Asus rt-n66u

[MichMisly]

Asus rt-n66u loses touch with WIFI

Hello guys.

I have a problem, my router asus rt-n66u loses touch with WIFI after awhile.

Each device has been connected, disconnected and can not connect, but the new devices that were not connected, can connect to WIFI and work normally.

Everything worked fine 3 weeks, and then the problems started.

My WIFI settings:
Wireless Mode: Auto (only on Merlin my phone is not connected to N only)
Channel Width: 40 MHz
Channel: 13u

Statistic:
Total 234.10 MB
Free 182.99 MB
Buffers 6.49 MB
NVRAM usage 38857 / 65536 bytes
Connections 1286 / 300000 - 39 active


Fireware: 3.0.0.4.374.35_2 (Merlin build) (was the last, and the original firmware from Asus latest version)

p.s reset > firmware update > reset > update settings

What could be the problem?

Updated: maybe works 20 Mhz only (for 2.4 Ghz), but everything worked fine 3 weeks, on 40 Mhz.

 

[wouterv]

I do believe to understand the connection problems are at 2.4 GHz only, is that right?

Use freeware software InSSIDer to determine the least occupied wireless channel in your neighborhood, preferably use one of the channels 1, 6 or 11.
I noticed you use channel 13, I have seen some equipment that cannot deal with this channel.
In a crowded area it is advised to set the bandwidth of 2.4 GHz to 20 MHz.
Set your own SSID, leave the Wireles Mode at Auto and use WPA2-Personal with your own passphrase, leave all other wireless setings at default.

I suggest to try Asus firmware 3.0.0.4.276, this version is known to work very well on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

Last but not least:
reset > firmware update > reset > update settings
The update settings part MUST be manual configuration.
Do NOT load a configuration backup file. Loading a configuration backup from another firmware version can confuse the router and cause all kind of problems, including connection issues.

 

[L&LD]

Just because it worked for a few weeks doesn't mean something external didn't change. Like a neighbor getting a new wireless router and using the same channel you are.

 

[MichMisly]

Works fine at 20 Mhz (13rd channel), but max speed is low, max 4 mb\s dw.spd

wouterv, Yeah, the problem only at 2.4 Ghz, don't have support devices for 5 Ghz (temporarily)

i'll gonna testing Asus firmware 3.0.0.4.276, later.

in inSSIDer nobody didn't use my channel, only 5,6,7,6+10,1+5, maybe is hidden.

ofcourse, i don't use backup files for config router.

i use command:

mtd-erase -d nvram
reboot

but got no results, at 40 mhz wifi loses.

 

[wouterv]

Try channel 1, that seems be free as well and is more in the worldwide standard range.
Set the bandwidth to 20 MHz, it should at least give you a wireless rate of 72 Mbps for 802.11n devices. 802.11g is only 20 MHz and should give the full 54 Mbps.
What wireless standards do your client devices or network adapters support?

 

[MichMisly]

wouterv, 20 Mhz works fine and 13rd channel, with max spd. 4 mb\s, while the first channel gives me only 2 mb\s.
1 channel at 40 Mhz gives me only 700 kb\s.

I need a great max. speed on the 2.4 Ghz, more then 4 mb\s, for HD videos at notebook, or TV.


tested Asus firmware 3.0.0.4.276:
works with max. spd. 3-4 mb\s (ONLY 13rd channel!! others (1,6,11 etc) gives me 500-1 mb\s)
location of the router and notebook have not changed, sending files from my pc (lan port) to WIFI notebook.

wifi config:
channel width: 40 Mhz
cannel: 13 channel
w-mode: auto

after 9 hours lost wifi connect.

 

[wouterv]

Again, leave the bandwidth at 2.4 GHz set to 20 MHz, in your crowded area 40 MHz will NOT work out!
If left at 40 MHz, the router it self will take action to try to keep up the connection, with unexpected results.
At 20 MHz, the wireless rate shall be 72 Mbps at least with 802.11n.

Are your wireless adapters capable to deal with 802.11n?

If you connect the laptop by cable to the router, is the Internet speed ok then?

