Asus RT-N66R randomly crashing. Second one.

[igacek]

Hi all,

I've got an Asus RT-N66R router. This is my second N66R, as my first one also had these issues, and I mainly use wired devices with it. The only wireless devices I have are my phone and laptop, which are mainly used for web browsing.

Lately, I've noticed my RT-N66R is crashing 3-4 times a day, as in, I randomly can't access websites and my connections drop. I can still access the routers GUI and tell it to reboot, though. I usually have two computers running when this happens:

PC 1 is connected via gigabit ethernet, using remote desktop software connected to 3-5 devices (through LogMeIn), usually playing YouTube videos every now and then or browsing websites (while remotely connected to computers).

PC 2 is a laptop connected via gigabit ethernet, connected to a VPN. Other than that, not doing much, but it's always connected to a VPN.

So basically, only two computers, but they're both doing things. My router is quite warm to the touch, but I wouldn't say it's hot. I have a 50/50 fiber connection, and again, I randomly lose internet access and have to navigate to the router GUI and force a reboot. Then things magically start working again. I've tried Merlins FW as well as the latest ASUS FW, but both have issues. This is my second RT-N66R I've gone through.

I suppose the question is: given the circumstances above, do I simply need a more powerful router (RT-AC68U or Netgear r7000/Nighthawk) to handle two computers, one running VPN software, and another running remote desktop software/other programs? Or, did I just get a streak of bad luck with RT-N66R's and I need a third one?

Thanks

 

[theveterans]

Is the router well ventilated? The first 2 weeks of owning my ASUS, I noticed that it slows my RX speed to 1/2 of what it was initially. Then I noticed the router is very warm to touch so I elevated it with wood sticks and now it it's stable as a rock and doesn't slow down anymore.

I add that I reduced the Tx power to 50 mw from default 80 mw.

If elevating it doesn't help, you can try the R7000 since it probably runs cooler than ASUS but I have no concrete evidence.

 

[igacek]

Is the router well ventilated? The first 2 weeks of owning my ASUS, I noticed that it slows my RX speed to 1/2 of what it was initially. Then I noticed the router is very warm to touch so I elevated it with wood sticks and now it it's stable as a rock and doesn't slow down anymore.

I add that I reduced the Tx power to 50 mw from default 80 mw.

If elevating it doesn't help, you can try the R7000 since it probably runs cooler than ASUS but I have no concrete evidence.

I have tried it elevated 3/4 off my desk, but it was still having issues. My problem with reducing Tx power is that... why should I hamper the performance of my router just so it's stable? I dunno, that doesn't sit well with me :\ I paid for one that should operate at it's defaults, no? Is yours still elevated? If so, is it pretty warm to the touch?

With that said, I can get around $80 in store credit for the RT-N66R. Should I go for it and simply apply that towards a AC68U or Netgear r7000? Or do I have a setting wrong?

 

[RMerlin]

Check your system log for potential hints as to what is happening.

 

[igacek]

Sorry for taking so long to reply. I was waiting for it to disconnect again. Well, it happened. I was streaming on Twitch.TV at about 6500kbps and playing video games. All of a sudden, everything disconnected. I was able to access the router GUI at 192.168.1.1, but there was nothing in the logs around the time of the disconnect. Only a few things hours earlier.

Any ideas where to go from here? Did I simply get a 2nd bad unit in a row (even through multiple firmware versions), or is the unit somehow underpowered?

 

[msb]

How did you decide that the router is "crashing". Do you see it rebooting? Is there anything indicating a restart in the log? Is what you are describing as the router crashing IP traffic ceasing to move to/from the 2 computers on you LAN? What is on the WAN side of the router? Is it possible that the failure is upstream of the router? I think that the ability to access and configure it via the GUI may rule out a "crash".

I don't buy into the heat suggestion. These devices are not cars. It has been my experience with semi-conductors that overheating causes permanent component failure (they work while overheating until the point where they get fried and then it's all over for good).

 

[igacek]

I can't access websites. My sessions to remote desktops all disconnect. I am not able to access anything internet-wise until I restart the router. That's about all I know. There is a ZyXEL GS2200 24-port switch for our fiber internet connection in the basement of my apartment, and I have a fiber connection (up to 1gbps down/up, but I pay for 50/50). I can't access websites, nothing besides the router GUI. Everything is 100% fine after a quick reboot of the router.

 

[msb]

I'm guessing that it is a configuration issue involving the type of internet connection that you are attached to. I'll leave the troubleshooting to the networking experts here. I don't think that you are having a hardware failure with your device.