New R7000 Firmware Version 1.0.11.100

[Miked2]

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@Bill_ wrote:

I upgraded from 1.0.9.42 to 1.0.11.100 yesterday and noticed a significant decrease in bandwidth.

I performed a factory reset->reboot->firmware update->factory reset and then made sure QOS was disabled.  My set up is Internet->Google Fiber Box->R7000.  Previously with this setup I was seeing wired download speeds well north of 300 mbps down.  After this update my wired download speed is 90 mbps down at best.  When I plug my PC directly into the Google Fiber Box, I am seeing download speeds of 750 mbps down.

I've since rolled back to 1.0.9.42 but I still don't have the download speeds I used to have.  At this point I'm running out of ideas to try before I just up and buy a new router.  Has anyone been able to restore their download speeds?

@Dustin_V @Christian_R  Any thoughts here?

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My speeds are what they should be and have not changed after the update.  200MB/6MB.

[DoctorX]

As I stated earlier, my wireless connection speeds have improved (even with Smart Connect enabled) while my wired connection speeds have degraded.  Although now I've tried the speed test from another wired PC connection and I'm getting 353mps down. 

So it looks like my original wired speed issue is not related to the firmware update.

Disabling WPS is still an issue though. 

[spcrick]

I updated from 42 to this version 2 days ago.. it was working fine for about 12 hours and then I noticed at night time i wasn't able to use the internet on my phone.  I believe this fw have the same issue where the 5g band overloads and crashes.  Restarting the router works but I don't want to be restarting it every few days.  So far version 42 still works the best and i don't need to ever restart the router.

[Portwey84]

Not sure if it makes any difference or not regarding WiFi crashes, but I've split all of my wireless devices, so I've set up Guest Networks on both 2.4 and 5g. Basically, my media streamers, Amazon etc and my ip cameras and smart meter monitor are allocated to guest networks whereas my personal laptop/desktop, mobile phones etc, are allocated to personal 2.4/5g networks. I don't seem to be suffering any dropouts with my networks split this way.

[spcrick]

I like the convenience of walking around the house and not  having to change different which networks.  

[Portwey84]

I'm not sure what you mean? I don't have to change any networks, the media streamers etc etc just stay locked onto whichever network you've allocated. My mobile phones just auto switch between 2.4/5g dependent on where I am in the house or garden.

[spcrick]

I've had issues where my mobile phone stays connected to the 5g network even though the internet is barely working.

[michaelkenward]

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@spcrick wrote:

I've had issues where my mobile phone stays connected to the 5g network even though the internet is barely working.

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That is down to your wifi clients. They are supposed to pick the best wifi source.

Like @Portwey84, I move wifi clients (Samsung and LG Nexus), between different wifi hosts, on different bands and SSIDs, and the handover is seamless.

Remember, the R7000 is now a  bit long in the tooth (20014) when it comes to the underlying technology. Mesh (think Orbi) has come to the fore since then.

I know it is easy to blame Netgear for the world's woes – next up coronavirus – but  you can't really blame the wifi sources if your wifi clients aren't up to the job.

Forgive me if you have some evidence to finger the R7000. These things can be hard to pin down.

[shoman94]

gRRRrRRRRRR

Well just had my 5g die! Sigh..... I'll give it until this weekend and see what happens but this will be my last Netgear router. They have had 4+ firmware updates since 1.0.9.42 and years to fix it and it still hasn't been fixed. 🤷🏻‍♂️😥

Everything was looking so good too.

[r6700v1]

I threw salt over my shoulder before starting the upgrade, and it worked, so highly recommend.

**rolls eyes**

[spcrick]

I thought after netgear released 1.0.10.xx and crashed some r7000.. they took the time to get this firmware correct. I was so eager to upgrade to this fw hoping the 5g crashing issue would be fixed sigh

[shoman94]

Yea it sucks.... I did go 72hrs before it croaked which is more than any other after 1.0.9.42.... I guess that's a positive. 🙄. I'll digress and see what the next 72hrs brings.

[Bill_]

I did another Factory Reset and then updated the firmware to 1.0.11.100 and did a reboot.  QOS and Traffic Meter are disabled.  I bought two brand new Cat6 cables and ran one from the Google Fiber Network Box to the R7000 WAN port.  When I bring up the Router Status and look at the Internet Port box and click Show Statistics it shows the WAN  is only connecting at 100M/Full. I would expect to see this be at 1000M/Full.

