EX6200 drops 2.4GHZ connection every day or so

[IXY]

got it.  that is how it is set now.  I 'hear' there is better performance by assigning a faster DNS address and not forcing the router / extender to provide DNS services.  I guess that works for PCs where we can set it but for phones and tablets that may more work than it is worth...

thanks for your answer

Have you found a promising extender you would consider?

[gmhyman]

Google published a free Public DNS server: see: https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/?hl=en

However, your extender rarely uses DNS, really only to resolve netgear.com when you look for firmware updates or something similar, so there's nothing really to be gained.   Your PCs/Macs use DNS all the time to resolve all kinds of internet stuff, and using these might help, depending on how the performance of the DNS resolution provided by your ISP works out.  I've used these, and can't see a real difference between the Google ones and what Comcast provides me.

As far as better extenders - the EX6200 is about the 4th different model I've tried.  Before the disastrous .104 firmware, it was decent.  All extenders, at least in my house, loose connections for whatever reason.  In fact, the only reason I'm using one is that it's inconvenient to get an ethernet cable into my living room - I already have cables running to bedrooms at the other end of the house and access points there that are rock solid.

[gmhyman]

Latest results - the 098 firmware also caused me to reboot,although less frequently.

I changed to the oldest (i.e. original) firmware, (whatever is the oldest on the EX6200 downloads page) and that seemed to extend the internval a bit more.

Then I changed to the "fast lane" setup - 5ghz to router, 2ghz for extended network, and lo and behold, it lasted 2 weeks plus with no problem.

The I upgraded to newest firmware - 104 - and after a bit of hassle getting this cleaned up, it is similarly stable in the fast lane setup.

My conclusion - the software or hardware just isn't up to handling 2 frequencies/protocols  on each side, cutting from 4 possible frequencies (2 on each side) to 2 (1 on each side and different), seems to have stabalized things. 

[nickambrose]

Yes I agree. Fastlane lasts a few weeks for me before I need to restart.

Extending both bands is useless and does not seem to work as stated on the specs.

[amo]

Chalk me up as another very disappointed Netgear customer with an EX6200 which performs *appallingly* in Fastlane mode with the latest firmware. 5-6Mbps is a common speed for 2.4Ghz clients, despite the EX6200 getting a good 5Ghz (300Mbps) signal from the main router.

FYI, similar reports here:
http://www.snbforums.com/threads/ex6200-disappointing-2-4-ghz-speeds.16672/

I will raise a support ticket with Netgear, but others' experiences aren't filling me with hope that Netgear will fix it any time soon. I hope I'm wrong...

[amo]

Hahaha... awesome support from Netgear - NOT! Following the support links to get to a live chat session...

*************

Marie: Thank you for choosing NETGEAR.
Marie: My name is Marie with Expert ID 46279. How may I assist you today?
Alan Ogilvie: Hi. I have been experiencing extremely poor performance with my EX6200 in Fastlane mode. This problem has also been reported by other users on Netgear Community forum
Alan Ogilvie: https://community.netgear.com/t5/WiFi-Range-Extenders-Repeaters/EX6200-drops-2-4GHZ-connection-every...
Marie: I see. I apologize for the inconvenience this might have caused you, Alan. However, you have contacted Arlo, NETGEAR's support for monitoring system. Please allow me to transfer this session to the appropriate department for them to be able to further assist you.
Alan Ogilvie: I posted to the forum a few minutes ago.
Alan Ogilvie: Thank you
Marie: You're welcome, Alan. Again, thank you for choosing Netgear. Have a great day!
Marie has disconnected.
Brian Paulo: Thank you for choosing NETGEAR.
Brian Paulo: My name is Brian with Expert ID 46378. How may I assist you today?
Alan Ogilvie: Hi. Can you see the message I typed above?
Alan Ogilvie: Regarding the performance of my EX6200
Brian Paulo: Alan, you are through to the presales group and I will not be able to help you today with your NETGEAR EX6200 extender, however, if you click on correct link on Contact Us page for post sales group, one of my colleagues will be glad to help you with your inquiry. Thank you and have a good day.
Brian Paulo has disconnected.

*************

Utterly pathetic.

[amo]

Ok, so I finally managed to raise a support ticket. I'll report back for everyone's benefit if and when I have any (good) news...

[amo]

Switched back to non-Fastlane mode, and things seem a lot more stable. Let's see how long that lasts...

[amo]

OMG, Netgear support really is the pits.

