece of crap.
- TomM_RAX80Aspirant
Christian,
I am a software developer and have been a beta tester for years for different products. I am more then happy to be a beta site and test fixes within 24 hrs of recieving them. I was very stable until just recently. The two big changes I recently made: added a Samsung SmartThings hub to my system and upgraded my BIOS. I think it was either 56 or 58. I have several Fire TV 4K sticks. These seem to be affected first. I have several Echos too. They seam to be very suseptable too. Phones and computers seem to hang on a bit longer, but eventually they lose their connection too. A reboot of the router ALWAYS solves the problem. Today was the worst as even the hard line ethernet devices failed too. I reboot 3 to 5 times a day.
I will run without the SmartThings hub connected for 48 hours and see if that was interfering or overloading the router. They are about 3 feet away from eachother. But if they are on seperate channels, then you would think it shouldn't be a problem. If you want me to send you logs, please email me specific settings for the debug mode.
Thanks!
- cliff344Apprentice
I discovered a new firmware release (1.0.1.70), looks like Dec 13th. Was nice that Netgear posted it on their website, Haha. The only way to get this update, is via the Nighthawk app. It cannot be found anywhere else. So I downloaded it yesterday, and went through setting it up (it's been boxed becuase it was unusable). First 24-hr test seems stable. No disconnect issues. Speeds pretty decent, pulling 600+Mbps on 5Ghz, using wifi-SweetSpots app, as compared to my X-8 at 500Mbps. Qos setup and device setup was a bit buggy, but got all priority and device labels to stay. There was some talk about not holding time Server setting or constantly searching for time in the router logs, so I changed the time server to time-a-g.nist.gov, and that seems to work well. I have 35+ devices and all seem to be working rock solid. I have the AX setting on, and the DDNS and VPN features are working well also. So let's give it some time and see where it goes. So far I am tickled that it actually working this well right now. I am also using the Static LAN assignment, as I have the first 100 IP addresses reserved. Also some of the other forums are complaining about dropping internet connection and reconnecting, I have not seen this at all. I did allow the router to go through the internet setup automatically, so maybe that helped.
- cliff344Apprentice
Well new firmware released mid Dec (1.0.1.70). Pulled my $400 piece of junk out it's box to see if maybe they actually did something to make it usable. Loaded new firmware, reset up with my settings and got her going. Ran very well and impressive for about 30hrs, then once again, total disconnect to both wired and wireless devices. Reboot, and within 24hrs did it once again. Somehow it seems to be related to the time or time server setting. Whenever it disconnects, it shows a future date and time change in the logs. Also new firmware will not hold device icons and descriptions in both the GUI or the app. I was however very impressed with the wifi speeds (when it was working). Well back in the box it goes to wait on Netgear to get off their butts and try again. I am really beginning to love my R8500, as it never requires any attention, it's fast, and just works, unlike this piece of garbage!
- GabboCHApprenticeI did exactly the same, out of the box, factory reset, update, setup & I had Ethernet dropouts (which was new for me).
Back in the box the day after.- PigletRiderApprentice
GabboCH wrote:
I did exactly the same, out of the box, factory reset, update, setup & I had Ethernet dropouts (which was new for me).
Back in the box the day after.Absolutely stunning!!!
I use all of the Ethernet ports on my RAX120 and have never had an issue there. (I have had all the reported issues with the Wi-fi radios, however.) It's frightening to think that a simple upgrade to the next firmware release could change all of that. If this thing starts dropping Ethernet connections, I'm boxing it up, same as you.
Netgear... what is going on with your routers? I have serious angst over upgrading, or even rebooting, my router. Really?