RAX80 regularly disconnects devices, then they reconnect

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

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!

Same issue as everyone else. Constantly disconnects and I have to unplug power from the wall to reconnect. A fix sure would be nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

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??

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.

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! 

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.

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!