Issues with wireless disconnects AT68U / Merlin-WRT FW 386.14_2 on specific activity...

[roosta113]

Hey guys,

I need some help and advice with some isolation testing to try and determine the root problem here; or to verify what I believe is the problem:

Firstly, this has not always been an issue, I've noticed this problem in recent months and it may very well have coincided with the last/latest WRT firmware update on my router.

The main issue:
1. My laptop/s disconnect from WIFI occasionally browsing the internet/ - ie, watching youtube
2. 90% of the time I try to watch a movie over wireless connection (Windows SMB with my shared NAS) I disconnect/cannot transfer files successfully

In the instance of watching a video (usually stored on my NAS) The video will freeze, or hang and my PC tells me I have lost internet/network connection.Even if I was to try and start transferring a file (from my PC to my NAS, etc) and it will usually disconnect/fail before completed. This is happening with multiple PCs, Windows 8/11 and both using AC7260 wireless cards. My NAS (and the Cisco switch it connects to is via ethernet), have not had either of their settings changed that should be affecting my service. I have only changed Merlin firmware in the last year.

As for the initial point of intermittent disconnects: I am having a tech from the distribution network come and review my connection; as my initial guess was instability with my internet connection; but this may be a side-issue and not the root cause to what I have explained.

Some context of my set-up:
- I use a Win11 and Win8 PCs that sits around ~10 metres from the AT68U itself with full signal (Intel AC7260 is the wireless cards that's used on both devices)
- The problem is universal; same on any PC
- I have both 2.4/5G bands turned on.
- Switching from 5G to 2.4G can often help me complete file transfers, but this is not 100% fullproof
- My NAS device does not utilise wifi, only a stable ethernet connection to my switch

Any help or suggestions for testing would be appreciated.

 

[ColinTaylor]

There's no such model as an AT68U. Do you mean RT-AC68U?

Firstly, this has not always been an issue, I've noticed this problem in recent months and it may very well have coincided with the last/latest WRT firmware update on my router.

When did you update the firmware? 386.14_2 is not new, it came out a year ago.

The main issue:
1. My laptop will disconnect from wifi occasionally browsing the internet/ - ie, watching youtube
2. 90% of the time I try to watch a movie over wireless connection (Windows SMB with my NAS) I disconnect/cannot transfer files successfully

In the instance of watching a video (usually stored on my NAS) The video will freeze, or hang and my PC tells me I have lost internet/network connection. Start transferring a file (from my PC to my NAS, etc) and it will usually disconnect/fail before completed. This is happening with multiple PCs, Windows 8/11 and both using AC7260 wireless cards. my NAS settings and the Cisco switch it connects to via ethernet, have not had any settings changed that should be affecting my service. I have only changed Merlin firmware in the last year.

vice. My NAS device has a steady ethernet connection to my switch, my switch is plugged into my Cisco router where the RT68U is plugged in - and no settings have changed on the NAS or switch...the only thing thats changed

Some context first:
- I use a Windows 11 PC that sits around 10 metres from the AT68U itself with full signal (Intel AC7260 is the wireless card that's used)
- I have had repeated issues on other Windows devices (8) witht he same wireless card
- I have both 2.4/5G bands turned on. Very few connect to the 5G, but switching to 2.4G doesn't fix my problem

Does the router's System Log - General Log show any error messages when the problem occurs?

 

[roosta113]

There's no such model as an AT68U. Do you mean RT-AC68U?


When did you update the firmware? 386.14_2 is not new, it came out a year ago.


Does the router's System Log - General Log show any error messages when the problem occurs?

Hi Colin. Thanks for the prompt reply.

Yes, I'm aware that FW isn't new, however, after i stopped getting prompted to download the latest FW updates (a long time ago when i would log into the router, i put the firmware updating to one side for a while and I believe it was only earlier this year I actioned the upgrade manually by searching for what was new, or the latest, having not seen that flashing prompt in the top menu of the UI.

As I am not overly familiar with searching through the logs or specific terminology of what to find; what should i be looking for? Sorry, I've always thought this to be a rather simple set-and-forget device and haven't had to dig this deep into this device before.

RoOSTA

 

[ColinTaylor]

If you look at the log you will see that each line starts with the date and time. Try and make a note of what time you noticed the problem occurring. Then look in the log to see if there are any obvious error messages around that time. e.g. "WAN down". You could copy a bunch of the messages (say for the preceding 5 minutes) and post them here for us to look at.