RT-AC5300 Bricked Issue w/ connectivity dropping randomly?!?!

[taps]

After lurking for awhile I decided to post my issue. I just recently bought an Asus RT-AC5300 and set everything up. One of the first things it asked me was to upgrade to the latest firmware: 3.0.0.4.380.7266 which went fine. I used the router the entire day and shortly after setting everything up all my wireless SSIDs disappeared and I lost connectivity on LAN for about 15 seconds. It came back up just fine after this 15 seconds and it worked the rest of the evening.

The next day again everything is fine until later in the evening when I am watching a YouTube video on my Smart TV (connected via ethernet). The video freezes, I check my phone and all my SSIDs are gone again and the router is inaccessible. I waited the 15-30 seconds and everything comes back. About 15 minutes later it does it again, and I wait several minutes and NOTHING comes back. I then go and unplug/replug the router and the only thing that comes on is the power light blinking slowing... WTF..

After reading that it means it's in recovery mode, I read up on how to do a firmware recovery and I do that with the latest 3.0.0.4.380.7266 firmware without a hitch. The router comes back up with all my settings in tact and the router works for a little while. It was getting late so I went on to bed. I wake up this morning to find the router inaccessible AGAIN and a reboot makes it available.

WHAT GIVES!!!!

This morning I rolled the firmware back to 3.0.0.4.380.4180, but it hasn't been long enough to tell if something is wrong still or not. I am very unhappy with the whole thing, but I want to see if it's just a bad release of firmware or if the router is bad.

Has anyone had this issue with the 5300 and the latest firmware? I have an Asus RT-AC88U sitting here that's within return policy as well, but I found the 5300 for $20 more than the 88U as it was open box and I couldn't find anything wrong with it so I picked it up to try the two. Given the difference in price I want to keep the 5300 for $20, but heck not if it's going to be this flaky.

 

[RMerlin]

Try disabling Airtime Fairness. It's one of the big changes in FW 7266.

Also, when the issue occur, can you check the state of the LEDs on your router? Asus notified me of another issue that might affect some users in the EU region (and other regions that also require ErP implementation). This is usually visible by a flashing power LED.

(What, you thought the FCC were the only ones creating issues through mandatory legislation? )

 

[taps]

Try disabling Airtime Fairness. It's one of the big changes in FW 7266.

Also, when the issue occur, can you check the state of the LEDs on your router? Asus notified me of another issue that might affect some users in the EU region (and other regions that also require ErP implementation). This is usually visible by a flashing power LED.

(What, you thought the FCC were the only ones creating issues through mandatory legislation? )

I don't see anything mentioned about airtime fairness on either the 4180 or 7266 firmware. Is there an extended changelog somewhere for these firmware versions? Airtime fairness currently is on all 3 channels (2.4, 5-1, 5-2) running 4180.

 

[taps]

Also, 4180 just did the same thing. Wireless and LAN all became unusable for 15-30 seconds. It came back, but wow. This is unbearable.

 

[RMerlin]

I don't see anything mentioned about airtime fairness on either the 4180 or 7266 firmware. Is there an extended changelog somewhere for these firmware versions?

Some low-level changes aren't always documented in the changelog.

Also, 4180 just did the same thing. Wireless and LAN all became unusable for 15-30 seconds. It came back, but wow. This is unbearable.

Did you actually try the fix I suggested?

 

[taps]

Some low-level changes aren't always documented in the changelog.



Did you actually try the fix I suggested?

Yes, I disabled airtime fairness on all channels. It worked for 18 hours. This morning all my 5G devices were disconnected. I can see the connection, it wants me to type in my password (again) and it says it's incorrect every time. This router is literally junk.

 

[taps]

Yes, I disabled airtime fairness on all channels. It worked for 18 hours. This morning all my 5G devices were disconnected. I can see the connection, it wants me to type in my password (again) and it says it's incorrect every time. This router is literally junk.

I went back to the RT-AC88U for now. It's running the 7266 firmware and I disabled airtime fairness. I will report back if I continue to have issues.