CAX30 (Costco) will randomly stop passing traffic for some devices but not all

Question

Random wifi devices lose connectivity intermittently. I know the signal is good because the TV never stops!

Noticeable drops: Smart plugs, Blink hub, Roku, iPhone12
Seem ok: LG tv, Firesticks, iPhone SE

I've been reading a bunch about the CAX30 Costco special. Did I buy a lemon? (My old CM500 might have been rebooted 1x/year, was I spoiled?)

CAX30 is up to date, small 900 sq ft house, great coverage when working, standard Channels 2.4-auto, 5-153, Guest wifi is disabled. The only "fancy" stuff I'm using is the Smart Connect, a single port forwarded for Plex, and a bonded connection to a NAS. (unplugged for troubleshooting)

I had Access Control on but with a single laptop blocked, allow new devices. (also turned off for tshooting) Also in Access Control, over half of my devices don't list a MAC, and multiple are listed multiple times. (might be normal?)

I had to reboot 4x last Friday after my standard Windows 10 laptop started dropping in the middle of meetings. Meanwhile, I can hear the living room Firestick streaming away. Usually a single reboot brings everything back, but this weekend it took 2 reboots. (After initial reboot, I was calling Xfinity for a line test and my dad rebooted it again to be helpful. It fixed it, but I wanted Xfinity to confirm where the issue was but couldn't get to their higher level tech support after it came back up! boo)

If the connection does go down, does the app and/or gui become all but unusable? (either wired to 192.168.1.1 or the app, both poor) Repeatedly logs me out for spinning too long. It's easier to go to Xfinity app to reset it - I don't think I'm losing any logs with a reboot.

My dad said it was acting up a little bit ago - and I did find this "Critical" in the logs. So I think that's explainable - Is there anything relevant in the "Notice" logs? I know when I'm forced to reboot, the timestamp rolls back to 1970 like NTP won't update - but I can't tell if it's from before or after the reboot. (I wish I had saved those logs - sorry)

2022-07-19 16:53:49	Notice (6)	CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 16; Chan ID: 37; DSID: N/A; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: 2 3.;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2022-07-19 16:53:47	Notice (6)	CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 24; Chan ID: 37; DSID: N/A; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: 0 1.;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2022-07-19 16:53:14	Critical (3)	Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2022-07-19 16:52:38	Notice (6)	CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 16; Chan ID: 37; DSID: N/A; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: 2 3.;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2022-07-19 16:52:22	Notice (6)	CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 24; Chan ID: 37; DSID: N/A; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: 0 1 2.;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2022-07-19 16:51:48	Notice (6)	CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 16; Chan ID: 37; DSID: N/A; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: 2 3.;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2022-07-19 16:51:36	Notice (6)	CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 16; Chan ID: 37; DSID: N/A; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: 3.;CM-MAC=80:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx;CMTS-MAC=00:01:02:00:01:02;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1; 80:xx:xx:xx:xx:

Should I suck it up and default it or return if I can? Any known issues with any of these "features"? Does it sound like resources are getting beat up?

Thanks for any thoughts, shared experiences. I want to love this combo box and I hope this isn't standard for NetGear!

FURRYe38 · Answer

What Firmware version is currently loaded?
&nbsp;
Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and 40 to 48 channel on 5Ghz.Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
&nbsp;
Make sure the laptop wifi drivers are up to date.
&nbsp;
If present,&nbsp;Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or may not be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
&nbsp;
You have some criticals that need to be looked at by the ISP.&nbsp;
Please post a copy and paste of the modems connection status page.
Have the ISP check the signal and line quality UP to the modem.&nbsp;Be sure the ISP provisions the modem correctly.Be sure there are no coax cable line splitters in the between the modem and ISP service box.&nbsp;Be sure your using good quality RG6 coax cable up to the modem.&nbsp;Be sure to power OFF the modem for 1 minute then back ON.https://community.netgear.com/t5/Cable-Modems-Routers/General-info-and-Troubleshooting-for-Cable-Modems/m-p/1530376#M12853https://kb.netgear.com/24311/Power-level-guidelines-for-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-router?article=24311https://www.duckware.com/tech/solving-intermittent-cable-modem-issues.html
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Bradylaura2000 · Answer

