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Forum Discussion
Nighthawk RAX80 slow WiFi
Hi, I have gigabit internet and just replaced my router with the RAX80. I updated it but somehow get just 400mbs in wired connection straight to the router. How can I fix this?
bmfkai wrote:
I thought we had evolved beyond the need to perform factory resets on devices after a firmware update. :)
It is really a "how did that happen?" response when things go wrong.
Most people happily update time after time. But sometimes stuff happens, or Netgear makes a seriously large change to the firmware.
Unfortunately, it seems to be an industry wide phenomenon.
To keep an update going.
When I factory reset, the issue seems to be resolved.
When I enable LAG (Link Aggregation) between my RAX80 and my CM1200, the speeds are then limited to ~400Mbps.
When I subsequently disable LAG, the speeds are still limited to ~400Mbps even when QoS is off.
The speed from a speedtest directly on the router shows appropriate speed (~950Mbps)
I then enable QoS and set both down and up to 1000Mbps and the issue is resolved again. I can then subsequently disable QoS and the issue will remain resolved until ~24 hours later. At this point the speed limit will again be imposed.
In summary, I think the issue has something to do with the way that LAG and QoS interact. (When LAG is enabled, QoS is greyed out and unavailable.)
- I tried as well... factory reset and restored a backup. Same issue, I cannot get full speed unless I enable QoS. So I tried again only this time I only set up just the basics and did not restore a backup of my settings. Exact same issue, no full speed until I enable QoS. I mean I guess I could leave QoS enabled but I shouldn't have to. I also noticed another issue in both factory reset attempts... unless QoS was enabled, wireless connections would not exceed about 280mpbs. Only with QoS enabled could I connect at 1200mpbs. This is very frustrating and disappointing for such an expensive router.
Yeah this thing is going back, My R8500 gave up the ghost today after just over a year and already dealing with bugs on this firmware?
Yeah nope.
Alright boys I've got a temp solution. I was RMA'ed and found out that the problem I was having was repeatable. The issue has been forwarded to the engineers to try and determine the problem.
I can get the router to fix itself be doing the following, but this is only temporary.
1. In advanced settings, turn off both of the wifi radios.
2. Reboot the router.
You can then turn back on the radios back on after the reboot and the speeds should remain. But if the router subsequently reboots after that, this issue will return.
Please let me know if this solution is working for you.
Snipe_AT wrote:
I can get the router to fix itself be doing the following, but this is only temporary.
1. In advanced settings, turn off both of the wifi radios.
2. Reboot the router.
You can then turn back on the radios back on after the reboot and the speeds should remain. But if the router subsequently reboots after that, this issue will return.
Give that person a medal!
- And this allows you to leave QoS off?
Haven't even touched QoS since I factory reset.
I just got 960Mbps
So this factory reset solution only lasted a few days... speed was back down until I re-enabled QoS. :/ Frustrating
Still having the same issues. This router is paperweight outclassed by 10$ wifi routers.
- I don't know if I would go that far... I mean everything else works great and all my connections are solid. Even the majority of my traffic isn't affected by the drop in speed over WiFi, it's just annoying that it keeps dropping. It's almost as if QoS is reversed in that I only get constant full speed with QoS enabled and reduced speed with it disabled. That's likely just a firmware issue that can be fixed, eventually. This is also a pre ratified AX device so it's not like we didn't know there "could" be potential issues.
I'm having the same issue exactly. LAG enabled. 400 Mbps on gigabit connection. Horrible.
I'm actually using RAX75, not RAX80, but the problem is identical. The workaround posted by Snipe_AT works, until a reboot. Enabling and then disabling QoS works too, until a reboot. Horrible.
Firmware: 1.0.1.64_1.0.27
Any known fixes or acknowledgement from Netgear on this? Otherwise, the unit is being returned tomorrow. :(
THanks for sharing. I'm totally frustrated with this. Im packing up the router and taking back to Best Buy TODAY!!!! Gonna get another router that works.
Hey guys giving a status report. Issue still remains but Netgear support is actively attacking the issues. The latest firmware update was an attempt to bound the issue. The error remains the same though. I expect to hear something back from the engineers sometime next wek. Here is what I told them in the latest message.
"Hello! I have just finished full troubleshooting and have to report that the issue is not yet resolved. On a positive note, the debug log seems to be working with no issues. I was able to log the steps where the issue manifests and my solution to it. Speed are still limited to ~400Mbps when I reboot the router with my wifi configured. Attached is a collection of 7 debug logs that were taken at every step of my router configuration following a full factory reset."
I hope they are able to figure it out soon.
- Thanks for working with their engineering team on this! Gratitude.
- Wonder how long it's going to take them to figure it out. Does anybody have this model that's actually working ?
FWIW, the RAX120 is a fantastic router that does not exhibit any of these issues. I've put it through its paces rigourously, and it performs. My only preference toward the RAX75/80 is a matter of cost (I found this unit for a good price). Otherwise, I'd recommend the RAX120 hands down. I plan to switch back to that model if this doesn't work itself out in short time.
The RAX120 is a Qualcomm based chip while the RAX80 is Broadcom. I've had much better luck with qualcomm based routers than I have with broadcom ones.
Thanks for the suggestion about the 120. I checked on the prices and they are $120 more expensive. Cant see spending that kind of additional money considering that i cant even trust in the vendor to provide a product that works. Thanks though.
I have this exact model as well. Needless to say, I'm glad I found this thread because this exact issue has been driving me crazy. I can't watch any kind of streaming through my Chromecast or phone without video stuttering, and my wife can't use her work laptop's WiFi at all for some reason. I have a gigabit connection.
Eagerly awaiting a fix as it is past the point where I can return this thing. Extremely, extremely frustrating especially from a name brand company like Netgear.
Here's the latest from Netgear support: they want me to DOWNRADE the firmware - this is after telling me to upgrade firmware to latest version - which its currently running. WHat does this sound like?
Thanks for the update.
At this point, I don't want to have to sell this thing to some other poor shmuck, but I feel like it has to come to that when we can't even perform basic work duties or watch Netflix on home WiFi (with a gigabit connection to boot). Netgear support seems to be non-existent and shovels off the duty to forums.
Will certainly never buy another Netgear product as long as I live, or recommend it to the many friends who use me as tech support.
phoyte wrote:Here's the latest from Netgear support: they want me to DOWNRADE the firmware - this is after telling me to upgrade firmware to latest version - which its currently running. WHat does this sound like?
Its worth a shot at downgrading to an earlier version. The R7000 was/is natorious for running better on older firmware versions. If you do downgrade, make sure to do it over a hardwired connection, reset afterward, and don't restore the backup configuration (if you made one).
Thanks. Once they tell me which firwmare version they want I will do it.
Apologies to all those following this thread. I do no longer own the Nighthawk Rax80. Returned for another router from a different manufacturer ( RT88U) and it works fine right out the box. Getting speeds as expected and full functionality.
Could not spend anymore time on the RAX80 - changing firmware, downgrading firmware, setting parameters that dont exist, bafk and forth - not what I expected from a well know manufacturer. No more netgear products for me.
Sounds good! I hope I won't live to regret for staying w/Netgear.
So far my AX8 is awesome in every way!
