R6700v3 drops all wifi networks, wired connections still work

[m8473]

Had this R6700v3 for 1.5 years and been working fine. But sometime in the last few months it starrted dropping all wifi connections on all 4 SSID networks, while the hard wired connections keep working. When this happens the SSIDs are still being broadcast, but devices cannot connect to them. A power cycle resolves the problem, but this device is in a remote location so that is a big problem.

This happens several times per week, sometimes multiple times per day. Firmeware is up to date (V1.0.4.106_10.0.80). Not using Armor. Looked at the log via the admin web page, but it only shows log entries since the last reboot, so that is useless to know what happened before that.

I am tempted to trash it, but it is unlikely a hardware problem.

Any ideas how to resolve this? 

[antinode]

> [...] sometime in the last few months [...]

> [...] Firmeware is up to date [...]

   "newest" and "best" are spelled differently for a reason.

> [...] it is unlikely a hardware problem.

   I agree.  I'd try different/older firmware.

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Downloads.  (For older versions, under Firmware and Software
Downloads, look for "View Previous Versions".)  Find the kit(s).
Download the kit(s) you want.  Read the "Release Notes" file for
instructions.  (In the User Manual, look for "firmware", and,
especially, for a topic like "Manually Upload Firmware to the Router".)
When that fails because of a deficient User Manual, try:

      https://kb.netgear.com/23960

[m8473]

I might try that, but not a fan of running backlevel firmware - not because I worry about security fixes, but how well the remote access app will continue to work over time. And I eventually want to do a VPN and how well will that work, etc.

[antinode]

> [...] not a fan of running backlevel firmware [...]

   If Netgear never introduced new problems in new firmware, then there
might be no need.  But, if you're wondering whether a problem is caused
by hardware or firmware, then changing firmware can be cheaper.

[m8473]

Fair point. I have also seen a suggestion to do a hard factory reset (which I have never done since install). I think I will do that first, if no go, then go back to a firmware version around 6 months ago.  What a pain, each experiment will take at least a week to know for sure if it was sucessful.

[wcalifas]

Before you trash it you can always try uploading third party firmware for that router. You can use tomato, open wrt, or dd-wrt. Here is a link to dd wrt for that one, you need to read the instructions correctly and download the firmware upgrades for that model. https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Netgear_R6700v3#Installation

[m8473]

It has been 1 weeks since a hard-reset and reconfigure-from-scratch. So far no more wifi drops.