It's not even a year old yet. I've had the problem twice since October - suddenly computer says there's no internet - wifi router only has orange light on far left. Turning it off and on doesn't seem to fix. In October I had to go the reset route and finally got it working. This week it has gone offline twice - I find out when computer suddenly says no internet, after I've been using it for a while. It seems to take several shutdowns and restarts to get it working. I checked, my firmware is up to date, and on autoupdate. VERY disappointed Netgear not willing to help unless they are paid (can't afford that) and I researched the product on Consumer reports and got recommendations from local computer shop that this was best option for my simple 2 computers, 1 phone, non-gaming, internet browsing, email reading, 3 zooms a week, occassional webinars lifestyle. I can't in good conscience recommend it to my friends whose routers will need replacing soon and are watching my experience... since it just randomly causes me hours of outage at inconvenient times with apparently no explanation or solution. My previous Belkin router never had a single issue, until is stopped working due to old age incompatibility of some sort. My ears are open if I've missed the fix!

Well, really disappointed to hear maybe I didn't get the best option, and certainly didn't realize how old it was. I'm not an expert at this techy stuff, last time I plugged in the router and it just went until it stopped working. I was hoping for the same again. It's the latest version of firmware that came out in September.... I talked to the internet company in January when I discovered I needed to replace the router, they said the modem was current, it looks to be an ARRIS TM1602 and has never given me any grief. I have everything running wireless, so nothing connnects to internet when the router goes off. So if I need to replace this one, what would you recommend for a nothing fancy reliable one?

SNOW-DM wrote: I'm not sure what you mean by working hardwired - the wifi? I have the computer hardwired into the modem right now, and that's the only way I can use the internet, there's no wifi. Hardwired means plugged in with a cable. Not wifi. I doubt if you have the "computer hardwired into the modem". At least, it shouldn't be. The router is supposed to be "hardwired" into the modem. The computer is then hardwired into the router. Anything else is asking for trouble, You said earlier "I have everything running wireless, so nothing connects to Internet when the router goes off." That does not tie in with having the PC "hardwired". If it is on wifi, it isn't hardwired. That takes us back to the earlier question from plemans, "when it drops, do wired devices drop as well or just the wireless?" As you can see, we don't know what is going on at your end. You say the PC is "hardwired" but then say that everything is on wifi. Let's go through the problem. The Internet dies occasionally What actually happens? There are LEDs on the router, what do they look like when the Internet dies? Do wired and wireless devices all lose the Internet connection? Ah yes, forgot to say the router died again the next day, that must have been Monday? Haven't been able to get it back with any number of shutdowns/reboots. Have left if off and will try it one more time later and fill in details. Look at the LEDs on the router and the modem. If the modem isn't connected to the Internet, then the router has no hope of connecting. Don't automatically assume that any problems you are see are down to the router. As well as the modem, there are the wifi clients that you are trying to connect to the Internet. Don't just flail around with those shutdowns/reboots. Do it methodically in the right order. Be sure to restart your network in this sequence: Turn off and unplug modem. Turn off router and computers. Plug in and turn on modem. Wait 2 minutes for it to connect. Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes for it to connect. Turn on computers and rest of network. Networks are incredibly dumb. Everything has to be done by the book. Get one thing wrong and they panic.

I finally had a couple hours I could wait on hold and got an RMA set up. Hopefully by the new year I'll have a new router that works. Thanks everyone for your help!

I got my new router and installed it this morning. Doesn't help that their instructions are incomplete and not always accurrate! It is working, YAHOO! It's been a long 3 weeks. I will look for a cooler... Would it be good to turn the router off at night, when not being used? What is the best way to do that?

Newest firmware version doesn't mean each time that it's the best. You can downgrade to an older version and see if it works for you. Then wait for future firmware that may fix your issue. Luckily, NETGEAR still supports the R7000

2021 R7000 goes offline every couple of months

18 Replies

microchip8
Master
Dec 10, 2021
Newest firmware version doesn't mean each time that it's the best. You can downgrade to an older version and see if it works for you. Then wait for future firmware that may fix your issue. Luckily, NETGEAR still supports the R7000
plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Dec 10, 2021
Well you didn't give us much to go off.

1. what actual firmware version are you on?

2. what modem/gateway is it connected to?

3. when it drops, do wired devices drop as well or just the wireless?

Something else to keep in mind is that this router was released in 2013. If people are looking for a newer router, this wouldn't be the one I'd recommend due to it being an 8 year old router. Was it solid/good performing in its time? Sure but again, that was a while a ago.
- SNOW-DM
  Guide
  Dec 13, 2021
  Well, really disappointed to hear maybe I didn't get the best option, and certainly didn't realize how old it was. I'm not an expert at this techy stuff, last time I plugged in the router and it just went until it stopped working. I was hoping for the same again.
  
  It's the latest version of firmware that came out in September....
  
  I talked to the internet company in January when I discovered I needed to replace the router, they said the modem was current, it looks to be an ARRIS TM1602 and has never given me any grief.
  
  I have everything running wireless, so nothing connnects to internet when the router goes off.
  
  So if I need to replace this one, what would you recommend for a nothing fancy reliable one?
  - plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Dec 13, 2021
    I'm not saying its a bad router. For the vast majority of users, it can work great and does work great.
    
    But it can have its issues.
    
    And the auto-update server for the R7000 has never been reliable. Its why we usually have people log into the device to see what actual firmware they're on because they're are sketchy versions.
    
    And if you don't like the firmware on it, the r7000 has a pretty large 3rd party firmware following if something like that interests you.
    
    So to start off with, what actual version of the firmware are you on?
    
    If you do change firmwares on it, I'd recommend a factory reset/reinstall. Some of the versions of firmware changed quite a few things and old settings can cause issues.
    
    I'd also check the next time it goes down (could be months later) if it does work with harwired devices when it drops. that'd be another key detail
michaelkenward
Guru - Experienced User
Dec 11, 2021
SNOW-DM wrote:

It's not even a year old yet.

Which means that it is still covered by warranty if it has a manufacturing defect. (In some countries warranties last longer than a year.)

Start the RMA process by checking MyNetgear.

How do I request a Return Material Authorization (RMA)? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

Or use this place to get free lifetime technical support.
- SNOW-DM
  Guide
  Dec 13, 2021
  They don't consider it defective because it started working again. That's what I was told when I called in. They wanted $ to discuss anything more.
  - michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User
    Dec 13, 2021
    SNOW-DMwrote:
    They don't consider it defective because it started working again. That's what I was told when I called in. They wanted $ to discuss anything more.
    
    I can see their point. Something that has happened as spasmodically as that may well be down to circumstances that have nothing to do with your router. The symptoms you describe certainly don't indicate a dead device. They could also be down to the internet service and/or the modem you use to connect to it.
    
    Put a bit of effort into troubleshooting and you may be able to track down the cased of the problem. We need more detail than the description of your experience with earlier hardware:
    
    My previous Belkin router never had a single issue, until is stopped working due to old age incompatibility of some sort.
    
    Sadly, " old age incompatibility of some sort" could hide many things.
    
    And "latest version" is not helpful.

Forum Discussion

2021 R7000 goes offline every couple of months