 

[L&LD]

Works fine at 20 Mhz (13rd channel), but max speed is low, max 4 mb\s dw.spd

wouterv, Yeah, the problem only at 2.4 Ghz, don't have support devices for 5 Ghz (temporarily)

i'll gonna testing Asus firmware 3.0.0.4.276, later.

in inSSIDer nobody didn't use my channel, only 5,6,7,6+10,1+5, maybe is hidden.

ofcourse, i don't use backup files for config router.

i use command:

mtd-erase -d nvram
reboot

but got no results, at 40 mhz wifi loses.

It is recommended you don't do a reboot - after your first line of code has completed - pull the power manually to really clear the nvram (as per RMerlin).

 

[MichMisly]

wouterv, yeah, notebook supports 802.11n, and my pc, smartphone IEEE 802.11g.

At a distance of a little speed, notebook connects at 65 mbps (4 MB/s download spd.), my pc 72 Mbps (next to the router)

I understand that 450 Mbps (2.4 Ghz) is a lie?
if it does not work on 40MHz, i read more forums and people have this problem too (not only asus routers), or i think problem is old adapters, because my PC can connect to WIFI.

The problem is not in the settings and firmware.

I use 40mhz on 2.4ghz. Unfortunately i've found that i need to stay with firmware version 3.0.0.4.372.30_3 to be able to use 2.4ghz @ 40mhz on channel 13.

LINK: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=93149&postcount=6
I'll check it today.

L&LD, sure.

 

[wouterv]

wouterv, yeah, notebook supports 802.11n, and my pc, smartphone IEEE 802.11g.

At a distance of a little speed, notebook connects at 65 mbps (4 MB/s download spd.), my pc 72 Mbps (next to the router)

I understand that 450 Mbps (2.4 Ghz) is a lie?
if it does not work on 40MHz, i read more forums and people have this problem too (not only asus routers), or i think problem is old adapters, because my PC can connect to WIFI.

The problem is not in the settings and firmware.


LINK: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=93149&postcount=6
I'll check it today.

L&LD, sure.

The router specification of 450 Mbps for 2.4 GHz (and 450 Mbps at 5 GHz) is not a lie, it is the theorethical maximum rate under ideal conditions (absolutely no radio interference) and use of the maximum supported 3 spatial streams (150 Mbps each) at a bandwith of 40 MHz.
Despite all efforts the world is not ideal.
The 2.4 GHz band is (unless you live in a deserted area) quite congested, resulting in radio disturbance by neighbor equipment (other wireless devices, bluetooth, micorwave devices, wireless telephones) and (automatic) downscaling the bandwidth to 20 MHz.
In addition to the disturbance, many 802.11n network adapters do NOT support multiple spatial streams (many use only 1 stream, some two, a very limited number of network adapters do support 3 streams), resulting in respectivitely 150, 300 or 450 Mbps max at 40 MHz.
It is weakness of the 802.11n standard, it does not specify the required number of spatial streams.

How many spatial streams does your 802.11n network adapter support?

I see a weird thing, you said:

• notebook supports 802.11n, notebook connects at 65 mbps => this indicates the adapter support 1 stream only, and at 20 MHz it may rsult in 65 Mbps.
• and my pc, smartphone IEEE 802.11g, my pc connects at 72 Mbps => this is strange, 802.11g is 54 Mbps max.

I still believe you suffer serious local or neighbor disturbance.

• Check your home for disturbance sources (other wifi equipment, bluetooth devices, microwaves, wireless telephones) and keep the router on at least 3 meters/10 feet distance of those.
• Keep the minimal distance between router and the clients 3 meters/10 feet.
• Set 2.4 GHz at 20 MHz and the least occupied channel, again try channel 1, 6 or 11 (avoid 13).
• Experiment with the router location (away from walls, metal objects or shelfs, liquid containers like bottles or flower vases.
• Check the Internet speed with the notebook or pc connected with a cable to the router.

 

[MichMisly]

wouterv, Nope, my pc supports 802.11n, at 40 Mhz - pc and notebook connects 150 mbps.

OK, thanks you for answers.

probably something interferes, I just assumed that this equipment malfunctions