Asus ZenWIFI XT8 - Wired backhaul fails after after a few hours (only 1 of 2 nodes)

[laurinkeithdavis]

I bought 3 Asus ZenWIFI XT8 units from Amazon - one 2-pack and one 1-pack. Both of the ones configured as nodes are configured with wired backhaul - connecting the 2.5GB WAN of the nodes to the LAN port of the router (using a 1GB switch). One of the nodes keeps failing on the wired backhaul - the LED light turns red. The one that fails the router is from the 2-pack. The third unit, the second node, which I bought separately, has given me zero trouble. When the node backhaul fails, I unplug the ethernet cable from the 2.5GB WAN port and then plug it back in. If I do that, the light turns white almost immediately and works fine for a few hours, and then fails again. If I restart the node, it goes into sync mode (blue flashing) forever. The only other way to make it reconnect is to factory reset, and then it works again....for a few hours, and then fails. I'm about to box them all backup and send them back to Amazon, I'm within the return window, and try a different brand (probably Netgear Orbi). I love the configuration and performance of the XT8s, but I have no idea how to fix these. I've worked in network administration for 20 years and I'm at a loss. I guess this one is defective, but I've already had trouble with 2 other sets (2 different TP-Link sets, and not the same issues, those units worked great, but the app suuuuuuuuuuucks).

EDIT 1:

All three of the devices are on firmware 3.0.0.4.388_24621. I’ve only had the devices for about five days and this has been happening since the beginning.

EDIT 2:
Failed again this morning. I just swapped the location of 2 nodes to see if it's a cable or switch port issue. I doubt it is - I have had other satellite units from different mesh hardware attached to these for years with no issues.

 

[Gustour]

if you switch the 2 nodes, is it the same node that fail ? (to be sure it s not a wire/route problem)

 

[laurinkeithdavis]

if you switch the 2 nodes, is it the same node that fail ? (to be sure it s not a wire/route problem)

Thanks. I'm already testing that theory, switched about an hour ago, can take up to 8 hours to fail. However, this is costing me so much time, I might just abandon all of it and switch to this new Netgear Orbi set here on my test, or revert to my TP-Link Deco set, as even though the app sucks, the network was much more stable.

 

[Gustour]

I can't say for other brand, but i am happy with my 3 nodes at home, and 4 at my parents'