A6210 keeps disconnecting

[Reik1]

Hello, I bought the A6210 WiFi USB adapter adapter some time ago (a couple of months) and at first I wasn't having any problems but soon after it keeps disconnecting from my computer. In a day sometimes it won't disconnect at all and others about a dozen times. I have installed the driver and reinstalled it multipule times. I have tries different usb ports and nothing. It is at the point were im just expecting disconnections.

[Blanca_O]

Hi @Reik1

Welcome to NETGEAR Community! 

May I know the operating system of your computer? 

Was there any updates/changes on your computer prior the issue? 

What happen if it disconnects? Do you need to unplug and replug the adapter? Or it will just reconnect to the network? 

You may try performing the troubleshooting steps here:  https://kb.netgear.com/23352/

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team

[acristo]

Hi there, the same issue at my end. 

I see many people reporting this issue but noone is willing to follow your suggestions. Let me work together with you to sort this out once and for all. 

1. Router -> TP-LINK Archer C6 WIFI AC1200
I think it has latest drivers, but I'll double check. On the other hand, none of the other devices I use (couple of laptops or mobile phones) disconnect from the network. Only A6210 keeps unplugging - when it happens I hear it being unplugged... like I'd physically remove the connector out of USB 3.0 port. This could be potentialy USB 3.0 Power management feature. 

2. Latest drivers applied (1.0.0.39)

3. The guide is obsolete as there is no such option in the latest drivers. That could be OS thing as well. You're clearly using Windows 7 as an example while people are using Windows 10 for years now.

Extra options:

I've just forced 5Ghz only mode, USB 3.0 only mode in advanced settings. 

In Windows10 Power Options, I've already had Wireles Adapter Setting, Power Saving Mode set to Maximum Performance - despite that the connection was dropped for me 10 minutes ago.

What I've changed in that section just now, is USB settings, USB selective suspend setting. It was set to Enabled and I've just switched that to Disabled state. 

I'll observe if anything changed as a result of my actions. Definitely be back with the feedback. Please, don't mark this topic as resolved untill you hear back from me.

[acristo]

Went ahead to also disable NetgearSwitchUSB service. I guess this one is only working when you have the USB setting (in Device Manager / Wifi Properties / Advanced) set to Automatic anyway, so once I've set the setting to only be 3.0, the service wouldn't be doing anything anyway.

[Blanca_O]

Hi @acristo

Thank you for sharing all this information. I'll wait for your update.

How often does the connection drop? 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team
 

[Reik1]

Hello,

My operating system is windows 10. There have been multipule updates to the OS since so I can't really pin it down. The device itself disconnects from the PC, Saying that it isnt recognized only for it to connect moments later. Sometimes I must remove it from the USB port and plug it in again for it to be recognized.

[acristo]

@Blanca_O It may happen couple times a day and the other day you wouldn't notice anything wrong. I guess it is down to how much I use my PC in given day. Let's say on average you will have 1 disconnect per day.

@Reik1 I highly recommend you to follow what I've described around USB settings. Set it to 3.0 only for now (in device manager) or completely disable mentioned windows service. Both of these should have positive result when it comes to device plug/unplug scenario.

[acristo]

There is one more thing I've noticed after applying mentioned changes...

1) Before the changes, when I started my PC the card would connect to a wi-fi for a brief moment, only to disconnect and then connect again - after that it would stay connected.

2) After the change there is no disconnect. Once it connects it stays connected.  

[Blanca_O]

@Reik1 - Please follow acristo's recommendation and let us know of the result. 

@acristo - Let us observe the connection for few more days. 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team
 

[Blanca_O]

Hi @Reik1 and @acristo,

How did it go? 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team

[Reik1]

I dont quite understand what @acristo means by (I guess this one is only working when you have the USB setting (in Device Manager / Wifi Properties / Advanced) what device is this setting on?

