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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 reco...
- Jan 29, 2020
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.
TomM_RAX80
Mar 09, 2020Aspirant
Have you tried different channels? That is the #1 thing that has made a difference. I try to move to a new channel for at least two weeks to see how it performs over time and then moved on to the next one. The 4th channel was the right one, so it took a couple of months, but since I have moved to channel 104, it has worked great.
GabboCH
Mar 09, 2020Apprentice
For me, changing Wi-Fi channels are also irrelevant.
Any Wi-Fi router should be able to negotiate which channel to use automatically.
Even my free non-branded internet provider router is capable to do this on both 2.4 & 5G channels.
A $500 top end router from Netgear should be able to do this no problem.
Any Wi-Fi router should be able to negotiate which channel to use automatically.
Even my free non-branded internet provider router is capable to do this on both 2.4 & 5G channels.
A $500 top end router from Netgear should be able to do this no problem.
- kingjahromeMar 09, 2020Star
With some persistence I was able to persuade Netgear to let me return the RAX80 for a refund. It took an unbelievable amount of time, hours spent on the phone with their tech support, calling them out on twitter when their initial support in another country just "closed the case" unsolved, etc. I first contacted them in October/November about the persistent issues with the router and finally got a refund check in hand only just last week. Well I learned my lesson to buy from somewhere that has a longer than 14 day return policy next time, OR to be sure and put the product through it's paces the first week and return anything that isn't performing or locking up all the time.
So the router I ended up going with was a previous gen model also from Netgear: Nighthawk AC2300 from Best Buy. So far it has been rock-solid and has never had any downtime as opposed to the near daily (or more) manual resets required with the RAX80. And it's an upgrade from the N600 router. I was highly skeptical about this recommendation and made sure to set it up day 1 and have not had a glitch/lockup or any need to reset it and it's been running for over a month since I sent in the old one. For me, stability is far more important than "speed" or having the latest, especially when the latest is garbage. It's unfortunate that most online reviews of products like the RAX80 just regurgitate feature-sets and don't really put products through their paces.
- PDWhiteMar 09, 2020Apprentice
Kingjahrome,
I finally got my reseller go take my RAX80 back, thanks...
This is only my opinion, but I suspect that the RAX80's problems are mainly in the hardware. Netgear may continue to try and resolve the problems in firmware, but I strongly suspect they will need to revise the circuitry before it will fully function as specified.
- kingjahromeMar 09, 2020Star
Yes, hardware could be a possibility as well. Someone has a bug. Could be in DSP's, FPGA's, firmware, or drivers. They have to acknowledge they have an issue at all which they never have really. The reply I got after they sent it to their engineering was "we cannot reproduce the issue, send him a refund." They have my broken unit now, if they can't figure it out they aren't trying hard enough! :-D I suppose I should let it go now. Fortunate you could get the reseller to refund too.
PDWhite wrote:Kingjahrome,
I finally got my reseller go take my RAX80 back, thanks...
This is only my opinion, but I suspect that the RAX80's problems are mainly in the hardware. Netgear may continue to try and resolve the problems in firmware, but I strongly suspect they will need to revise the circuitry before it will fully function as specified.
- cliff344Mar 26, 2020Apprentice
New firmware relased,1.0.2.76. Has anyone tried it? I'm in fear I will waste another couple of hours of my life I won't get back digging out my brick only to find false promise.
- GabboCHMar 26, 2020ApprenticeI flashed it but given the current situation with the entire household at home I can't take the risk of bad reliability to test it right now.
However from some other threads the LAN disconnect issues are definitely still present & from the general release notes I don't see anything which would fix any of the WiFi or QoS problems. - cliff344Mar 26, 2020ApprenticeYea I’ve seen the same thing. It’s somewhat concerning that Netgear would bother to issue an update and not address one of the main issues with this router. Many of the other issues can be considered minor to the operation of this unit, but for complete LAN disconnection issue, that basically make this an unusable product. I shake my head in disbelief every time I think Netgear has made an attempt to make this right. It just goes to show this company has lost any competency we might expect.
- cliff344Mar 29, 2020Apprentice
Well since I have nothing but time sitting at home on a "Stay at home" order, I decided today to dust off the rax80 and download the new firmware (1.0.2.76). First problem, as discussed prior, when the last firmware was released, it could only be obtained by using the nighthawk app, this one was just the opposite. The app said no update available, yet the update is available online for download. This is exactly opposite of the last update scenario. Another blunder by Netgear. So having now downloaded and istalled the update and getting things tweaked in, it is now operational. Didn't do anything special except replicate the settings I use on my R8500. Everything seems pretty stable, running 30+ devices. I now have a little over 12 hours uptime so we shall see if things are still connected in the morning. I'm running about 500-650 Mbps wireless speed on both my IPad and iPhone, which is a tad faster than I was with my R8500. Rechecked after 12 hours, and still holding true. I will report tomorrow if we are still connected. Somehow as in past scenarios, that is usually the failing point of this router.
Cheers, and stay well all. I will update tomorrow.
- bostony126Mar 29, 2020Guidenice write up thanks.. my rax80-nas has been running fairly well over the last few months with the exception of a reset needed about once a week or two? More and less. It depends.
Wishing all the best - GabboCHMar 29, 2020ApprenticeCant be running that well is it needs a reset..
