MR90 Wired Connection Issues

[Higgs22]

Having an extremely odd issue with my new MR90 Mesh System. I'm hoping an expert can help. I have 12 days in my return window so if I can't figure it out I'll just refund it.
 
Issue: Wired connection loses internet connection randomly every day. Requires a power cycle on the modem to fix. However, doesn't fix problem as it happens again the next day. Only loses connection on WIRED - WIRELESS connections are fine.
 
However, while connection is down, the wired device (my main PC) can ping outside to the internet (quad 8 and quad 9). It can ping to it's own assigned internal IP, it can ping to loopback, but it CANNOT ping to the default gateway (192.168.1.1). It also cannot ping names such as google.com (but this makes sense since 192.168.1.1, the gateway, is the DNS server, and it can't ping that).
 
Setup: 27 devices connected wireless with 2 satellites, both 2.4 and 5 throughout the house. One device (my main PC) directly connected via wired connection. Router firmware is up to date (V1.0.2.38_1.0.38).
 
Troubleshooting: I have performed the following troubleshooting steps:
* I have power cycled the router when this happens (as mentioned above). This fixes the immediate issue but it happens again the next day
* I have done the pings as I have stated above
* I have changed the Ethernet cable to a fresh CAT6
* I have swapped the ports that I plug in to on the router (1, 2 and 3)
* I have reserved an address in DHCP (192.168.1.100) to make sure no double IPs are happening (have checked this and I don't see any)
* I have done the basic windows resets (ipconfig /release /renew). It's able to reacquire it's IP each time
* I have called Netgear support and they told me to set manually configure my DNS server on the router. Change it from get automatically to quad 8. I told them that doesn't make sense because all the wireless connections are working fine when this issue occurs to the wired connection
* I have factory reset the system
* Nothing unusual when I look at the logs on the router either. Just standard DHCP assignment messages
 
Any help would be appreciated. I do like the system (when it works), but I can't work like this -- there are many times I can't power cycle my router when the wired connection goes down because my wife WFM too and she's usually on a video call.
 
I've never had an issue where the wired connection goes down but wireless keeps working. With my last Nighthawk, it was always the other way around lol
 

[FURRYe38]

Does a different ethernet connected PC or laptop exhibit the same issue?

Does the Front LED on the MR turn color when this happens or remains BLUE? 

Does the uptime on the MRs web page show this change in time up when this happens with this particular PC? WEB UI under Advanced tab/Show Stats.

Does this happen with using auto detected ISP DNS instead of custom DNS?

Is IPv6 enabled or disabled on the MR? 

What is the brand and model# of the ethernet adapter installed in this one PC? 

Be sure ethernet adapter drivers are up to date from the adapter Mfr. 

What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended. 

[Higgs22]

Heya, thanks for the response. Answers below:

Does a different ethernet connected PC or laptop exhibit the same issue? There is no other Ethernet connected device. My main PC is the only one. All my laptops do not have Ethernet ports. I can say that this never happened with my Nighthawk R8500 (this was the router I replaced with the MR90).

Does the Front LED on the MR turn color when this happens or remains BLUE? Remains solid blue.

Does the uptime on the MRs web page show this change in time up when this happens with this particular PC? WEB UI under Advanced tab/Show Stats. Nothing changes in Uptime. When it is happening, all stats show connected and green. Keep in mind that all wireless connections have zero issues.

Does this happen with using auto detected ISP DNS instead of custom DNS? Yes, I tested using 8.8.8.8 as my primary and 1.1.1.1 as secondary. No different from my ISP assigned DNS address.

Is IPv6 enabled or disabled on the MR? Disabled

What is the brand and model# of the ethernet adapter installed in this one PC? Intel adapter on my MB

Be sure ethernet adapter drivers are up to date from the adapter Mfr. These are up to date

What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too? Arris SB8200. Been using this even on my old router with zero issues.

Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended. I'm using a CAT6 cable and swapped it with a fresh one too, still happens. Also, it's not the cable because I can still ping out to quad 8 and quad 9 and ping my TCP/IP stack.

