Solved Internet dropping out frequently (RT-AC87U)

[jim778362]

Hi

I've had a look at the forums and can't find anything quite the same as this. We've got Virgin Media on a hub connected to a RT-AC87U which I have set up and do use to keep the kids off instagram etc

For the last few weeks the internet (both cabled and wifi) has dropped out several times a day, today it must have happened thirty times. My gf and I both work from home, so this is a *&^#ing nightmare. The virgin website says it's not them, and I think that's probably true. I've had a poke around the ASUS UI, but wouldn't know what I'm looking for, however, the log looks wrong as the date keeps going from today (April 23) to May 05 and then back again after about 50-100 entries. I think, I'm not sure, that the internet drops out at the point where the May 05 entries start.

Firmware is 3.0.0.4.382_52545-ga0245cc

Here's a sample of the the log around the point of the change in date:

Apr 23 18:05:17 miniupnpd[1989]: Listening for NAT-PMP/PCP traffic on port 5351
Apr 23 18:05:19 crond[325]: time disparity of 3139920 minutes detected
Apr 23 18:06:37 hour monitor: ntp sync fail, will retry after 120 sec
Apr 23 18:06:38 WATCHDOG: [FAUPGRADE][auto_firmware_check:(5735)]periodic_check AM 3:20
May  5 06:05:00 syslogd started: BusyBox v1.17.4
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: klogd started: BusyBox v1.17.4 (2021-05-01 03:52:38 CST)
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Linux version 2.6.36.4brcmarm (root@asus) (gcc version 4.5.3 (Buildroot 2012.02) ) #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat May 1 03:57:40 CST 2021
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: CPU: ARMv7 Processor [413fc090] revision 0 (ARMv7), cr=10c53c7f
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: CPU: VIPT nonaliasing data cache, VIPT nonaliasing instruction cache
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Machine: Northstar Prototype
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Ignoring unrecognised tag 0x00000000
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Memory policy: ECC disabled, Data cache writealloc

It looks to me like there were some external login attempts, so I've disabled that functionality. I've attached the full downloaded log file.

Any ideas? Looks like BusyBox, whatever that is, is stuck in 2021?!

Thanks in advance.

 

[L&LD]

Welcome to the forums @jim778362

A well-known model with many bugs. Today, also EOL. Time for a new router.

End-of-life product list

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hi

I've had a look at the forums and can't find anything quite the same as this. We've got Virgin Media on a hub connected to a RT-AC87U which I have set up and do use to keep the kids off instagram etc

For the last few weeks the internet (both cabled and wifi) has dropped out several times a day, today it must have happened thirty times. My gf and I both work from home, so this is a *&^#ing nightmare. The virgin website says it's not them, and I think that's probably true. I've had a poke around the ASUS UI, but wouldn't know what I'm looking for, however, the log looks wrong as the date keeps going from today (April 23) to May 05 and then back again after about 50-100 entries. I think, I'm not sure, that the internet drops out at the point where the May 05 entries start.

Firmware is 3.0.0.4.382_52545-ga0245cc

Here's a sample of the the log around the point of the change in date:

Apr 23 18:05:17 miniupnpd[1989]: Listening for NAT-PMP/PCP traffic on port 5351
Apr 23 18:05:19 crond[325]: time disparity of 3139920 minutes detected
Apr 23 18:06:37 hour monitor: ntp sync fail, will retry after 120 sec
Apr 23 18:06:38 WATCHDOG: [FAUPGRADE][auto_firmware_check:(5735)]periodic_check AM 3:20
May  5 06:05:00 syslogd started: BusyBox v1.17.4
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: klogd started: BusyBox v1.17.4 (2021-05-01 03:52:38 CST)
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Linux version 2.6.36.4brcmarm (root@asus) (gcc version 4.5.3 (Buildroot 2012.02) ) #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat May 1 03:57:40 CST 2021
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: CPU: ARMv7 Processor [413fc090] revision 0 (ARMv7), cr=10c53c7f
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: CPU: VIPT nonaliasing data cache, VIPT nonaliasing instruction cache
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Machine: Northstar Prototype
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Ignoring unrecognised tag 0x00000000
May  5 06:05:00 kernel: Memory policy: ECC disabled, Data cache writealloc

It looks to me like there were some external login attempts, so I've disabled that functionality. I've attached the full downloaded log file.

Any ideas? Looks like BusyBox, whatever that is, is stuck in 2021?!

Thanks in advance.

The date reset in the log is likely the router rebooting for some reason... once the WAN is up, the router retrieves the current time.

Given remote access was enabled, I'd Hard Reset and reconfigure the router from scratch (without remote access) and then troubleshoot from there.

OE

 

[sfx2000]

Others may have not mentioned this...

The 87U is getting along in years - so is the Power Adapter - they're well known for going soft over time - it's the whole volts and current and they tend to dim out under load...

 

[jim778362]

Thanks all for the above. You're right about the age of it and not really surprised that it's end of life... how the years pass without noticing. Will get a new router.

 

[CaseyPatel]

yes, I agree with you on that.