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Forum Discussion
Rax80 smart connect issue wifi dropping
Ive been having issues with my RAX80 since purchasing it , if i leave the router with the seperate bands (2.4ghz &5ghz) it runs fine but once i activate smartconnect all i get is intermittent connecti...
New firmware for the RAX120 was released (v1.0.1.108). I was able to upgrade via the Nighthawk app. "Things" appear to be fixed now (for now). I'll post here in a week or so on my further findings.
If Netgear has fixed these same issues for the RAX120, they must have done so for the RAX80. Perhaps there's an update for the RAX80 as well now, or in the works.
Release notes for the RAX120 firmware are now available:
New Features and Enhancements:
- Supports the Tx Beamforming option under Advanced > Wireless Settings to improve legacy wireless client support.
Bug Fixes:
- Wireless disconnection when WiFi password authentication failed.
- Internet and Wireless menu links under the Basic tab do not work properly.
- The attached device list in the Nighthawk app does not display any devices.
- Fixes minor web UI issues.
The only item which seems related to our problems would be "Support Tx beamforming option" but this is described as a new feature rather than a BugFix.
I've already tried disabling beam-forming on the RAX80 & I'm pretty sure it didnt change the behaviour.
Good to see that the "attached devices" bug should be fixed though, this was a pain before.
- Supports the Tx Beamforming option under Advanced > Wireless Settings to improve legacy wireless client support.
Unless this was causing an issue with legacy devices. So if you had any legacy devices (wireless A, B, G, N) it could cause an issue if they are connected. I know I have several devices that are fine using N, and at least one that doesn't want you to use 5Ghz anything. Again, this is fine with all the mixed devices I have. I may do this in a week or so, over a weekend. just in case I have to back out of it. :-)
Been going well for over a week now. No issues to report. WiFi stays up and I haven't had any issues to report back.
So, from what I can get on this. We need a more reliable way to update these devices. Firmware corruption maybe causing updates to not fully "work". At least that is what I am getting fom talking to support and from what I am seeing happen.
Another thing is that updates does not seem to work consistenty for everyone, even if done correctly. And since I have had the same issues with a previous router. It maybe time for a complete re-write of the firmware for these devices. They maybe exceeding on the hardware side, what the software can do. Spec wise, the hardware is great. Software and feature wise, not so much.
- I had the same feeling.
The behaviour of router was initially much better after a factory reset following a firmware update.
However despite a few days of uptime the problems quickly returned.
As an out of the box user this didn't inspire confidence. (I only changed ssid and set as an access point).
Latest information from the Engineering Team on my case is they have still no idea what could cause any of the problems & they've asked me to reconnect the RAX80 without the Netgear extender to see if that changes the behaviour.
I'm getting the feeling we are never going to get this thing working...
There's still not even an acceptance that theres problem. Today I tried the firmware 70 (despite the confirmation from netgear support that it does not address any of the Wifi connection problems).
With this firmware I couldnt even stay connected to the LAN port (this was experiencing connect-disconnect-connect-disconnect) issues.
Perhaps these problems are not Wifi related at all but instead the router soft-boot-looping?.?:?
Either way, I dont recommend anyone else to try the 70 firmware unless you have free time to waste.
Just when you thought the RAX80 couldnt get any worse...... (:facepalm)
I think the only way you can install any updates is to do it manually. And a factory reset after installing it.
Even so, I'm still on V1.0.1.62_1.0.26. I have only rebooting it once in the past few weeks of it being up and working the whole time.
Again, only as an AP device. I'm still using my older R6300 as my LAN router, no WiFi enabled on it.
It is still a bit off at times with the 5G signal. 2.4Ghz seems to work more reliably. But, it's MUCH better than it ever was before.
GabboCH wrote:Today I tried the firmware 70 (despite the confirmation from netgear support that it does not address any of the Wifi connection problems).
With this firmware I couldnt even stay connected to the LAN port (this was experiencing connect-disconnect-connect-disconnect) issues.
Perhaps these problems are not Wifi related at all but instead the router soft-boot-looping?.?:?
Either way, I dont recommend anyone else to try the 70 firmware unless you have free time to waste.
Just when you thought the RAX80 couldnt get any worse...... (:facepalm)
It is working okay for me. Still have QoS issue, random LAN disconnects, etc. Also had to factory reset it twice after update because speeds were being capped to under 30Mbps... unfortunately I can not return since bought in February. Having been putting up with same issues all year... I swore of Netgear in past due to issues and now regret my purchase somewhat. I think may south to new Ubiquiti Alien AX router soon when have funds.
- That doesn't sound like it's working ok if you have LAN disconnects & a speed cap from QoS...
Rather, like many of us, you have paid a lot of money & have no choice but to limp on with it....
GabboCH wrote:
That doesn't sound like it's working ok if you have LAN disconnects & a speed cap from QoS...
Rather, like many of us, you have paid a lot of money & have no choice but to limp on with it....I spoke too soon... I agreee with poster above that newest 70 firmware is somehow worse.... have done 6 factory resets now and it's constantly dropping to 30Mbps, internet connection drops, etc... ridiculous
I did some more troubleshooting... seems Comcast is having trouble in my area along with Netgear QoS issue so that is why my speeds are so slow. Once Comcast is fixed will report back on if can get QoS issue to stop.
Last 2 days, WiFi is been finicky. Seems to be up, but some devices don't connect while others do.
Had to reboot it, and it took a long time before it connected to everything agian. I have various deivices like smart lights, wifi remote control, tablets, laptops, computers, printers, phones, and watches, and consoles, smart TV's etc.
When it doesn't work via WiFi, but something else does. It's annoying as can be.
PLEASE FIX THIS THING!