So things to keep in mind here:

• I can still ping out
• I can ping myself
• I can ping my stack
• I can't ping the gateway
• All 27 wireless devices are unaffected, this is only my wired in PC
• I'm replying to this message right now on my Macbook since wireless is working lol
• It seems to happen around 1pm my local time and it comes back on its own around 2:30 local time - every day. Could it be a timer issue or something within the router?

Any other ideas?

[michaelkenward]

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@Higgs22 wrote:

What is the brand and model# of the ethernet adapter installed in this one PC? Intel adapter on my MB

Intel's Ethernet adaptors have been implicated in issues before now. Haven't seen anything lately, but you never know.

The fact that the only device that has any issues is this connection, it might be worthwhile trying to troubleshoot that before giving up on the MR90.

Intel's drivers come in various guises. I find that I have to check not only Intel for up to date drivers, but also the motherboard maker.

If you haven't been there already, you might also get a few clues from Windows network troubleshooter. Have you tried running that when the network goes down?

Which version of Windows are you on? I've just been "upgraded" and see that they have tweaked "Diagnose network problems". There's now a bunch of options, including "Restart adaptor"

---

Just another user with time on their hands.

[Higgs22]

Yea thanks. However I highly doubt it's my adapter that's the issue. It wouldn't explain why the adapter can still ping out to the internet, or ping itself and loopback address. The issue seems to be the modem and why I lose connection to the gateway on the wired connection only.

I have since disconnected it and reconnected my old Nighthawk R8500 and it works perfectly. No drops, even around that time of day on the wired connection. All using the same adapter and cables.

So it HAS to be something with the MR90 I suspect, but I just can't figure out what other than a hardware fault. I've ordered another MR90 which will arrive Monday. I'll test that one too and see if I get the same issue. If I do, then the problem is on my equipment. If not, then it was a faulty device. Will let you guys know.

[michaelkenward]

@Higgs22 wrote:

The issue seems to be the modem and why I lose connection to the gateway on the wired connection only.

---

You mean the router?

Gateway? That's a term usually used to describe a modem/router?

---

Just another user with time on their hands.

[Higgs22]

Yes I'm sorry I meant to type router lol

Since the router is the gateway at 192.168.1.1, that's what I can't ping. Yet I can ping past it to the internet to 8.8.8.8 or 9.9.9.9. Which makes no sense to me haha

[FURRYe38]

I'd test a different ethernet device connected to the MR and see if a 2nd ethernet device exhibits the same thing. If this is the only device experiencing this and wireless works with other devices, then ethernet needs to to be checked with a different device. They have inexpensive USB to ethernet adapters that you can check and review for. I have a few for my Mac Book Pro. 

Swap LAN cable as well. CAT6 UTP is recommended. 

[Higgs22]

Thank you. Yes, LAN cables have been swapped and same issue. What I have done is ordered another MR90 which is arriving Monday.

If the problem still occurs, then I can logically conclude that it is my equipment, not the router. But if the problem stops, then it would have been a faulty router and I'll return the faulty one.

Either way, I should have an answer soon. I appreciate all the suggestions!

[FURRYe38]

👍

[Higgs22]

Okay, been awhile but here is the update:

I ended up ordering a new MR90 because I really wanted to rule out that it was a bad router. I hooked up the new MR90 and the next day -- same issue.

So! It can't be the MR90 unless I'm extremely unlucky. Since I ruled that out, I made sure my integrated Ethernet port was patched to the current version and purchased a brand new CAT6a cable, just to be sure.

The problem still persists: The wired connection will still go down randomly during the day (only once a day so far that I have noticed) for about 30-90 minutes. During this time, I have installed a USB wireless antennae to my desktop to switch to when it happens.

I'm at my wits end honestly. How would I be able to ping out to the internet, ping my own TCP/IP stack, ping the loopback but NOT be able to ping the gateway.

Anyway, with the USB wireless adapter I have a work around so it's not too bad, just sucks when it drops during a call.

Will keep trying to figure it out.

[FURRYe38]

Any updates on this? 

What is the brand and model# of the on wired PC? 

What IS the brand and model# of the ethernet adapter installed with in this PC? 

Would need to test a different ethernet connected PC to see if the problem follows.

Something to try, install a NETGEAR GS series non managed switch in between the MR router and this PC. Try a GS105 or GS305 behind the MR router, then connect the PC to this switch.