Re: RAX120 Speed drops from 600-700 Mbps to 6 Mbps when using 802.11ax

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-23

So I have an issue where if I use any network adapter that has 802.11ax the speeds will just randomly drop from normal 600-700 Mbps to around 6 Mbps and in reality it really isn't even that as almost nothing works, whereas at 6 Mbps it should just be slow. Now I have about 20 other devices connected on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band and none of those seem to have the same issue but I have two devices that have 802.11ax network adapter cards using the Intel AX200 chipset (as that is pretty much the only available chipset for 802.11ax network adapter cards). Both of these cards will have the speed dropping issue. If I change to 802.11ac the speed dropping issues occur less frequently, but does still happen. If I actually set the cards to use 802.11ax the speed will drop in 15-20 minutes at the most.

The fact that it still happens even on 802.11ac makes me think it is an incompability with the AX200 chipset, but seeing as those are the only devices available with 802.11ax that pretty much means the Netgear RAX120 has an incompability with 802.11ax in general. Anyone have any ideas about this? I've heard tell there is a non-public beta firmware available to try which I suppose I'm willing to give a shot. I am currently using the 1.0.1.118 firmware and was previouisly using the 1.0.1.114 firmware which also had the issue.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-23

Oh one more thing, just disconnecting from the wifi and then reconnecting to the wifi will temporariliy fix the issue. No router reboot or anything necessary.

plemans · ‎2020-03-23

which drive is on the AX200? the older drivers had issues.

go to intel and download the most recent for the AX200.

Also, try a factory reset and manual reinstall of the RAX200. don't install from a backup.

I've got the RAX200 and the AX200 and my speed/connections are currently fine. running windows 10

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-23

Yeah, my drivers for the AX200 are the latest available:

21.70.0.6

I have not yet done a factory reset, that is a huge pain to get everything set back up.

plemans · ‎2020-03-23

@NordicBastrd wrote:
Yeah, my drivers for the AX200 are the latest available:
21.70.0.6
I have not yet done a factory reset, that is a huge pain to get everything set back up.

it is a pain to setup everything again. But the RAX devices were manufactured before the AX spec was even finalized. They've responded favorably to full factory resets and manual installs. Sadly, its kind of the price you pay to be on the forefront of technology.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-23

I guess, but I waited a year after this was first released before buying to hopefully have some of the bugs worked out, you know like being able 802.11ax actually working

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-25

So last night I went and did a factory reset. 802.11ax still has major slowdowns, so basically that didn't help at all.

plemans · ‎2020-03-25

Try downgrading the firmware a version. I've read of others having issues with the most recent version.

Topology · ‎2020-03-25

NordicBastrd, as a test, it may be beneficial to check if the problem occurs with other AX devices (e.g., a iPhone 11 Pro you or a friend might have available).

If the problem is isolated to the Intel AX200 network adapter, then that suggest that the root cause of the issue is with the Intel adapter and not the Netgear router.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-25

I have two different network adapters. Of course both have the underlying AX200 chipset because there isn't a network adapter that does 802.11ax that isn't the ax200 currently, at least that I'm aware of. This isn't the network adapter itself.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-25

I was on 114 before and had all kinds of issues, not just the slowdown issues. I'm now on 118 and the router is much more stable. I was debating trying to go to 108 to see if that helped with the 802.11ax issue but I'm wary of that since the other 20 devices I have kept dropping off when on the 114 firmware so I don't want to break everything to try to fix one issue.

Topology · ‎2020-03-25

The following article may be of interest: Netgear RAX120 Router Review: The Multi-Gig Age Is Here. Specifically, the author tests the RAX120 together with the Intel AX200 network adapter card – and, in those tests, both appear to work well together. This result implies that the two may not be incompatible.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-25

Well, that's nice, but on mine they are and from reading other comments here on the forums I'm not the only one with the issue. For instance this thread is exactly the same issue:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-Routers-with-WiFi-6-AX/Dreadful-WiFi-on-RAX120/m-p/187927...

powellandy1 · ‎2020-03-25

Try setting Advanced Settings -> Wireless -> CTS/RTS Threshold to 2303

Apply and then reboot the router

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-03-25

Tech support already asked me to do so. I did and stability overall increased, but 802.11ax issues did not go away

NOiSEA · ‎2020-05-08

@Topology wrote:
NordicBastrd, as a test, it may be beneficial to check if the problem occurs with other AX devices (e.g., a iPhone 11 Pro you or a friend might have available).

If the problem is isolated to the Intel AX200 network adapter, then that suggest that the root cause of the issue is with the Intel adapter and not the Netgear router.

I have 2 different AX200 adapters, 1 is built into my motherboard and the other is a PCIe one by ASUS. both have the problem so the problem is much more likely to be the Netgear RAX120 than the adapters. I have had this problem since February and no firmware update has ever fixed it.

NOiSEA · ‎2020-05-08

Has anyone found a fix for this yet?

powellandy1 · ‎2020-05-08

Returned RAX120 for a refund from Amazon and decided to stick with Netgear and got a RAX200. All problems went away. RAX120 is buggy and they don't seem to be able to fix it.

NOiSEA · ‎2020-05-08

@powellandy1 wrote:
Returned RAX120 for a refund from Amazon and decided to stick with Netgear and got a RAX200. All problems went away. RAX120 is buggy and they don't seem to be able to fix it.

I really don't want to do that. I don't think I can get a refund because I have held out so long under the assumption that it would get fixed... its definately been more than 90 days for me.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-05-08

I have 3 different network adapters and they all have the same issue. Of course all of them are Intel AX200 chipsets...because all ax network adapters have that chipset. Surely an issue with the RAX120.

NordicBastrd · ‎2020-05-08

Yeah, usually the return limit is 30 days. You can RMA up to 90 days which I already did. Second RAX120 has the same issue.

michaelkenward · ‎2020-05-09

@NordicBastrd wrote:

You can RMA up to 90 days which I already did.

RMA is usually a warranty thing for broken hardware. This lasts for a year.

90 days is for free setup support. This may or may not also lead to an RMA.

Returns to the supplier are down to their rules.

dcinca · ‎2020-05-13

I had the similar problem.

It's caused by the driver of AX200

Use the Killer AX1650 beta drive, https://support.killernetworking.com/software/

install the Killer Control Center

How?

Method:https://blog.csdn.net/u014390186/article/details/103423636

It's in Chinese, but a lot of pictures to show how to do it, I think it's ok to who can't read chinese.

or you can try to search the method from google.