Does anyone know how to get this to go back to 1000M/Full?

[spcrick]

Another thing i noticed.. i have fios 400/400 and with the fw upgrade, i was only getting about 400/200.. after downgrading back to .42 i was getting the full 400/400 again

[Portwey84]

I don't think anyone can pretend this new firmware update is perfect. Indeed I've experienced an issue others have discovered, i.e. the 'Enable Router PIN' cannot be unchecked because when 'Apply' is pressed, it just stays checked. Clearly a software bug that needs addressing.

I actually had a drop out last night, but that was an ISP issue. The current Covid lockdown is clearly having a major effect on the amount of users on the internet. My Draytek Vigor 130k modem dropped out causing me to lose connectivity. When the internet came back up, I logged into the admin page and discovered that the NTP server had dropped and was showing the wrong time and date. The warning highlighted in red at the top of the NTP settings box has typos in it. I'm not defending Netgear here at all. There shouldn't be typos or poor use of English anywhere, it's sloppy and looks unprofessional. Netgear need to get their developers to have a look at this latest release and check it again.

As for the bones of the firmware update itself, well personally, I'm not having any issues with it and there's really not much else I could say. Obviously other users don't appear to be so lucky, I'm just baffled why some owners are claiming to be experiencing major problems when others aren't.

[spcrick]

@Portwey i’m just curious if you have separate ssids for your 2.4 and 5ghz bands. If so, do you experience any drop outs on your 5ghz band? I’m not having much issues other than the 5ghz band losing connection.. sometimes it comes back by itself and sometimes not.

[Portwey84]

@spcrickyes, I do have separate SSID's for 2.4 and 5g standard and guest networks. I have done this so I can protect certain aspects of my network from any potential issues, hence why my media streamers, ip cameras, network printer etc are on the guest network. I don't suffer from 5g dropouts on either standard or guest networks.

WiFi as you are undoubtedly aware, can be affected by all sorts of environmental factors. I live in a quiet suburban street, the house next door to me is currently empty, so I'm not getting any in interference there. I've made use of a WiFi analyser to pick the best channels.

I currently have 10 appliances on my 5g network split between standard and guest networks and it doesn't seem to be overloading my 5g WiFi at all.

I'll just mention about 2.4g, I'm very impressed with the range on this frequency. I can sit out in my back garden and my R7000 pushes out a very stable signal.

Lol! you'd think I was living in the land of milk and honey with my router on this new firmware, but to be honest, I can't moan too much at it because it's not giving me any reason to roll back to v.64, which is what I was on before the update.

[spcrick]

I wish I can say the same haha... so far 42 is still the best firmware for me and it gives me no issues on my configuration.

[jerel2k20]

No, I did not enable Smart Connect and have since reverted back to .42 w/o any drops.

[sinihong]

1.0.11 lasted one day without any problem. But then it started having disconnection issue again. Rolled back to 42. I think 42 is the last stable firmware for the router.

[shoman94]

I didn't have to reboot the whole router.... I just went in a unchecked WPS then hit apply and it cycled the wireless. It's been almost 24 hours since that reboot. If it keep happening I'll be getting a Tp-link Archer A20. I'm done running a 2 year old firmware with security holes.

[James721]

  To the people that have downgraded back to .42. At this point that is really no longer a option. There are some security issues that the new firmware has patched. Rolling back is no good anymore. Maybe it's time to throw in the hat and get a new router. And i recommend it's not a Netgear.  The Asus RT-AX58U can be found at Best buy fot 159.00 and this router works very well. Highly supported by Asus and Merlin. Firmware updates are frequent way more so then Netgear.  Good Luck with your R7000. 

[shoman94]

Yup that's it, I'm done.

[Bill_]

Well I was able to solve my issues with the R7000 and 1.0.11.100 by replacing it with an Asus router.  The control interface is much faster and less clunky and it worked right out of the box.

[shoman94]

Which one did you get?
I was looking at the Tp-link Archer A20 or the Synology RT2600

They both tested very high at Wirecutter.