Rax80 smart connect issue wifi dropping

Hi All,

I have a RAX80 that doesn't have most of the problems all of you are experiencing but it does have quite a few problems including smart connect not working.

Just want to say after some experiments and a couple of purchases there are AX routers out there that have all the features like smart connect, solid AX WiFi, good range working flawlessly.

Funny thing is so far the best I've run across is actually one of the cheapest AX routers available.

AX3000 similar to AX4, not quite as fast as the RAX80 but very close and a whopping $129 at Walmart. If these guys can do it it's hard to justify Netgear charging top tier prices for hardware that just doesn't work as it should.

I tweeted netgearhelp about the issues I was experiencing with having to power-cycle the router several times a day and the absolutely atrocious support I initially received.  In sing-song voice: "Sir, we will surely update your support case with all of the information you have provided us, and will refund you the money if the RMA doesn't work out."  And then they offered the RMA and closed the case.  Brilliant.

So, now after their twitter help account intervened, it's at a level 2 support center and has gained some traction, at least it has stayed open and they are gathering information like the log files and config settings on the router to (hopefully) forward to their engineering team.  Someone had said there is a debug page I was unaware of.  So, if you go to your router 192.168.1.1/debug.htm you can actually download a debug logfile from the router.  Even if you haven't enabled "Start Debug Log Capture when boot up" it still will save off a zipfile "Debug_log.zip" when you press the button "Save Debug Log".   I started going through and there was quite a treasure trove (for someone familiar with debugging embedded systems) of kernel panicks, stack traces, watchdog timers being hit, locked up processes, some issues around the Broadcom chip, etc etc.  I think there is enough information available that if the right person on their team looks at it then they could resolve the issue.

They just need to get past the first phase of debugging:

Phase 1:  DENIAL

:-D cheers

So it's been about 3 full days without any network drops from my RAX80.  I'm still on V1.0.1.62_1.0.26 firmware.

I'll be running it as an AP for now, at least another couple of weeks.  Then maybe move it back to being my sole LAN/WAN router if it doesn't show any issues.

I don't use the smart whatever wifi combo.  I'm sure it's nice if it worked but, I'm fine with using 2 separte SSID's as that is how I have been setup for years.  I just need a stable connection, and the added speed WiFi 6 brings.  Plus the coverage as well.  

As far as what I did to get it "working".  I did a factory reset (backed up my settings first of course).  Then did the firmware downgrade to .62 as per supports instructions.  Left the unit as an AP only device.  

Another extremely unsatisfied netgear router owner. I went through two different RAX80's, all exhibiting the same WiFi dropping issues that everyone here is reporting. I exchanged it for a RAX120 which is slightly more stable, but still needs to be rebooted every couple hours because clients will not connect.

Seriously netgear, this is acceptable? This RAX120 pile of junk is going back to best buy tomorrow morning. Going back to an apple airport extreme 6th generation that literally never dropped a WiFi connection since I got it in 2013. Maybe I'll try out ASUS. Ridiculous that a top end product is this unreliable.

I am facing the same issue from the last 2 and half months. The customer support team tried everything and they made me expert in changing the channels, upgrading/downgrading the firmware, etc. Finally, they told me that they would replace the device with another one. However, I checked on the internet regarding the same that Netgear is returning the refurbished/repaired/old devices if RMA. I purchased a new one and don't want a refurbished unit. So, I decided to keep my faulty router with me. I am so proud of you Netgear.

This is my first and last router with Netgear. I promise, even if you fix the issue in the furture, I will never purchase any Netgear device in my life.

Well Friends, there is an issue with these routers from either a Hardware standpoint, or in my opinion a Firmware issue. I tried my first RAX 35, wired and wireless speeds were fantastic, but starting day 2 wired and wireless devices across both frequencies were lost. Attempted channel transmission changes at Netgear supports urgence, on both 2.4 & 5 GHz, as well as well as lowering MTU to 1492 from 1500.... No change. I Just received a replacement direct from Netgear yesterday ( original ordered from Walmart on Black Friday, hence the purchase, half price ) the new one is doing the same thing, same issues. Once a day, internet is lost. Strangely it remained today on two devices running 2.4 GHz wifi, as well as several security cams on same freq.... but hardwired D.T. no joy. ( a variable I experianced on the first router as well)  Now I didnt retain the original firmware that came on the unit, ver. (V1.0.2.48_1.0.1)I upgraded to the only available Firmware available  V1.0.3.62_1.0.1.... and problems are back.... wish I would've used the original just to test..... Im gonna give this a few more days, hoping maybe the techs will release a new firmware to resolve this.... if not Im going back to my old Asus AC 68u workhorse... Im an IT professional, so Im not a layman on these matters, but the last thing I want is calls during the day from the Mrs. about wifi being down, or having to trouble shoot networking issues when I get home. A power cycle of the router resolves the issue, but again its replicating daily. Has Anyone not upgraded the factory shipped firmware using these routers? And possibly not had these issues?? As a side note, Ive just replaced my modem with a DOCSIS 3.1 thinking that was the original culprit.... wrong. Arrrrrrgh!!

I just purchased in Feb 2020 and am having the same problem. If I use the SmartConnect to combine 2.4 and 5 g I get constant dropping of the wifi signal. This has apparently been a known problem for a year but Netgear has not corrected the issue yet. When can we expect a fix?

My firmware is V1.0.1.12_1.0.41

This feature is one of the reasons I bought this router. Please fix it or refund the hardware (I am still within my return period). I would like this to work rather than return the product.

I am having the same issue. I just bought this router and it keeps disconnecting my devices multiple times a day. Are there logs I can read to check whats going on with the router?