Netgear Mesh System Router Problems

[Bruce Amacker]

Hey Guys:

I've got internet with a Netgear Mesh System model MK-63 router that I keep having trouble with, it consists of a main unit and two satellites. The main unit loses communication with the modem requiring reinstalling/updating the firmware to correct the problem. I'm moderately tech savvy but this is beyond my abilities and requires me to call tech support. This is a giant PITA that takes several hours to correct and get my system back up and functional, and reinstall all of my devices. This has happened twice this year already and I'm not looking forward to having it happen again. Tech Support has been good with correcting the issue but can't explain why it happens. Has anyone else had this issue, and what did you do to correct it? The router is about 15 months old and purchased from Costco.

Thanks!

 

[justsam]

You advise that the main unit loses communication with the modem. Assuming a wired internet connection from modem to router, if you plug directly into modem with a wired internet connection does that work? When it fails do you still have intranet but loose internet? Who is ISP and what modem is being used? Did you have issues before the use of this router?

 

[Houdini5150]

To me with Networking equipment, if you have to wipe it and re install firmware twice within last 5 months, I would return this back to Costco and find something else.

Power cycling modem and then router not help at all?

 

[b-boy]

How old is your house? Do you have lathe and plaster walls?

I've tried multiple mesh systems in my house. I've had nothing but problems with them. No connectivity, limited coverage area, constantly disconnecting from the main device, dead spots between mesh devices, and very low signal speed. In some cases I could see the device through the doorway, but still not get a signal.

I had a unit that did exactly what you're describing. After the 3rd time, I tossed it.

I ended up running cable and getting multiple WAPs. Its' better, but still not perfect.

 

[dogdog]

Hey Guys:

....The main unit loses communication with the modem requiring reinstalling/updating the firmware to correct the problem........This has happened twice this year already ......

Thanks!

To me with Networking equipment, if you have to wipe it and re install firmware twice within last 5 months, I would return this back to Costco and find something else.

Power cycling modem and then router not help at all?

solution would be returning it back to costco, mentioned in post #3 . Netgear are junks IMO...

if it have been working a power cycle would have been good, but still annoying. If the problem have to be fixed with firmware re-installation every time.... then something is seriously wrong with the tech support that they are not telling you about that junk hardware or just junk support. I had netgear way back in 2000... the problem was both Junk support of out of India call center and junk hardware, Never gone back using thing... Don't know your situation why you would need to wipe and reload firmware in your situation. It's abnormal.

Are you stuck in recovery mode ? not very sure about other routers, ASUS have this thing call recover mode if I try to access it before it completely boots up (with pressing the reset button of cause), I might get the recovery page where I can just upload a firmware file and reboot for recovery. dunno the exact technical word. but if I waited for about 5 minutes, its fine boots complete about 3 minutes. with two mesh nodes...

TP-Link is another brand costco sells that have better reviews..... personally uses Asus mesh. it's ok, still hangs due to other reasons.. but power cycle brings it back.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

need more info here. you stated the main mesh unit loses connection to the modem. how is it connected to the modem? what kind of modem do you have(brand and model? who is your ISP?

you shouldnt have to install firmware on a networking device to reconnect it to the modem so something is off here...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

solution would be returning it back to costco. Netgear are junks IMO...

if it have been working a power cycle would have been good, but still annoying. If the problem have to be fixed with firmware re-installation every time.... then something is seriously wrong with the tech support that they are not telling you about that junk hardware or just junk support. I had netgear way back in 2000... the problem was both Junk support of out of India call center and junk hardware, Never gone back using thing...

yup netgears consumer stuff used to be great but they started circling the drain when they switched to third party written firmware...

the netgear nighthawk series of routers was great until the firmware became trash. i had so many issues with it.... ended up going with a commercial Peplink SD-WAN solution and have never looked back... tech support is awesome....