[acristo]

@Reik1 Follow the guide -> https://kb.netgear.com/23352/A6200-A6210-WNDA3100v2-wireless-adapter-intermittently-disconnects
There is a screenhot with Advanced Tab and properties for your USB WifiDongle. In my case the list is quite different than the one on the screenshot and one of them is names "USB Settings" if I am not mistaken. 

@Blanca_O Haven't used that PC for longer periods of time in last days - can't really tel yet. On top of that it stopped booting yesterday - not sure if nearby thunderstorm is anyhow connected with this new issue 😕 

[acristo]

My PC is up and running again and I haven't noticed any WiFi disconnects up to this point. I'll post an update in this thread as soon as I get any. 

Best regards,

Adrian

[Reik1]

After doing what you said @Blanca_O and @acristo but I still dissconnect after a while of using it.

[Blanca_O]

HI @Reik1

Our support team is looking into this issue and would like to work with you. Please check your inbox. 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team

[kahmi]

Hi, I have exactly the same problems as @Reik1, I have 2 Netgear A6210 and bought them 2 years ago and they always had some disconnections issues (as a quick research on the forum shows it's common on this model) but it's gotten worse the last few weeks and it disconnects a few times a day but as @Reik1  said it's completely random and sometimes it's fine for hours and others it disconnects every 30min.

I tried the windows drivers, the latest netgear drivers, I also had the issue with older drivers but it's always the same problem. I also changed my pc last week and hoped it would be some kind of problem with my old platform (intel) and install of windows 10 but now I have an AMD cpu on an AM4 motherboard with a fresh install of windows 10 and still the exact same problem

It's a shame because when it works, it works really well but now I just stopped using them and I'm on a much slower dongle from another brand with which I have no problems

[PrOnTeZc]

The issue still has not been fixed... 

[Blanca_O]

Hi @PrOnTeZc

What is the current 5GHz channel set? Please try changing the 5GHz channel. 

https://community.netgear.com/t5/WiFi-Adapters/5GHz-network-disconnects-randomly-and-after-it-does-I...

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team

[thebangsauce]

@Reik1 

A little late to the party but I created an account just to see if this helps you because this took me so long to figure out.

Open your services menu

Find NetgearSwitchUSB (netgear driver install, i actually had to install the latest netgear driver to get this to show) or RunSwUSB (default windows driver install some seem to have reported)

Right click and click Stop

Right click and select Properties

Under Startup Type select Disabled

This service won't be on next time you start your computer

This took me literal years to figure out. When I moved I decided to give it another go. Apparently it's trying to flip between USB 2.0 and 3.0 due to some unknown circumstance. Been working for me since I did this. Good luck.

[mihai0vi]

I have the exact same problem described here.

@thebangsauce, I will try your suggestion an let you know if it's working for me.

[laroosh]

I've been dealing with this issue for a couple of days and I think I've found a couple of ways to fix it. I haven't had any disconnections in the past few days since I tried these solutions.

First Method:

1. Go to Device Manager.
2. Click on "Network adapters".
3. Right-click on your network adapter and select "Properties".
4. Go to the "Advanced" tab.
5. Find "Max USB Speed" in the list of properties.
6. From the dropdown menu on the right, select "USB 3.0".
7. Make sure your device is plugged into a USB 3.0 slot.
8. Check in "Bluetooth & other devices" in Windows settings to see if it says "Connect to USB
3.0".

Second Method:

1. Press the Windows key and type "Services".
2. Right-click on "Services" and select "Run as administrator".
3. In the Services window, scroll or press 'n' on your keyboard to find "NetgearSwitchUSB".
4. Right-click on "NetgearSwitchUSB" and select "Properties".
5. In the "General" tab, find "Startup type" in the dropdown menu and select "Disabled".
6. Click "Apply" and then "OK".

Whenever I use my computer for the day, I turn it on and connect it with the Netgear Genei software.
Once it's connected, I restart my computer and it doesn't disconnect for the whole day.
I hope these steps help fix the issue for everyone.

[michaelkenward]

Excellent advice. I would also throw in the other USB property.

Disable the ability in Windows to Turn off power to the adapter.

Wifi adapter properties