Forum Discussion

Aspirant

Apr 21, 2022

Solved

Did I make a mistake with NetGear $$$$$

Caution very long post seeking honest opinions. I am 68 and computer electronics, read the F---- manuals smart guy with a rural since 1994 dial up internet home network I am IT?NOC guy for. Curr...

michaelkenward
Apr 25, 2022
fredvon4 wrote:

I already know I am hosed with NetGear because no support for Genie and I do NOT want MY NOC on a Android tablet or smart phone.

I have not tried using Nighthawk routers in AP mode with an app, but I do know that I can use an app to control an Orbi router in AP mode.

I can also control more than one router on separate Internet account by enabling remote management and using Anywhere Access.

Again, you may have landed yourself with extra problems through your choice of devices. Using purpose built APs rather than repurposed routers might have been better.

I suspect that other brands will land you in the some territory.

plemans

Guru - Experienced User

Apr 21, 2022

i'm not a 100% netgear diehard. I like their equipment but the firmware has been getting harder and harder to believe in. The subscription model for added features bothers me quite a bit. I feel like some of these should be included like other consumer brands do.

But with that said, the firmware has been sketchy for quite a while with most all consumer gear. I've had flagship devices from both tp-link and linksys that struggled. One of the devices I tried (and still have) was a flagship device and still didn't get a single firmware update. (and not because there wasn't issues).

So while I'll say netgears firmware has issues, at least there is still updates to it. For example, the R7000 was released in 2013 and is still getting updates. Its had its own share of firmware issues but at least its still being worked on.

The R8000 was released the year after in 2014. So its 8 year old equipment that still getting updates (I know there's something in the works for dns issues).

So am I diehard Netgear? No. If I find equipment I like that works well, thats what I go with. But so far, I've managed to keep my setup working even if I might have to use a little older firmware once in a while.

Are you having issues with it you need help with?

fredvon4

Aspirant

Apr 21, 2022

Sir I have read at least 200 of your advice so I deeply appreciate your opinions.

Perhaps with some more personal info you might feel comfortable directing me...at least with hints on where to google or explore.

I started my rural life with ATT dial up on d-link and later linksys WRT modems. Learned how to tweak internals to get reliable 256Kbps on voice twisted pair...frustrating in 1996~7 when urban families sent photo laden e-mails...bet you can relate.

My job after enlisted army was Operational Test Command Fort Hood as a test officer for enterprise software systems...Ironic as it were with a heavy aircraft maintenance background.

That said in the Army I was an anomaly in the early 80s because I was a computer building nerd with my own BBC. I could build a better Dos based computer for friends that the radio shack TRS 80 crap.

Command took notice and sent me to several schools...mostly to manage Intel 380 mini computers on Zenix OS for the Ft Eustice aviation school house.

Thus I was DOS 1.1 and Unix/Zenix/COBAL/FORTRAN versant much to the chagrin to any Army IT managment folk...me a lowly staff sergeant

A terrible amount of words to say I pretty much know about technology and security.

I am very pissed that today there is not a home turn key ISP WAN to complicated LAN set of management software and hardware for the typical dummy (that I am not)

Each system I explored has some fatal flaw. NetGear product sales seem to omit the flaws (I get it...sales) and I screwed up NOT finding this forum until I had $880 in product on hand.

The more I read the less confident I am to establish a home network I can see ENTIRELY and manage with the software tools provided..IE Genie/NightHawk app....and I am incensed that there is NOT a usable Win 10/11 Network managment GUI

Thanks for reading.....back to my weekly system backups

michaelkenward
Guru - Experienced User
Apr 22, 2022
As plemans said "Are you having issues with it you need help with?"

We don't need to know your life history. Just a detailed but concise description of what is going wrong on your network.

The only useful information I can see it in your footer where it says:

R8000 x 2--Rx8000--dumb switch x2

If that is accurate, then I can see an obvious problem. But who knows?
- microchip8
  Master
  Apr 22, 2022
  fredvon4
  
  We don't need to read your life experience. If you have problems, post a detailed description and technical info like firmware version, what you tried so far, etc
  - fredvon4
    Aspirant
    Apr 24, 2022
    Fair enough. My rant is too long and my frustration masked that I have a 2011 LinkSys network that works. I am getting a new ISP soon with 100Mbps down and over last several years we have accumulated more and more IOT stuff and newer laptops/PCs. I bought NetGear devices NOT NOW set up to replace my LAN in next 60 days. In preparation for the new deployment I have tried to read Every thread about this Gear on Tom's Guide and here.
    
    Due to the refurbished nature of two devices
    I have bought, with GearHead 6 months support plan:
    R8000----4MRE0878A1FC6 refurb
    R8000----4MRF097LA2F78 new but mid 2021 purchase
    EX8000---5001815K01BE8 Refurb
    With out looking I know they do NOT have latest firmware.
    I want to log into each and do the following:
    1. Update firmware I have already downloaded to my desktop
    2. Change device admin password to something unique for each of the 3
    3. Change the SSID of each radio and assign WEP3 passwords
    4. Disable WPS
    5. Enable Guest and assign a password
    6. Save copy of each configuration file
    I prefer to disconnect the desktop from my network and attach to each new device with Cat6.
    I have a Win 10Pro 64bit desktop with USB dual band WIFI dongle and internal Real Tech Ethernet port.
    My initial attempts to do this fail trying 192.168.1.1 or 1.2
    I have a registered Android app for Nighthawk. It needs to see the new routers on the internet
    GearHeads tell me I must connect each device to the modem directly to access the device.
    
    There is not a device or setup specific question. There is frustration that the App and each device has a LOT of problem questions here that you guys have been answering for many years now.
    
    I am questioning the wisdom of selecting this Brand and my frugal choices. It seems before I even deploy, I have to scan all my notes to set the firmware to something other than most current. And it seems any choices between bridge or AP mode limit the ability for Nighthawk App to see or manage the entire network.