Don't know your situation why you would need to wipe and reload firmware in your situation. It's abnormal.

yeah definitely not normal. should never have to reload firmware just to establish connectivity with an ISP modem

 

[dogdog]

yup netgears consumer stuff used to be great but they started circling the drain when they switched to third party written firmware...

the netgear nighthawk series of routers was great until the firmware became trash. i had so many issues with it.... ended up going with a commercial Peplink SD-WAN solution and have never looked back... tech support is awesome....

yeah definitely not normal. should never have to reload firmware just to establish connectivity with an ISP modem

I think netgear switched over from a commercial RTOS base (VXWorks) and in-house firmware to OpenWrt (linux based) based in-house firmware which is what a lot of routers are based on these days. Not there at op's router so can't say yeah / nay what happened... OP might have hardware issues, not software/firmware issues if he is stuck in some sort of recovery loop. or the support just take the easy way out and have him re-install firmware for any one that calls... sort of like the old windows support days, please reboot and retry, if you remember those days. lol

 

[wyliesdiesels]

when my nighthawk AC1900 started taking a ****, i read a lot of forum posts about netgears demise and numerous people had stated they switched to third party written firmware meaning it was not written in-house so who knows....

 

[Killer95Stang]

I switched from a Netgear Nighthawk + mesh system to an EERO Pro 6. I've been happy, since I have no more drops in in internet and great speeds throughout the house and outside around our pool. Maybe returning to Costco and trying a new system is in order.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Had a customer who installed EERO on his own without telling me. it took his network down and it was total trash...

 

[Denwood]

+1 on the Netgear AP stuff...flaky firmware and some hardware issues had me replace two EX7000s with Tplink stuff which has been fine. The Tplink Omada bits I've been working with on a shared Starlink mesh have also been solid, although mesh performance shows the lack of a dedicated tri-band back haul. This doesn't matter so much as there are 30 odd devices sharing a 180 Mbps Starlink data connection.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

OP Here...

To answer your questions, the model and router are hardwire connected with Cat5. The modem is a Technicolor CGA4234 modem/router with its own wireless network supplied by the ISP, Breezeline.

I did/do occasionally have issues with Breezeline (I think they're terrible) but not like I have with the modem. Service comes and goes and drops out regularly, like once or twice a month. By the time the tech arrives, it's back on and they can't do anything. Breezeline is the old WOW provider.

While the problem is occurring if I plug directly into the modem with a laptop and Cat5, it works. The modem's wireless router network still works when there's a problem with the Netgear router.

Power cycling the units did not help at all, I did it more than several times.

The house is 30 years old but there is a concrete block wall between the house and garage that does not seem to affect things.

I don't know about recovery mode, but if the cable co (Breezeline) and Netgear did not mention it, it's probably not an issue.

All comments and suggestions are appreciated! Thank You!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

if you get internet direct to the ISP gateway when youre having issues with the netgear then its most likely an issue with the netgear. id return it and try a different brand.

or just use the ISPs gateway unless you need features it doesnt have

one thing i would do if you go with your own router/firewall, is turn on IP pass through and turn off the wifi on the ISPs gateway so you dont have interference between the 2 wireless APs

 

[dogdog]

I don't know about recovery mode, but if the cable co (Breezeline) and Netgear did not mention it, it's probably not an issue.

yea don't know about your specific circumstance, and why it took hours to reload the firmware to fix an odd problem that have to reload firmware. Usually it takes about 5 minutes to load the firmware up. and it takes about few minutes to find the latest firmware from manufacture website. even better, if you keep an copy laying around for recovery if this is an on-going issue. At least from your posts. it doesn't seems like your internet is down since your ISP have it's own router/AP. so you can still access the internet, just not through your netgear.

If you google "netgear corrupted firmware" I guess you will get plenty of hit. and it is a thing from

netgear "mk63" corrupted firmware - Google Search

 

[nh_yota]

I was a big fan of Linksys hardware in the early days of wifi 20 years ago but switched to TP-Link hardware 5 or 6 years ago and have not experienced any issues. I installed a TP-Link Deco Mesh system at my parents' house a few months ago and it's been great.