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Re: CAX80 Multi-gig ethernet port dropping
I am also having this exact issue. Just with the 2.5g port. The port functions for an undefined period of time then the blue light goes off, the connection stalls, then it drops to 1g. Even on 1g the 2.5g port stalls data. Moving the ethernet cable over to a 1g port fixes all connectivity issues, but at the slower 1g speed. Multiple factory resets done. Going to try disabling wireless radio and trying again. Support tickets have proven useless. I was given the option to replace it, but I'm not paying to get a replacement for a defect and it certainly seems to be firmware related.
84 Replies
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What brand and model ethernet adapter do you have connected to the 2.5Gb port?
What CAT# cabling are you using? CAT6 is recommended...
- I have firmware v2.1.3.5. I have tried testing the stability issue with 3 different devices, 1 2.5gb switch model trendnet teg-s350/a, 1 qnap 2.5gb switch qsw1105-5t and a 2017 iMac Pro with 10gb on board ethernet configurable to 10,5,2.5gb. Connecting the CAX80 to the switches caused a drop in communication and change over to 1gb only connection within 15-30 mins of each reboot of the modem. The auto negotiation option is not able to be set on either the netgear or switches. The iMac pro also dropped connectivity and switched down to 1gb in around the same time frame as the switches, but I was able to set auto negotiation to a static 2.5gb speed instead. This maintained the blue light on the multi gig port for the netgear, but within 15-30 minutes data transfers became wildly unreliable and jittery. I have tried a variety of cables, cat 5e, cat 6 and cat 7. I have tried 3ft cables, 6 ft cables, 10ft cables. The one that keeps the connection the longest is my cat7.
Interestingly, I went into the advanced wireless settings and turned wifi off completely. I have access points around the house, so that's not a connectivity killer for me. Turning both 5g and 2.4g radios KEEPS the multigig at full speed and there are no hiccups in data transfer. Everything seems to be working fine. I am going to leave it running for another full day and see of there are any interruptions, then turn wifi back on and see what happens. The ONLY change I made was to disable the wifi radios. Nothing else.OK, this is interesting. Disabling WiFi seems to help resolve the multi gig port behavior.
I recommend you contact NG support and let them know about this...
I don't see this issue on mine however mines in Modem mode.
Mellojosh wrote:
I have firmware v2.1.3.5. I have tried testing the stability issue with 3 different devices, 1 2.5gb switch model trendnet teg-s350/a, 1 qnap 2.5gb switch qsw1105-5t and a 2017 iMac Pro with 10gb on board ethernet configurable to 10,5,2.5gb. Connecting the CAX80 to the switches caused a drop in communication and change over to 1gb only connection within 15-30 mins of each reboot of the modem. The auto negotiation option is not able to be set on either the netgear or switches. The iMac pro also dropped connectivity and switched down to 1gb in around the same time frame as the switches, but I was able to set auto negotiation to a static 2.5gb speed instead. This maintained the blue light on the multi gig port for the netgear, but within 15-30 minutes data transfers became wildly unreliable and jittery. I have tried a variety of cables, cat 5e, cat 6 and cat 7. I have tried 3ft cables, 6 ft cables, 10ft cables. The one that keeps the connection the longest is my cat7.
Interestingly, I went into the advanced wireless settings and turned wifi off completely. I have access points around the house, so that's not a connectivity killer for me. Turning both 5g and 2.4g radios KEEPS the multigig at full speed and there are no hiccups in data transfer. Everything seems to be working fine. I am going to leave it running for another full day and see of there are any interruptions, then turn wifi back on and see what happens. The ONLY change I made was to disable the wifi radios. Nothing else.
Possibly inadequate thermal design?
A search of the FCC ID number will bring up the acceptance report containing internal photos. The cable modem and radios will generate some heat and they are under a good sized heatsink. That heatsink does heat the internal air and the radios will also dump some heat into the board.
The ethernet interfaces are fairly high on the board with the 2.5G interface near the top. These IC's do not have heatsinks and are located in the warmest convection air. Increases in temperature generally raise internal resistances and slow signal edges.
I'll propose an experiment for anyone willing:
Elevate a computer fan slightly so it can pull air from below and blow upward.
Set the CAX80 on the fan. Maybe mask the open fan area to the sides of the CAX80 if you feel adventurous.
Turn on wifi and wait to see if the multi gig port can support 2.5GHz.
I may dig through my parts bin to see if I have an appropriate heatsink and test that.
Update:
The good news is that I found a suitable heatsink.
The bad news is that component QVP2014R is a signal coupling transformer and not likely suffering heat stress. I still suspect marginal thermal design but the components of interedt are under a shield which is under the heatsink on the warm upper end of the board.
