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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 reco...
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.
My RAX120 mirrors everything that's happening on the RAX80. Christian was kind enough to reach out and work with me direct to open a ticket complete with logs. But I've heard nothing since.
You expect a toaster to toast, a car to run, a radio to play music, a clock to tell time, etc... These are basic functions. As such, I'd expect my Netgear router to do the basics, connect my devices to the Internet at my ISP's rated throughput and maintain. That's it! It can have all the additional bells, whistles, bobbles, etc. But it MUST connect my devices to the Internet at speed. My Netgear router (RAX120) simply can't do that with any monicum of consistency.
Reboots don't fix the problem. Loading the latest beta firmware doesn't fix the problem. Numerous factory resets don't fix the problem. Working with Netgear Support doesn't fix the problem. And the worst part... Netgear is SILENT on all of this, not acknowledging these problems and letting their LOYAL customers know that a firmware fix is indeed coming.
I'll be looking for a replacement. I need my toaster to toast.
Christian & Netgear support
I managed to stabilize my wireless network by running a wireless frequency scan in my neighborhood and changing by 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands to a low congestion band. This + the changes you made in the beaconing settings may be causing the periodic disconnects.
To be honest with you - the relative silence on this matter is not sitting well with many of us. If you are going to make us tinker with our routers to fix these issues - Netgear needs to step up to the plate and:
- Give us Wireless congestion detection apps on all mobile platforms - like your competitors - to tune our bands out of harm's way - or better yet, have the wireless router detect and recommend a less congested band for the user
- Stop dumbing down the interface by shielding basic settings such as beaconing - so we are a slave to firmware updates we have to apply due to security concerns - ultimately killing ourf wireless networks -- unless the security fix to wireless is to make it non-functional
- Stand behind your products for a change. 90 days of free technical support before you have to pay for it? That's a sterling statement of confidence in your product - which sees many firmware revisions during its marketable lifecycle
Many of us are doing you a favor by bringing this to your attention because we liked (pastg-tense) Netgear - where it used to stand for quality, reliability and performance. Your appathy on this (and the RAX120) stability issues clearly tells us that we shouldn't have even bothered to be a loyal consumer with the feedback.
It will be interesting to see if your problems return or not after changing channels.
There are only 2 SSIDs near my (both mine) so normally I should have no problems with congestion.
However, one of my networks is from my ISP which provides "Wifi for All" and is using 2.4G channel 1.
My RAX80 is in "Auto" for 2.4G and didnt work at all (no devices could connect to it even after rebooting) when the RAX80 router had selected channel 1 in Auto mode.
After rebooting through the Web Interface the RAX80 selected a different channel & 2.4G connection returned again.
As I have no other networks within range of me, the router stayed on this channel & I didnt have global connection problems again on 2.4G.
However, I wasnt able to find a channel for the 5G band which gave the same results.
I did wonder whether the mesh networks I have from my Nest & Sonos devices was interferring with the router connection as these dont show their SSID & are not visible to a Wifi Analyzer scan.
However, when connecting an Wifi5 (TriBand) Netgear Extender in place of the RAX80 I have 3 days without any connection problems so clearly the way the RAX80 is handling 2.4/5G connections is not working correctly.