Nighthawk R7000 Dropping WiFi

Question

I've seen other posts with this same subject line, but nothing more recent than 2020. This is really a long-term, frustrating situation. I suspect it was introduced with a firmware update a while ago. I am currently running the current version of V1.0.11.136_10.2.120. When it happened again today, I immediately checked my office computer, which is hard-wired to the router, and it still had internet access. So it definitely seems to be the router.

I saw in a thread from 2020 that there was a recommendation to try downgrading the firmware to V1.0.9.42. Here it is three years later. Should I try that?

I recognize that the router is quite old, but it really has served me well over the years. It certainly puts a bad taste in my mouth to even consider upgrading to another Netgear product. I've seen other posts about Netgear ruining a great product with crappy firmware. So I'm willing to give TP-Link or Asus a try.

I would appreciate any help with addressing this situation...either resolving it or replacing it. 🙂

michaelkenward · Answer

swilson317&nbsp;wrote:
I've seen other posts with this same subject line, but nothing more recent than 2020.
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What actually happens on your network? "dropping wifi" could mean many things. One possibility is that there is nothing wrong with the router but the wifi clients are disconnecting.
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Nothing more recent than 2020 suggests that this is not a common issue.There have been around half a dozen firmware updates since then for the R7000.
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plemans · Answer

That router is a decade old. It was released on 2013.&nbsp;
Any device I have that is a decade old and worked that long doesn't leave a 'bad taste in my mouth".&nbsp;
It leaves me impressed that it was still applicable for that long.&nbsp;
but you do you.&nbsp;
And like&nbsp;michaelkenward&nbsp;says, a bit more details help to determine if its a router issue, device issue, or just a firmware issue.&nbsp;
The newer firmware haven't had nearly the reports the old 1.0.9.** versions did.&nbsp;
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swilson317 · Answer

Thanks for the replies. I gave up and decided to replace it with a non-Netgear product. WOW! What a difference! Wired and WiFi speeds are significantly faster and haven't had any drops in the last couple of days. Turns out a friend with the same model had the same experience. I guess it was just showing its age. I was done screwing around with it. It should just work...and it was for the beginning of its life. 🙂&nbsp;

plemans · Answer

Glad the new one is great!

michaelkenward · Answer

swilson317&nbsp;wrote:
I guess it was just showing its age.

You have probably jumped several generations of technology in the new hardware. The original R7000, never the most capable kid on the block, predates the growing availability of Internet services approach 1 Gbps. let alone the widespread plague of those&nbsp;Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets
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It won't just be the technical features that are better, thanks to improved chipsets, you should also have a device that is more user friendly to control.
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With luck your new system won't try to sell you add-on services that get you sucked into its clutches for life.
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By the way, even a pensioned off R7000 can have its uses. If your new setup lacks support for USB, your old router can work in AP mode and add USB storage and printing to your network. No need to use the wifi. Just turn it off

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Nighthawk R7000 Dropping WiFi

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