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Forum Discussion
Router wifi settings gone after power outage
After a power outage, my Nighthawk router's wifi settings were gone and only I found default Netgear SSID's. I was able to log into the router with my admin password and other network settings seem t...
This issue is not power condition or spikes. It happens when power is removed and then restored.
If you want to prevent these issues, get a UPS!
While a surge suppressor will help some with spikes a power outage may also have a power sage, spikes and other things happen. A good UPS will isolate you from these issues. I have my modem and router both on a UPS just for this reason. For what a router needs they are not that expensive and frequent power outages could in some isolated cases damage the router. I have a whole house surge suppessor, but know that will not protect the electronics like a UPS will.
- While a UPS is good to have, it should NOT be a necessity. The router should NOT lose all its settings due to a simple power interruption.
dorcse wrote:
While a UPS is good to have, it should NOT be a necessity. The router should NOT lose all its settings due to a simple power interruption.When there are sags and surges who knows how that will effect a router?
- Whatever. I can duplicate the issue by just turning the router off and then on. Are you going to say that is some odd, mysterious surge situation as well? Please.
It is shameful that Netgear is most certainly aware of this issue by now and refuses to help. The company won't even offer direct phone support after a short period of time, unless you want to pay for it. Thank goodness for Costco. I ultimately solved the issue buy returning this junk router to them for a refund. They know something about customer service. Netgear does not.
myersw Good advice for protection and persistent Internet access. Not a resolution, and shouldn't be suggested in place of the fact a hardware or software issue is occurring with these routers. The most severe issue is the security vulnerability which is created. The Wi-Fi is wide open for anyone to connect when the device settings are lost. There is a large number of users which wouln't even think to check the security was still enabled (or know to). Then anyone can connect and their private network is compromised.
Imagine if you were to move your router to another room, you will literally be walking with your router, cables and UPS all in tow! Nonsense... and please take a picture.
The UPS is essential though!
I just had the same issue. I merely powered off my router, then turned it back on. All my settings were gone and the SSID's were back to default and 'Open'. It took me hours to change my settings back, and then re-connect all my home WIFI devices - lights, plugs, etc.
Has anyone seen a solution? Is there a firmware update. I never had this problem before with other routers.
> [...] It took me hours to change my settings back, [...]
Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Documentation. Get the User Manual. Look for "Manage the Router
Configuration File". Should be minutes, not hours.> [...] and then re-connect all my home WIFI devices - lights, plugs,
> etc.Other than restoring the wireless-network credentials on the router,
what's there to do?Until that happy day when someone solves the real problem (and I
wouldn't hold my breath), I'd certainly try to employ the settings
save-and-restore feature.
Hello senoch
You may need to contact support if your router is still under warranty.https://www.netgear.com/support/contact.aspx
DarrenM
Since when does ANY equipment require a UPS to work properly? This is piss poor design in my eyes. Plan and simple.
TinaG
I started this thread nearly 2 years ago and Netgear still hasn't fixed this serious security problem. Totally agree that a UPS is just a DIY fix to Netgear's poor design and customer experience. This is the last time I buy Netgear equipment.
Seems stability has been restored after using openwrt firmware. It's still a good router but you can easily install openwrt but there is a learning curve. I was lucky to have a network background and it was rather easy for me. look into it it might save you a bit of cash. Also if you like DDwrt you can install openwrt then change the id of the router to r8000 usining cmd line. Either way OpenWRT is the way to fix this.
Openwrt is simple grab the Right firmware by looking up you router type. Then download the firmware file for the router. Then log into your router and under admin is update under that tab you just choose that file and install.
Well intuitively I'd agree with you. I have mine attached to an expensive APC UPS Pro 1350 Sine Wave backup and surge suppressor and twice now the router has reset to factory settings once the battery ran out. This should not happen. I've got routers that were unplugged and tossed on a shelf for over a year that still had their configuration when I plugged them in. For me this is particularly a problem. This is at a vacation rental that is 3 hrs from me. I California PGE is turning off power every time the wind blows in the fall and I'm left with a router I can no longer remote access and my clients can't use the Internet as they expect. It appears there is no posted fix for this so I'm moving on to a TP-Link in hopes that it'll fare better.
Update: 4 months later and my TP-Link has not given me a single problem with outages or anything else. In my book Netgear is and forever will be a faded memory. They've had literally years to fix these problems yet chose to do nothing. Signing out. Perhaps I'll see ya all on a TP-Link forum but so far I've had no need to go there.
UPS's fail too. Why would a power drop reset to factory?
