R8000 slow internet speeds

HI michaelkenward 

Sorry, I was not using the app for the diagnostics for this issue, I am using a browser directly to the IP, so GUI or Dashboard is what I call the other services I own and support on my network.

Anyways I have a result from it all to share, spoke to Netgear support via the phone and after some attempts on fixes, cable swap out and firmware upgrades/downgrades it came down to the hardware itself being to a fault. A replacement Nighthawk is on its way.

In case it aids anyone reading this, here is what we did over the phone (and Michaelkenward, it does echo what you said also)

1. Check a couple of cables are 1GB capable, check on another system that they show as 1GB connection, using either your original router setup, mine being a Virginmedia SuperHub3, or the Nighthawk on one of the LAN(Black) ports, not the WAN (Yellow) If the cables are 1GB move to next step.

(As a side note to this, don't assume Cat5 means 1GB without testing. Older versions of Cat5 are not, always check, I am using Cat7, and have a 10GB backbone using SFP+ over fibre connections between switches and still was getting <100MB broadband speeds )

2. Anyways, Switch off the Nighthawk, and using one of your known 1GB cables connect to your Virginmedia SuperHub via your computer and set VMSuperHub3 into Modem only mode.

3. Once the Superhub3 is rebooting and setting up, now take the cable out of your computer but leave it in Router and use this 1GB cable to connect NightHawk to Modem and switch on NighHawk. (Wait 5 minutes)

4. Now connect your PC using another known 1GB cable to your Nighthawk and reboot your computer, reboot not always needed but advised). I was then advised to use Web Browser to log in to the Nighthawk, open the web browser and type 192.168.1.1 then when prompted enter your login details, do not use the App at this stage. 

5. There was no requirement to reset Nighthawk before this stage but if you have then followed onscreen instructions to set up, change password etc, once logged into Nighthawk - Click advanced - Internet Port - Show Statistics - and see what speed your WAN connection is showing - "IT" should be 1000MB, if not and it shows 100MB then issue still present.

6. We then checked in the same location, under Show Statistics, that the PC was showing 1000MB from PC to Nighthawk (LAN), and as it was, to then swap this cable from PC and replace the one used for the WAN connection to Modem, and then taking the cable used for the original WAN to Modem, to be used on the PC, basically take out both cables and exchange. Then check the speeds on the Nighthawk again, PC was showing again as 1000MB but WAN was still 100MB.

7. The final steps were to flash the Firmware, advised that as I had tried previous versions there was no need to do this, but this could be worth trying for others. My Nighthawk was on the latest version, but we downloaded the latest version and flashed the firmware manually. We waited for around 5 minutes again and checked the speeds.

8. Sadly, my issue remained at WAN 100MB, and I have a new unit on its way as a replacement, But it's worth noting here that I believe the above should have fixed the issue and it does all stem from cabling and having the right cable.

9. Further to this, the replacement, I was out of warranty by 5 months, but was informed there was an option to pay £50 for six months cover, this was only chargeable if they were able to fix the issue, and if not and a new unit was sent then there was no charge. I was more than willing to pay the money as I had tried everything to resolve the issue, but Netgear being who they are they are true to their equipment and sending out a replacement.

10. Hope this helps anyone out there, and once again thank you Michaelkenward for your continued support and checking back and keeping my thread alive.