Sorry if this seems like I'm venting, but sorta am. Also - key detail - CAX30S - new firmware only available from support - v2.2.1.8.
Here's what happened - I was looking through the list of devices connected to my CAX30S, and ran across one I didn't recognize. I hit it with nmap to see what ports were open and found TCP port 6669. After not getting much detail from Professor Google, I decided I'd block it in the Netgear to see what would happen. First mistake - I went into the Netgear web interface (via wifi connected laptop). I went to the Advanced config area, created the block and saved the change.
About 20 minutes later, I noticed my cell phone (second device) was no longer connected to my Wifi. I thought "weird". The cell is an Google Pixel 7 with the August update applied. On the laptop, I logged back into the Netgear interface, and noticed I now only had about 8 devices connected. I checked both of my TV (both LG TVs), and neither was connected anymore nor were they now able to connect at all. But, my laptop was still able to connect. So, I did all the basic stuff - reboot phone, reboot router, forget wifi from phone, changed SSID to try to force something to work. I reset the router to factory default, I even downloaded the latest firmware (v1.4.12.2) and applied it - even though the router was already on that firmware. Nothing worked. I also noticed accessing the Netgear web app was slow and painful (subjective, I know) - so, I set up a couple of continuous pings, one to the default gateway, one to the WAN side interface, one to the WAN side outbound gateway (ISP), and one to quad-9s. I was dropping one in about 15 pings to the default gateway, hit and miss on the WAN side IP, and dropping most to the other two IPs.
Called up Netgear tech support. ~90 minute call. Described the above, then had to work through the checklist of Tier 1 questions, which had mostly already been answered with the above, and had to repeat many of the same steps as above.
Finally, one hour and 28 minutes into the call the Tier 1 tech comes back and says she's going to send me a link to a new firmware for me to download and apply. Already annoyed, I asked why this "new" firmware wasn't on the public site for anyone/everyone to download - no good answer - remember, I'm talking to Tier 1, not the policy maker. I get the link, download the firmware version 2.2.1.8, do another factory reset (requested again by Tier 1), and apply the firmware. Suddenly, wifi is working again, and all of my pings are working without issue. I update the factory default SSIDs to what I had been using before and everything starts connecting again - finally, Pixel and LG TVs are able to connect as well.
Plus side - I was still in the 90-day "free support" window for my CAX30S modem/router. I wonder if I would have been able to get that new firmware otherwise. I doubt it. I think Netgear could significantly reduce their costs if they would publish firmware like this when they know there is an issue instead of making folks talk to Tier 1 for 90 minutes. What a waste of time.
Here's some of the details of my router -
Netgear Nighthawk CAX30S AX2700 - cable modem/router
Bought - June 20, 2023
Firmware - Original 1.4.12.2; Now 2.2.1.8
Hardware - v1.01
Cable Firmware - V1.04.05