Thanks for the reply!Firmware is 1.4.10.8 and all my drivers are up to date.&nbsp; Only a couple neighbor's with wifi not too close.&nbsp; From my most distant device and closest to neighbors, I ran a channel scanner and attached the output but could not attach the output. I'm alone on channel 1 but manually changed it to 1 from Auto.&nbsp; The 5ghz is set at 153 and the next closest ssid is a -30 bd difference from me. Hope that makes sense!&nbsp;In wireless settings I have Beamforming and MIMO checked, Airtime Fairness is disabled though.&nbsp; (Change?)I just read the another thread you're in with iRyan about reserved IPs being an issue - and I do that.&nbsp; DHCP is 192.168.1.200-250 with a couple things reserved as .100-.102.&nbsp; Sounds like i need to stop reserving and manually configuring. (at work we call it SDHCP - static dynamic... grumble. anyways!)&nbsp;90% of the time I'm sitting beside the router when my single connection drops.&nbsp; If I do default, are there any "features" I should leave alone?&nbsp;Is there any trick getting by the level 1 ISP support that asks you to reboot when you just need to check correct provisioning/line quality?&nbsp; I get it - but I think everybody on this site is beyond that 🙂&nbsp;I hope this attachment is legible. Thank you guruFURRYe38&nbsp;!

Bradylaura2000 · Answer

Tiny update: streaming on Roku while googling around on iPhone12, both on 5Ghz. The Roku drops connection, so I reboot it. Everything else is still connected that I can tell.After Roku reboots and reconnects I remembered I have this little ping utility - at least now I know it’s the WiFi/switch side glitching out!Any other valuable utility I could run for info gathering? I beta tested a RAX500 that ran better this.Silly question - when I default the router, is it a dumb idea to import this current config or rebuild from scratch?

FURRYe38 · Answer

1. Your power levels are way too low:
https://kb.netgear.com/24311/Power-level-guidelines-for-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-router?article=24311
2. You have a ton of correct and un-correctables that should be zero. ISP needs to help you check the signal on the line and ensure all coax fittings are right and snug fitting. Remove any coax line splitters.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
IP address reservations should be with in the Default DHCP IP address pool range. Static IP addresses are set ON devices and out side the&nbsp;Default DHCP IP address pool range
Bradylaura2000&nbsp;wrote:
Thanks for the reply!
Firmware is 1.4.10.8 and all my drivers are up to date.&nbsp; Only a couple neighbor's with wifi not too close.&nbsp; From my most distant device and closest to neighbors, I ran a channel scanner and attached the output but could not attach the output. I'm alone on channel 1 but manually changed it to 1 from Auto.&nbsp; The 5ghz is set at 153 and the next closest ssid is a -30 bd difference from me. Hope that makes sense!
&nbsp;
In wireless settings I have Beamforming and MIMO checked, Airtime Fairness is disabled though.&nbsp; (Change?)
I just read the another thread you're in with iRyan about reserved IPs being an issue - and I do that.&nbsp; DHCP is 192.168.1.200-250 with a couple things reserved as .100-.102.&nbsp; Sounds like i need to stop reserving and manually configuring. (at work we call it SDHCP - static dynamic... grumble. anyways!)
&nbsp;
90% of the time I'm sitting beside the router when my single connection drops.&nbsp; If I do default, are there any "features" I should leave alone?
&nbsp;
Is there any trick getting by the level 1 ISP support that asks you to reboot when you just need to check correct provisioning/line quality?&nbsp; I get it - but I think everybody on this site is beyond that 🙂
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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CAX30 (Costco) will randomly stop passing traffic for some devices but not all