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Second 5Ghz channel disappeared and remaining channels signals are intermittently dropping
I have a Nighthawk RAX70 and recently the second 5GHz channel has disappeared. Also, the Wi-Fi signal has started to drop frequently in the 2.4Ghz and 5GHz channel 1. Neither problem ever happene...
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
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.
What channel configurations are currently set on the router?
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
Has a power off for 1 minute then back ON with the ISP modem and router been performed since last update?
Be sure to restart your network in this sequence:
Turn off and unplug modem.
Turn off router and computers.
Plug in and turn on modem. Wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes for it to connect.
Turn on computers and rest of network.
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update? A complete pull of the power adapters for a period of time after the factory reset then walk thru the setup wizard and setup from scratch with a wired PC and web browser. https://kb.netgear.com/22697/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-router-using-the-router-web-interface
Recommend setting the default DHCP IP address pool range to the following after applying and a factory reset: 192.168.#.100 to 192.168.#.200.
https://kb.netgear.com/24089/How-do-I-specify-the-pool-of-IP-addresses-assigned-by-my-Nighthawk-router
https://kb.netgear.com/25722/How-do-I-reserve-an-IP-address-on-my-NETGEAR-router
I would power OFF the ISP modem for 1 minute. Factory reset the router and power it off. Power ON the ISP modem and let it sync. Then power ON the router and walk thru the setup wizard again using a wired PC and a web browser.
Press the back reset button for 15 seconds then release.
https://kb.netgear.com/9665/How-do-I-perform-a-factory-reset-on-my-NETGEAR-router
https://kb.netgear.com/24233/How-do-I-erase-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Nighthawk-router
The firmware version was V1.0.14.134. I just updated it to V1.0.15.146 after asking the question.
The modem is a Xfinity XB8-T. I tried changing the LAN cable, which did not help.
2.5GHz:
Channel: Auto
Mode: Up to 600 Mbps
5GHz-1:
Channel: 44
Mode: Up to 1200 Mbps
5GHz-2:
Channel: 153
Mode: Up to 2401 Mbps
All channels have SSID Broadcast enabled.
I live in an apartment complex, so there are Wi-Fi neighbors. I have around a dozen of those, but they have remained constant.
After the firmware update, I performed the complete factory reset as you described and set the DHCP range to what you specified. Unfortunately, none of this has worked.
Strangely, when I was first trying a power cycle, I moved the ethernet cable from the router to the modem and the 5G-2 network appeared. But I could not actually connect to it. After the power cycle it disappeared again.
I do appreciate the assistance you are offering.
memeticist wrote:
The modem is a Xfinity XB8-T. I tried changing the LAN cable, which did not help.
The cable bit is just the usual boilerplate red herring. I'd say that 99.99 times out of 100, perhaps even more, it is pointless.
That XB8 router (not sure that the T means) looks suspiciously line a gateway, a combined mode/router.
This means that you are piling router on router.
Two routers on your network can cause headaches. For example, you can end up with local address problems. Among other things, the other router can misdirect addresses that the Netgear router usually handles, such as routerlogin.net or the usual IP address for a router, 192.168.1.1.
This explains some of the other drawbacks.
What is Double NAT? | Answer | NETGEAR Support
Unless you have specific reasons for using two routers – to create two separate networks for example – it is often easier to use just one router and then to set up the second router as a wifi access point. Netgear advises this, as does just about every site you will visit.
It may be possible to put the modem/router into modem only (bridge) mode and then to use the second device as the router.xfinity xb8-t bridge mode - Google Search
Sometimes it is easier to put the second router into AP mode. But that has its own drawbacks:
Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support
