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R8000 slow internet speeds
I appreciated there are many posts within these forums around similar, and I have read so much, yet nothing has worked so far. The story is a VirginMedia contract on 350MB fiber with a SuperHub3,...
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.
Gigabit Ethernet and faster is mandatory making use of auto negotiation only by the specs.
Hard to say ... bad connector on the R8000 WAN/Internet port? Incompatibility between the Smart Hub 3 in Modem Mode and the R8000 Gigabit ports?
schumaku wrote:
Hard to say ... bad connector on the R8000 WAN/Internet port? Incompatibility between the Smart Hub 3 in Modem Mode and the R8000 Gigabit ports?
Makes sense.
But backtrack. Try the simplest of options.
After yet another reset on the R8000 – leave the modem alone – restart the network in the right order:
As this is a router, there is probably a modem sitting in front of it. You need to get the devices to forget any inherited settings. Among other things, that means rebooting the network.
Power cuts usually take out both the modem and the router on a network. When the power comes back on, they may start up in the wrong order, with the router starting before the modem is ready. That means that they get confused about which is in charge.
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.
An alternative that does not need a reset would be to take the router through the Internet setup wizard.
The logic behind all of this is that the router needs to see the modem and how it has connected to the Internet so that it can negotiate the right settings.
Sadly, we cannot randomly turn stuff on the network on and off and expect the network to optimise the settings every time.
If that fails, it is back what schumaku suggests. Some freaky incompatibility.
Thank you both for the suggestions, michaelkenward seems logical method you've suggested and embarrassing I've not taken the whole network down yet and could be the final solution.
I've also discovered a faulty network cable between the router and an edge switch for one of my rooms, and whilst this is outside of the main issue, certainly will not help.
I'll be back in a day or so with an update on how I get on, Thanks again
So I took down the network, every internet-enabled device around the house, inclusive of all computers.
switched off nighthawk and modem for around 5 minutes, brought the modem back online, waited a further 5 minutes for this to settle, and then switched on the Nighthawk. I brought a PC online that has confirmed a good connection and runs at 1GB on the network.
~Sadly the WAN connection stayed at 100MB and still would not get above 90MB downloads.
My next test will be to remove the Nighthawk from its location, take it directly to the room with the modem, and carry out a temp set up there, with a shorter cable run and laptop. I will then fully reset the nighthawk and modem and start the setup process again.
Failing this, then my only other options are to set the nighthawk in AP only mode and set the modem back up as the primary router, which I am desperately trying to avoid.
If this turns out to be a hardware issue on the Nighthawk WAN port then I have an issue as its 12 months old and not sure I am entitled to any RMA on this, unless others know?
th3steg wrote:
~Sadly the WAN connection stayed at 100MB and still would not get above 90MB downloads.
Very unlikely a reboot of the router and the LAN will change anything on the WAN/Internet Ethernet link.
th3steg wrote:
My next test will be to remove the Nighthawk from its location, take it directly to the room with the modem, and carry out a temp set up there, with a shorter cable run and laptop. I will then fully reset the nighthawk and modem and start the setup process again.
Just move it to the place where you can use a healthy patch cable and check the WAN/Internet link speed.
Is the connection between the modem and the Nighthawk built on several components like a wall installation, extensions, patch cords, ... that's the place I would start with. Could be missing/broken wires, incorrect pairing wired to the connectors, poor cables and wiring (phone cables!), ... issue existing much more than one could imagine.
th3steg wrote:
If this turns out to be a hardware issue on the Nighthawk WAN port then I have an issue as its 12 months old and not sure I am entitled to any RMA on this, unless others know?
Should it turn out that it's a hardware issue and your device is under warranty, of course - head to https://my.netgear.com/