Lost wireless networks on RT-AC3200

[godlike]

Hello!

Today I encountered a problem with my AC3200. I got home and the wifi networks were no longer present. I have (or had) my router configured in AP mode: an UTP cable on port 1, wired to my switch, from where my gateway is. My router had static IP address, and connecting to any of the three wifi networks I could get DHCP from my gateway on my network (all systems are using Linux).

At first I tried a factory reset. The router default page came back up, I configured it, but after rebooting it I could no longer access it. Tried it again, uploaded a new firmware (from Asus) after reconfiguring but before rebooting. After rebooting, same problem.

Tried it again with latest Merlin (RT-AC3200_378.56_0.trx), same deal. This is what I have so far:

- Wifi networks no longer show up. Not after a factory reset, nor with any firmware, nor with anything. My boxes are not the problem: my android phone cannot see the wifi networks either. Changing the SSIDs yields the same results.
- Whether I set a static IP address in my network's range (172.16.0.x), or have it get one from my DHCP automatically, both works. I can ping the router once it returns (and the red "no-internet" LED is gone by the time the router reboots). This is fine BUT:
- Whenever I change the address in any of these two ways, the webinterface is no longer accessible. The router does not even have port 80 opened (nor any of the first 10000 ports for that matter). This used to be working before the problems today.

Anybody have any ideas what I might try additional to what I did already?

Thanks in advance.

 

[godlike]

One more thing I noticed, only the 5GHz wi-fi light is lighting up. The 2.4GHz one stays off no matter what I do.

EDIT: I'm able to login via SSH if (and only if) I enable SSH after the initial setup. After configuring the tutorial, I get into the admin interface and I can enable SSH from there. However, even if I don't change the IP address, any subsequent reboot disables the httpd. Wifi is still nowhere to be found.

 

[Puppa]

How long have you had this router? Did it just start doing this out of the blue, or did you change something? Did you add some new device to your network or configure some sync on one of your network devices just prior to this happening?

 

[godlike]

How long have you had this router? Did it just start doing this out of the blue, or did you change something? Did you add some new device to your network or configure some sync on one of your network devices just prior to this happening?

Nope, nothing changed whatsoever. I just got home yesterday and the three wifis were gone. They were still gone after each factory reset/firmware change. The initial setup and the webinterface (when i can access it) shows the wifi networks, but no amount of scanning on my systems can report them.

As an addendum i was able to start the web server manually by logging in via ssh to the router and, looking at merlin's source code, perform the steps that "service start_httpd" would do.

ip addr command shows eth1/2, br0 and a couple of vlans. I do not know how the wifi cards are supposed to show up.

 

[Puppa]

Hmm. Have you tried running "vanilla"-- no changes to IP range or anything? If this is due to a software bug, running as close to default setup as possible should allow you to at least see your SSIDs. In all honesty, however, it seems like a hardware issue.

 

[godlike]

Hmm. Have you tried running "vanilla"-- no changes to IP range or anything? If this is due to a software bug, running as close to default setup as possible should allow you to at least see your SSIDs. In all honesty, however, it seems like a hardware issue.

Yep, right now i have it as close to default as possible (i have to fiddle with routing and ips on one of my boxes to be able to see the router at its default 192.168.1.1).

I shudder to think of a hardware issue on a ~$300 router... I know it is perfectly possible, just that i'd be very angry if it is. I do suppose Asus has a good RMA policy for high end hardware, even overseas (this one was brought by a friend to me, from abroad).

 

[Puppa]

It could very well be the power supply that is failing rather than the router.

 

[godlike]

It could very well be the power supply that is failing rather than the router.

I measured the power supply today and it appeared to be reporting 19V +/- 0.5V, although at times it would report completely inconsistent things (it would measure 42V in alternate current, or show 0/1 on direct current). I don't know if it's the device I used to test it, but will try and see if I can get an alternate power supply to see if the wifis come up.

 

[Puppa]

The symptoms are consistent with a power issue--wireless draws some additional current, and you'd probably need to measure the voltage of the power supply under load (with router on) to see the drop in output voltage. I understand these power supplies can be found for around $20 on Amazon.

 

[godlike]

Well, it appears it was a power issue after all Puppa. I got home, the router had been off the whole day (I took the power supply early in the morning to the office to test it). Came home, plugged it in, and after a couple of minutes I noticed the wifi LEDs were both on (previously, only the 5GHz one was lighting up). Checked on my computer and I could see the ASUS default wireless networks. I was able to configure it properly, and put an IP address in the range of my network.

No hiccups so far and everything appears to be running smooth. Maybe something (electrical?) cleared during the time the router was without power supply at all? I dunno, just happy it's back

THANKS AGAIN!