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Re: Netgear CAX80 cable modem router. Router dropping connection
I have this exact same issue happening with my CAX80. To clarify, what the CAX80 does is WiFi randomly becomes "disabled". Both 2.4 and 5.0ghz just shuts off. The CAX80 does not lose an internet connection with the ISP. Wired ethernet still works fine. If you log into the modem GUI page, it shows the WiFi as shut off, with no option to turn it back on.
The fix is you unplug it for 15 seconds, plug it back in, let it boot back up, and then it's fine. Till it does it again.
I can't find any fix to this. This is a huge problem when you're not home and you rely on things like home security cameras to be connected to the WiFi.
Did the OP eventually find a fix?
And yes, my modem is running the latest firmware. My WiFi environment is not noisy (no other interfering signals). It didn't used to do this when I first bought it in Jan 2023. I think it's been on the same firmware since then.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help!
5 Replies
andrecs1 wrote:I have this exact same issue happening with my CAX80. To clarify, what the CAX80 does is WiFi randomly becomes "disabled". Both 2.4 and 5.0ghz just shuts off. The CAX80 does not lose an internet connection with the ISP. Wired ethernet still works fine. If you log into the modem GUI page, it shows the WiFi as shut off, with no option to turn it back on.
The fix is you unplug it for 15 seconds, plug it back in, let it boot back up, and then it's fine. Till it does it again.
I can't find any fix to this. This is a huge problem when you're not home and you rely on things like home security cameras to be connected to the WiFi.
Did the OP eventually find a fix?
And yes, my modem is running the latest firmware. My WiFi environment is not noisy (no other interfering signals). It didn't used to do this when I first bought it in Jan 2023. I think it's been on the same firmware since then.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help!
What is the temperature environment where you are operating the CAX80? You might need to add some additional air circulation to keep it cool.
- Hum, just normal room temp, 70 degrees F. But more importantly, it is in an open air environment, no other electronics around it. It's not packed into a cabinet or anything with a bunch of stuff around it.
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What channel configurations are currently set on the router?
Is Smart Connect enabled or disabled?
How many devices in total do you have connected?
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?Please post a copy and paste of the modems connection status and event log page.
https://kb.netgear.com/30007/How-do-I-obtain-the-cable-connection-information-from-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-modem-router
https://kb.netgear.com/30008/How-do-I-view-or-clear-the-event-logs-on-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-routerI keep a fan under my CAX80 for 24/7 additional cooling.
Hi there, thanks for your help.
Firmware is the latest V2.1.5.2
Channel is set to 36 for 5ghz, and auto for 2.4ghz.
I did think about channel interference as a cause for this - I just downloaded a free Wi-Fi spectrum analyzer on my phone, and took readings next to the CAX80 for both 2.4 and 5.0. The SchimmelNet 2.4 and 5.0 are the CAX80. The 2.4 spectrum is crowded but the CAX80 appears to be selecting a free channel. I just realized there is a hidden SSID on the same channel as my 5ghz. I wonder if that could be an issue? Does the CAX80 not auto select channel for 5ghz?
I have about 27 devices connected to the CAX80 but most are wired, my whole home is wired with ethernet to every room so most of my PC's connect that way. I just counted and I have 4 2.4ghz devices connected and 7 5.0ghz devices (at the moment).
I don't use SmartConnect as I don't have the SSID's set to the same name for both 2.4 and 5.0. I like to keep my devices on 5.0 in the home as that is much faster than 2.4.
My cable connection is good - I use attenuators on my coax to get my signal levels perfect and a high SNR, so I don't think that's the problem. Again, the problem here is just WiFi turning off, not the cable connection.
Event log: there isn't much interesting there - I get occasional dropouts of my OFDM channel docsis3.1 issue, the modem has always done this, I think this is an ISP thing but it's never really affected performance of the modem so I haven't diagnosed it further.
What I don't have - is a screenshot of the modem GUI page showing the wifi disabled, when this happens. I forgot to take that before I reset the modem. When this happens again, I will get that...
Thanks for your help!
Well, it did it again today. This time, before unplugging the CAX80, I went into the GUI page to see what it showed. It showed the WiFi as "Off".
Except, nobody turned WiFi off.
What the heck? I can GUARANTEE you nobody in my house pressed the WiFi button on the CAX80. But the modem is saying it's off.
So here's the next question - if you press the WiFi button on the front of the router, does it turn back on? NOPE! I tried both short press, and long press. WiFI doesn't turn back on. (and no, I'm not pressing the WPS button by mistake).
Anybody have any ideas on this one? Very weird problem! It really is a problem though. I paid like $600 bucks for this thing like less than 2 years ago. Of course it's out of warranty now. That really sucks.
