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Forum Discussion
Can't Reset CAX80 to Factory Settings
So, I "won" this modem at auction. Description was basically that they purchased it from a store and couldn't get it to work. I was hoping it was just that their LIS had to register the modem before it could be accessed, because some modems seem to need downstream before they're active. Doesn't appear to be the case.
Here's what I tried.
Reset to factory with button on the back
Hooked up Coax
Reset to factory again
When all lights went steady, attempted reaching modem via wifi, CAX80 is showing SSID as NETGEAR-1900 but under the modem it says it would be NETGEAR43
On Nighthawk app it comes up as NETGEAR43.
Password under modem wouldn't work on neither the wifi nor the app
App got me into settings page, which showed NETGEAR43, but associated password ("kind-------") wouldn't work
Hooked up laptop via RJ45 and can't even see the modem.
Contacted LIS and they accepted the serial number (which is registered to the [or one of the] original owner[s] ). Rebooted modem and they could see it, but I still could not.
All lights were solid, except 1-4 LANs, they were not lit
Tried switching from port 4 to port 1, still nothing.
Tried switching to Aggregate, still nothing.
Tried switching to mu;ti-gig (LAN) and still nothing.
Tried hooking up a router in LAN and still nothing.
Tried the 30-30-30 method as well; and it still has the same results. Comes up as Netgear-1900 in wifi and with PC hooked to it, under Device Manager | Network & Internet Settings | Network Controllers, it just says "a network cable is disconnected", so it isn't even seeing it is plugged in. That's using either, Category 6 as well as brand new Category 8.1.
Swapped modems online, back to my "leased/borrowed" low-end modem from Spectrum and all works again.
Just AC plugged in:
Lights (all white) are off, showing power (white). Upstream flashes white for around a minute. Then 36 seconds later it flashes to the LAN port lights (pink), then 30 seconds power steady (white), upstream, downstream and internet flashing (white) for about 20 seconds, then upstream flashing (white), about 2-1/2 minutes later, all lights flash white and hold, with one being blue, maybe multi-gig... I got caught off guard, for about 2 seconds. Then back to power steady (white).
Gonna try swapping modems online with Spectrum, then hooking up the CAX80, now that they have the modem registered and I can see it online. Could have been an issue with them registering the modem, but they said I had to contact Netgear to register... they input the serial number and AFAIK, that is all that was needed. Again, they could see it, but I couldn't access it.
I originally tried to register the serial number so I could contact customer service via chat... but it's been registered already and I couldn't get past the request for serial number. So, a big hello for my first post; Requesting rather than offering help or even saying "Hello"... LOL.
(Hello!)
P.S., What has me confused is why wifi is showing as NETGEAR-1900 when it should be NETGEAR43. Is it possible some PO flashed with the wrong firmware or something? If so, then why does the App see it correctly?
7 Replies
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
Can't tell for sure. I can't get into the modem.
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Just went and swapped modems online at activate.Spectrum.net and all went good there (I.E., "If You have not connected Your external Router, You may begin now", "... enjoy Your new service"), but even hard wired into it, I could not access the modem.
Done for the night, but I will try to check in the morning for other suggestions. I'm tired... LOL. When I first received it four days ago, I spent six freakin hours trying to get it to work. I have only spent an hour this time and I'm already fed up.
Can't register it with Netgear cause the site won't let me past the serial number, so I cannot request an RMA or anything. I guess I'll have to wait till Monday to call them and see if they'd revamp the thing for me. I wondered if the seller did somethin wonky like, lost the default password decal, and after resetting to factory, couldn't get in. Then purchased another router and stuck the new one's decal on it (decal [with QR Code, SSID and Network Key] was straight, but not factory-like glued to the modem (corner was peeled away from modem body)... but that wouldn't explain why I can't get in when hard wired.
Still don't understand why it says NETGEAR-1900 for an SSID. I would think it would say AX6000 or CAX80/AX80... or NETGEAR43 like the decal says.
Do you have the CAX connected to a ISP coax signal line when your doing the 30-30-30 reset that has a signal on the line. The boot sequence you describe is the modem rebooting after a period of time IF, the CAX is not connected to any signal on the coax line or the signal has degraded enough to cause the CAX80 to enter into a know reboot loop if the signal is bad or the coax line is not connected. This reboot loop is a know thing with the CAX series modems. A signal on the coax line needs to be present and at least moderately good for the CAX80 to work and not reboot like this.
Try the 30-30-30 reset with the modem connected to a coax cable line with signal on it. Should be able to get to the setup wizard screen after the last reset and a wired PC connected to one of the LAN ports in back and a web browser at 192.168.1.1.
FURRYe38,
Thank You for the suggestion. Yes, I was originally performing the 30-30-30 w/o the coax hooked up. I tried what You said...
... Went through Spectrum's "activate equipment" page via my cell phone, swapped modems out, input the serial number, they saw the modem, tested/checked the modem and reset the modem. All lights lit up, one after the other, top to bottom (I.E., Downstream | Upstream | Internet) white pretty quickly, estimated each one flashed no more than three times, then the internet light flashed roughly six times, all went solid white for around three minutes. Never noticed the Multi-link light up. Don't recall if it did earlier either.
I wasn't timing it because I was watching lights and yelling from the basement to my girlfriend, "try refreshing the TV now!".
I really had hoped it would work, but no such luck. After around five minutes, all four LAN lights go a dim red (maybe pink) for about five seconds, and then only a steady, white power light for about five seconds, then the modem reboots itself.
Login credentials didn't work when trying to log into the router via Nighthawk. I did not try a wired PC though. Probably will be another week or better before I get the chance to try again. I'm workin' my butt off at my job and when I come home, I really don't feel like standing at the modem for a half hour... and the GF is usually asleep when I get home, so not gonna bother her either.
I will try 30-30-30 again (with coax hooked up) when I have another chance and PC wired direct to the CAX80... but the router I had tapped into the CAX80, which splits the TVs, didn't give a hard-wired signal to the TV when I had the GF refresh. Me thinks it's half-bricked for lack of a better term... LOL <shrug>. Maybe it will work <crossed fingers>. Thanks again!Ya you need a direct connection with a ethernet PC to the CAX80 to one of the 1Gb LAN ports. Don't use the MultiGig port, not with a 2ndary router connected to the back. Remember the CAX80 already has a built in router.
