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Forum Discussion
Benthebot
Jul 18, 2019Initiate
R6700v3 New Firmware Slow Speeds
Hi.
I have a Netgear 6700v3 connected to a Netgear CM600 modem. I pay for 300Mbps download and 30Mbps upload. I usually get 300-340Mbps download during speed tests. I noticed recently that I was only getting download speeds of about 150Mbps. I tested several times over a few days and the speeds were staying the same. I plugged my computer directly into my modem and I started getting above 300 again, so it seemed the problem was with my router. I tried rebooting and factory resetting my router a couple times, but that didn't help (both on factory settings and after making changes). I found another forum thread (https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/Netgear-R7000-Slow-Internet-Speed-Our-Fix-SOLVED/m-p/1483216) about an R7000 with similar problems. I skimmed through it and saw that he fixed his problem by rolling back a firmware version, so I gave that a shot.
I noticed my router had firmware auto updates turned on and version 1.0.4.78 installed. I downloaded version 1.0.3.66 and flashed the firmware through the web interface. I immediately started getting speeds over 300Mbps again (both on factory settings and after making changes). I upgraded the firmware back to the newest version, and the speeds dropped again. I downgraded it to 1.0.3.66 again, and it was fixed again.
So now I'm using 1.0.3.66 and turned off firmware auto updates. I couldn't find others with this same issue on the same model, but I thought it should be reported somewhere. Let me know if there is a better place to report (seems like I couldn't contact Netgear support without paying for premium support).
Thanks,
-Ben
100 Replies
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- that1crzywhtguyAspirant
Thanks for posting this. Remedied the issue for me as well!
- whoodatAspirant
Is there any update on this, will Netgear be releasing a newer firmware? I too had to roll back and now things work ok but I hate to leave it on old firmware.
- a531Aspirant
Worked for me also, before rolling back around 200 mbps, after rollback 497mbps!
Thanks for the help!
- AkriosInitiateMyself and a friend had the same issue. I noticed slow download speeds the other day, ran a couple speed tests and confirmed something was up. We both have gigabit FIOS and I could not get more than 200-250Mbps up and down. I tried factory resets etc and nothing worked. Both speedtest.net and Verizon’s speed test to their network which consistently gets high 800s to 900s was getting sub 300. Reset my ONT, plugged into ONT directly and the speeds were better. Eventually I tried rolling back from 1.0.4 to 1.0.3 and the speeds were fixed!
I rolled back and turned auto update off. Really annoying the new firmware was causing this issue. Wasted a day or two troubleshooting and even calling Verizon. Hope it gets fixed soon.
Also, this was on the r6400v2, not the v3!! So it effected the v2 as well.- stanjohnAspirant
Classic memory leak in firmware, do they test this stuff ? Truned off all features I could, even 5G radio, it helps but still have to reboot every day to get performance back. Also down graded version to V1.0.3.66_10.0.50 from current 1.0.4.78_10.0.55 it helped a little but this problem has been in the last two release time to fix this passed, who ever is testing and coding need more training.
- BenthebotInitiate
To clarify, the speed problem I described in my original post would happen immediately when loading the new firmware, not over time. The memory leak problem might be different.
- stanjohnAspirant
Just tried the V1.0.4.78_10.0.55 file abt the same several hours and router needs a reboot to recover normal speed ping times go from 20ms to 200ms to 2000ms I may try dd-wrt os next hope it is better ?
- whoodatAspirant
Glad to see Netgear released yet ANOTHER firmware update where it cuts my speed by over 100mbs......I will never buy another netgear router from this day forward. Awful. Will have to rollback my router yet agian....
- that1crzywhtguyAspirantI returned mine, bought a tp-link. Not a perfect unit , but very happy overall.
Didn't update that firmware either tho lol.- Yeah I’m past the return date, Amazon said nans, so I bought an Asus AC3200. Gotta set it up still tho ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Retired_Member
I have the same problem, when I downgraded the firmware to 1.0.3.66 it solved the problem. This seems like a problem that NETGEAR should definitely fix and issue an update for. I paid good money for this router and it is only fair that I get my full internet speeds with it. It really bugs me, I'm an update freak, I like to have all of my software as up-to-date as possible. NETGEAR please fix this, I have always loved NETGEAR,
- rwoInitiate
Have a new Netgear R6700v3 router. Set up using the suggested Netgear Nighthawk App, and allowed the Nighthawk App to upgrade from factory firmware to the latest 1.0.4.82 firmware. On a Charter Spectrum Cable Modem with Spectrum's Internet Extra Plan (400Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload) I was only seeing up to 250Mbps download speeds, but upload speeds seemed around 20Mbps.
After reading the problems many people were having in this thread about this R6700v3 router with Slow Speeds and recent firmware, I downloaded the older firmware version 1.0.3.66, as was suggested, and I am now receiving near 370Mbps downloads and faster uploads around 23Mbps as well. I believe the problem may be due to the Netgear Armor software support which was added in later firmware, as the router may be having to do extra processing for each data packet as part of Netgear Armor.
Regardless of the cause, the problem is now fixed by applying the older 1.0.3.66 firmware.
Thanks for the tip! Appreciate it. Hope this will help someone else having similar slow download speed problems with this router.
Still a problem... Latest firmware cuts my speed in half. Thanks for taking the time to post. This resolved my issue for now, but I can't apply any new security patches without dropping to 150mb speeds.
I just wanted to add to this conversation. Purchased the V3 version of this router a few months ago at the same time that I upgraded my internet speeds with Comcast to 1GB. I was only getting top out speeds of 250GB. Verified that I was getting 1GB over the wire with comcast, had them check wiring and cable to the house. All verified correct. I directly connected my desktop to the cable modem (Netgear CM1000), removing the router all together, and my speeds shot up to 989GB! Found a couple of articles on the forums here, and after troubleshooting here over a few days, I was finally able to achive very close to my advertised speeds with the router by downgrading to V1.0.2.66_10.0.48 firmware. Turned off auto updates, and have never looked back.
I do check occasionally to see if there is a newer FIXED version of the firmware, but I find that Netgear simply doesnt care at this point. They are concentrating on their newer products. I get that, but to resolve this issue should at least be on the radar! I dont want to have to spend $300-$400 on a new router when I have one that fits my needs, and doesn't look like an eyesore sitting in my living room. Not having the latest firmware does not give me the best feeling, but if that is what I have to do to keep my 18+ devices in my house working so be it. When this router dies, I'll upgrade. Until then...Old firmware it is!!
- GammafistAspirant
Just curious did you test out 1.0.3.66 firmware before deciding on your current firmware?
- RailheadTutorI could not afford the week of down time attempting to reach or discuss the matter with Netgear’s so-called “Tech Support”.
I am going to leap-from several firmware versions to the current release this weekend, and immediately check the speeds on all connected devices.
- dp_InitiateHad the same exact issues, my Verizon FiOS speeds were half of what I could get with Verizon G1100 videos. After finding this thread I downgraded to 1.0.3.66 version firmware and speeds improved dramatically which is great. But this also means I have to miss out all security updates and other benefits, which sucks.
I can't believe how horrible their support is for this router, especially since I just bought it new a few months ago. The support ticket I had open to resolve this they just closed with no explaination. Like this issue was fixed or something. Netgear, you had one job... Move the data through the router at rated speeds... I am so disappointed that I have to run old firmware and now my router is vulnerable to exploits, because Netgear can't fix its firmware.