Rax80 smart connect issue wifi dropping

Firmware 64 not 46...

Thanks GabboCH I've just updated the timezone for my NTP settings as well.  Also noticed that the "region" setting under wieless settings was incorrect, updated that to.  I'll be happy if it's as simple as this, but mine seems very random!

I "fixed" my RAX120 Wi-fi issues by installing a beta version of the firmware from Netgear's website, doing the factory reset and just going with the default settings, not making any changes.  (My 5GHz radio would disappear periodically and I could only get 25% of the speed provided my my ISP over the LAN cable.)  I'm not using the "Smart Connect" feature.  I connect to 5GHz only with my laptops and iPhone.

Everything was fine for about a week.   This morning I had lost about half my speed over the 5GHz band.  I immediatley rebooted the router and my speed returned to what it was before (~230Mbps down).

So now I'm at the place I was with the previous Nighthawk (R8000).  (His Internet port died and I went with the AX120.)  The router needs to be rebooted periodically to maintain performance over the Wi-fi radios.  How is this NOT seen during testing by the engineers at Netgear?  (Just bring one of these puppies up, put a moderate amount of traffic over the 5GHz radio, and let it sit for a week.  You guys MUST be doing this.  Right?)  Or is just those of us who complain have this issue and the zillions of other routers out there are just fine?  I'm serious.  Are we just the unlucky few and all those other routers are fine?

Netgear (Christian?)... what should I do the next time I encounter this serious reduction in speed?  Is there something in the logs I should be looking for to hint as to why?  This all smells like a resource/memory leak to me, since the reboot "fixes" the immediate problem.

I'm not sure I would bother; I made a public dropbox folder and have been placing my router debug logs there, packet captures, smart connect logs, screen shots, videos I've taken, etc.

The conversation with the Netgear techs was frequent (communicating with me every day, sometimes multiple times) productive (I thought) up until I mentioned just getting a replacement unit. Now they have been radio silent for five days! Funny how that happens.

I had issues with my R8500, which was discontinued, ostensibly due to the same issues (if Amazon reviews are legit).

I've spent many days and hours trying to figure out how to talk this Router in to working the way it advertises to. I still get daily dropouts. I've tried channels, settings, etc. I just don't think the hardware or software is up to the challenge, either due to subpar programming of the firmware or rushed design of the electrical components / cost cutting.

I appreciate the noble efforts everyone seems to be putting in helping Netgear troubleshoot this awful product, but I decided not to waste my time being a beta tester for this rushed-to-market technology. The best decision I made was to return my AX router for a refund, and go back to AC WiFi until the technology matures a bit more. And when I buy another one, it won't be from Netgear. The fundamental problems in this round of routers is absolutely inexcusable.

I bought mine through Amazon, so depending on how you return it you're given several options for a refund. Mine came in a few days after they received the product back, but sometimes you get a refund as soon as the return has been checked into the UPS system.

Every call with tech support wants to sign up for the extended warranty. I'm thinking they know it's defective... at this point if we can'g get a refund it may be worth getting the extended for an extra two years. Maybe we can get the updated "fixed" model rather than the expesive router we have. My ac3200 was still strong without issues. 

After my problems with the 2.4Ghz Wifi at the weekend, I've had a couple of days of reasonable uptime, although still several quick "connected to Wifi" messages on my phone during use.

Last night & continuing through to this evening I now have problems with the 5Ghz channel becoming excrutiatingly sloooow.

It takes about 120s to render the router "admin" page & accessing the internet is almost impossible as its so slow.

Reboot doesnt improve the situation & from what I can tell there has been no changes to the 5G channels the router is using.

Devices connected only to the 2.4Ghz channel have almost instant internet access & I'm clocking 500mpbs (100% of my max speed) from an ethernet connected computer...

At the weekend, I'm going to disconnect the RAX80 and go back to my previous internet provider router just to prove to myself I didnt have these kind of connection problems before...

I did the same when I moved from the previous router to the RAX80 (gave the RAX80 the same SSID as my previous router) and all devices connected automatically without any problems or re-authentication.

Yes if you keep the same SSID and password your clients won't know the difference.

I've also experienced issues very similar to this. The ethernet connected devices don't even blip. It's mostly the 5ghz clients that either don't work at all or are SUPER slow like you mentioned, and using them to get to the admin or debug screens takes forever or doesn't even load.

Netgear, please just tell us you have some idea of what's going on and are working on a firmware patch for us. This silence is deafening.

Christian_Ras several people have asked, can you confirm that Netgear is aware of these issues and is working on a solution?

From my conversations with the Level2 support, it is still not clear that any of these problems are even recognised.

I was kind of expecting to try out a beta firmware or something when I offered to help find a solution...

Even if its something out of Netgears control, at least we would know someone is looking at it.

I guess like many, I'm in the position that I've spent €350, cant get a refund & dont have a working product.

Do I just take the hit & buy a replacement or will there be another firmware update in the next days, weeks, month??

Well, I posted a long note in another thread but basically I'm having the same lockup issues as everyone else.  I saw the moderator suggested to open a ticket, so I did that.

They're offering an RMA, but I don't want to do that unless they come out and say for a fact there is a defect in the hardware and the unit they're delivering has a known hardware fix.  That's highly unlikely, this is almost certtainly a firmware issue.  Based on others posted they've gone the RMA route and it didn't resolve anything that is all I need to hear.  Besides, these RMA's may be sending "factory refurbished units" for all I know, and I won't be trading the problems with this unit for worse ones.It is functional other than the several reboots I'm having to do. Quite annoying that it won't stay up for even one day.  I still have my "600N" router sitting next to the RAX80 and I wish I could just get a refund, and purchase something else.  I regret not getting a refund under the return period at the electronics store.

It's disgusting to me that companies like this are totally inept at dealing with such a large number of user complaints and informing us of what is happening.

Hi Christian in reply to your post 11/4/2019

I can now confirm that i have informed netgear support of the problems that i am experiencing. 

I have previously stated i would stick by Netgear because of their history of outstanding products.

In an act of good faith i signed up to a 3 month support agreement 24/7 that overlaps the first 90 day support.

The support lady looked at all the router settings online made some changes it was a difficult experience and i would not look forward to going down that route again.

I reluctantly may have to throw the towel in.

i can no longer trust the router to sustain a performance for streaming and all devices keep dropping out Including security equipment.

I will now be talking to Amazon to see if they can apply pressure on Netgear failing that i will declare defeat and return the AX80 back to them.

I will go back to my previous router in the next 48 hours.

Thank you to everyone for their helpful posts.

Regards

Binstead 5