"We are sorry to inform you that your NETGEAR product's support warranty(90 days of email support) has expired and we will not be able to provide you further technical assistance via email. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused."

Uhhhh...I bought the product on 6th November 2015, which is 64 days ago. Get a better calendar!

If this is the way Netgear treat their customers, it's a pretty safe bet that I won't be buying their products in future.

[amo]

Jeez, I feel stupid. It appears that I recorded an incorrect purchase date (year 2014 instead of 2015) in Netgear MySupport.

So *I* am the one who needs a better calendar 🙂

[amo]

Update...

Same poor performance of 2.4Ghz in non-Fastlane mode *sigh*

Netgear support were unable to provide a resolution (although at least they accepted my support request, despite my **bleep**-up with the purchase date). Their suggestion to change the 2.4Ghz channel wasn't really much help, since I had already found "quiet" channels. Changing channels made no difference.

I've downgraded to the previous version of the firmware to see if that's any better...

[amo]

*sigh*

After a couple of hours of apparent stability, the old (98) firmware shows the same poor performance as the latest version (114). This device is basically a doorstop now: I get better performance using my main router, even with its poor signal strength.

I am *extremely* disappointed with the EX6200, and will be pursuing a refund. This is so disappointing, given that this is supposedly the best extender available.

[amo]

(Recording this here for posterity - someone might find it useful later...)

Another interesting observation about 2.4Ghz reception (its connection to the main router) of my EX6200. If I position it in clear sight of my main router, everything looks fine (the Netgear Genie status page shows it's getting 144Mbps, and at least -40dBm)... for about 5 minutes. Then, although the signal strength remains strong, the speed of the connection drops to 24Mbps, then 5Mbps a few minutes later. This surely indicates a pretty fundamental problem with the device? No wonder 2.4Ghz clients are getting poor performance from the extender!

This pile of junk is going back to Amazon UK.

[JaapHoutman]

I had the same problem with the latest and current firmware. However after I selected 2.4 GHz for "Ethernet ports to WiFi use the following band:" and saved this change, the 2.4 Ghz connection remained up and running at 300Mbps instead of 24 Mbps.

[plalo]

Same issue here and same crappy experience from Netgear supporting (lack) the product. Anyone had better stability with a different product that could be near comparable in throughput?

[IXY]

Ok, so mine stays up for a couple weeks at a time.  

.98 release.  5Ghz to the router, and 2.4 out to other devices as the extended network.

I would love some suggestion on how to test bandwith / throughput besides jsut running a speed test on my laptop.  

Also, i have been so disenchanted wiht Netgear's handling of this, i am not wanting to be customer anymore.  I am from the tech industry and stuff happens and bugs get out.  However an upstanding company would admit it, and then work to resolve the situation.   However Netgear plays dumb, deflects the issue, and hides behind its poor support as a shield.  I do recommend you share this info with publications that review products so the market is aware of not only this device's defects but company poor policy with supporting its customers.  

I also look for advice for a vendors product that offers similar dual and high speeds.  A new crop of devices are just releasing to the market.  And given the dishonest treatment of Netgear I can not give them more money for thier newest device that may have the same issue.

[laurenson747474]

I'm have the same issue the firmware on the ex6200 is up to date, the 5.0ghz works fine and really need this to work.

[IXY]

I would look for another company and another product.  Netgear is not owning this problem and letting old customers just be victims of a defective product.  

[NotGood]

I got sucked in and bought one 2nd hand!

Spoiler

Spoiler

yeah... don't ask  😞

Now I find this thread and it looks like these dropouts are common in this model....  and NG haven’t done jack about it.

No wonder this paper weight was for sale. Although I don't fully blame the guy who sold me the ex6200, I'm more pissed that NG didn't fix it.

NG reputation tarnished.

[jamaicans]

Same issues here.

Dropping devices and internet connection daily.

Current firmware installed.

Tired of rebooting and continually (re)setting this device.

Despite comments from NetGear to the contrary, this problem apears wide-spread and significant.

[Username32]

I'm also having this issue.

Using a EX6150 in FastLane mode.  Extender to Router in 5ghz   /   Extender to devices in 2.4ghz

Every day I have to turn the extender on/off because it stops working. It's like it's forgotten where it is and has gone off for lunch.  The worst part is all the lights on the box show green and the system monitor on the NG website says it is working fine.

I have the latest firmware.

Has anyone replaced the Netgear with a more reliable wifi booster ?    Brand name and model please.