My ISP non branded router never needed a reset in 3 years & the Netgear EX8000 I'm using in place of the RAX80 hasn't needed a reset either.
I won't accept a daily or weekly reset on a device which cost $300 when one for less than $100 works fine. - cliff344Mar 29, 2020Apprentice
Well my test run of the 1.0.2.76 firmware was once again a BIG "F"! Router didn't make it 24 hours without loss of internet on all my Wi-Fi devices. Past firmware problems exhibited dropout on both LAN and Wi-Fi devices, but only Wi-Fi this time. Ran very well for about 24 hrs then completely unresponsive. I could also not log into the web GUI from a wireless device. The Wi-Fi signal was still present but basically dead. So once again I will box this thing up and put it away for another time when Netgear gets it right. If only I could say what I really wanted to say directly to those responsible for the creation of this crap they call a router. Well not going to throw any more time of my life away on this, so good riddance and hope everyone stays well.
loggin out
- Bigtime68Mar 29, 2020Guide
The newest firmware isn't working for me either. Many, many, many disconnnects throughout the day which result in having to unplug the router and then plugging it back in. Netgear exchanged my first faulty router only to exchange it with another faulty router.
- cliff344Mar 30, 2020Apprentice
Some of the other things I discovered with the new firmware update (1.0.2.76). First if you try and run a Speedtest in the nighthawk app, it doesn't work and locks up the router GUI. If you try and go to the QOS page in the router GUI, and run a Speedtest, it will fail. The usb network storage will show up on your network for a short time, and then dissappear off the network. You have to reboot in order to get it back. On my R8500, I have many devices switched off in the Nighthawk App switches, so they dont have web access, but only local acces. When doing this same thing with the rax80, it kills the devices completely from the network both internal and external. The only plus with the firmware, was Wi-Fi network speed was much improved. I was hitting around 550-650 Mbps consistently.
- txchukoMar 31, 2020Guide
Hi my current version is
Firmware Version V1.0.1.70_1.0.30
When I check for updates, it says is the latest.
I started noticing random disconnects a few days ago. If there was a new firmware update I would like to go back to previous one.
I checked the netgear product downloads page for the RAX80 router and I see the "Current version" however I do not see the "Previous Versions" link as it shows for other products.
Can anyone advise how to downgrade to previous version please - bostony126Apr 01, 2020GuideNot for nothing buddy but do you have 38+ devices connected? IR and RF remotes running scenes? Do you have four AC and AX devices running on Wi-Fi? Do you even have AX? No you don’t. So start a new thread with your 3 year old equipment no one cares about. If I wanted mediocre stability I’d go buy that e800 off ebay for cheap. We’re not even talking about range extenders anyways! My range extenders work fine too, cool!
You’re in the wrong thread . ✌🏼 - cliff344Apr 01, 2020Apprentice
bostony126 wrote:
Not for nothing buddy but do you have 38+ devices connected? IR and RF remotes running scenes? Do you have four AC and AX devices running on Wi-Fi? Do you even have AX? No you don’t. So start a new thread with your 3 year old equipment no one cares about. If I wanted mediocre stability I’d go buy that e800 off ebay for cheap. We’re not even talking about range extenders anyways! My range extenders work fine too, cool!
You’re in the wrong thread . ✌🏼Who's the "Buddy"?
- everss02Apr 08, 2020Tutor
there is new firmware on their webise, the "check for new firmware" is comlete broken.
RAX80-V1.0.2.76_1.0.35
Giving this a try, this thing had been terrible latley, was using V1.0.1.70_1.0.30 this before updating, we'll see how it goes I guess.
- Bigtime68Apr 08, 2020Guide
I installed
RAX80-V1.0.2.76_1.0.35 over a week ago. Still having to reset my router 5 times per day.
- PDWhiteApr 08, 2020Apprentice
I gave up. (and, I don't give up easily.) I returned mine. The replacement (any replacement) is a great improvement. I strongly suspect (and, this is my opinion) that there is no way to fix the problems with upgrading the firmware. I believe that the problem is in the hardware or embedded microcode and that there is nothing that can be done without re-engineering the hardware. It there was, the problems would have been caught and fixed by now.
- everss02Apr 08, 2020Tutor
No dropped signal so far, BUT, it does absolutly completely freeze up if you enter the web console and touch anything.
- everss02Apr 08, 2020Tutor
The equivalent Asus .ax product I use at a small medical office, works without a hitch a year now. just an fyi netgear.
- txchukoApr 09, 2020GuideWould you know if the Asus line router interface has an option to set nat filtering to "off" or "open"?
I understand not all routers offer this option and port forwarding doesnt work when using multiple ps4 consoles - everss02Apr 09, 2020Tutor
The RT-AX88U doesn't have any NAT filtering optons.
- everss02Apr 13, 2020Tutor
Try a factory reset after the latest firmware, mine ran like crap until I did that.
- everss02Apr 16, 2020Tutor
Mine is till dropping after all that though, maybe 10-15 seconds, which totally borks my Citrix session :smileyfrustrated:
- bostony126Apr 16, 2020Guide
Hi,
That is the theme here... no matter which update they seem to push out, or how many resets you perform, the long term reliability is poor at best. With all that said, I now only power cycle my router once a month? And its providing superior performance above and beyond anything else I have had in my 1800sqft house. I use two TP-LINK RE500's that work really really well. Hoping they make this a priority and get it right. If not, I'll never buy equipment from them again.