The fan might be worth a try - or the Motorola.
I tried to use the Motorola MG8725 competitor, but it seems like a toy compared to the CAX80. The WiFi range on the Motorola is really bad....really bad. The weight difference also seems to indicate some difference in material quality---the Nighthawk is significantly heavier and better suited to stay standing.
So, I cannot use the Motorola and really do like the Nighthawk despite the multi-gig port problem. Maybe I can live with that issue, given all the "pros" it has when compared to the Motorola.
From what I noticed; the mobile app is not great for configuring your network. What you should do is log in to your router from a computer's browser and manually set it up. There you will be able to split the bands and choose which wave lengths are appropriate for your home. For example, I have my 2.4GHz band on 20MHz and I have my 5GHz band on 160MHz. I also have my two separate bands with two separate names so I can choose which Wi-Fi I wish to be on rather than let the device choose for me.
To log in on your browser, the username and password is written on a paper on the router itself.
I'm having the same issue. Anyone no one how to fix this?
Yes, I agree.
They said they would replace my unit, but what's the point? They don't even have any to send right now due to shortage (or they know it won't do anything to fix the multi-gig port issue).
I had a great router, so I disabled the WiFi on the CAX80 and it seems to behave well that way. AT&T is supposed to bury fiber here in the next months, so maybe that will be my out too.
- Any update on this issue? I've had the nighthawk for a month now and love everything about it minus the 2.5gig port dropping to 1gig.
My CAX80 would not run 2.5Gb dependably when connected to an Asus XG-C100C. It would always run when first connected but would start dropping after varying lengths of time. CAX80 firmware did not seem to have any effect up through the current 2.1.5.2. Network cables Cat6a and Cat8 may have shown a little difference - or I may have wanted to see a difference. It wasn't a cure in any event.
The PC I was running the XG-C100C in failed for unrelated reasons and I rebuilt my network around a laptop and NAX box. The NAS is an Asustor AS6702T running Truenas Scale. The CAX80 and Asustor AS6702T have been running happily at 2.5Gb for a week now with no issues. I left the Cat8 cable in place FWIW.
Maybe the issue lies partly or mostly with the AQC107 boards. They do run stinky-hot. That can't help.
So as I mentioned somewhere earlier (or maybe on the other thread), I got this thing used (as=is) off the bay, so it could be very well have other issues. What I don't understand is this. Just what difference does it make which NIC is in the PC when I only have the issue when wireless is Enabled? As soon as I disable it I run forever. In other words, what does the Multi gig port have to do with wireless section of the Gateway?
Possible that there is some odd interference happening with these particular branded adatpers that these adapters maybe effected by the CAX80s wifi when thats enabled.
What do you see on the adatper, in windows and on the front of the CAX multi gig port LED? I presume the color must change from BLUE to something else when this happens?
So far Realtek here is working. I need to find out what the MSI Tomahawk board uses. I presume Intel or Realtek maybe.
Would be a test if you got a Intel or a Realtek board or a 2.5Gb only board in to try and see if the same thing happens.
Dumaine wrote:
So as I mentioned somewhere earlier (or maybe on the other thread), I got this thing used (as=is) off the bay, so it could be very well have other issues. What I don't understand is this. Just what difference does it make which NIC is in the PC when I only have the issue when wireless is Enabled? As soon as I disable it I run forever. In other words, what does the Multi gig port have to do with wireless section of the Gateway?
Thanks for your info and details.
Ya I see those particular chip set boards are all 10Gb supporting. You and Dumaine have these boards. I haven't checked into these boards so I presume these could be a factor in what you two are seeing.You might try adding some forced are cooling to these boards to see if this might help. I see they have big heat sinks as they should however in a cramped PC box, possible these could not be getting enough cooling or air flow...
I have a Startech 5Gb USB to ethernet adatper and when i use it the entire heat sink block gets fairly warm.
My_Username wrote:
My CAX80 would not run 2.5Gb dependably when connected to an Asus XG-C100C. It would always run when first connected but would start dropping after varying lengths of time. CAX80 firmware did not seem to have any effect up through the current 2.1.5.2. Network cables Cat6a and Cat8 may have shown a little difference - or I may have wanted to see a difference. It wasn't a cure in any event.
The PC I was running the XG-C100C in failed for unrelated reasons and I rebuilt my network around a laptop and NAX box. The NAS is an Asustor AS6702T running Truenas Scale. The CAX80 and Asustor AS6702T have been running happily at 2.5Gb for a week now with no issues. I left the Cat8 cable in place FWIW.
Maybe the issue lies partly or mostly with the AQC107 boards. They do run stinky-hot. That can't help.
