5GHz sometimes drops after a few hours (RT-56U)

[mariusi]

I have an ASUS RT-N56U with both 2.4 and 5GHz activated. After I'm connected to the 5GHz wireless network with just fine for many hours, it just drops without warning: phone disconnects, not visible in list of available networks in phone or laptop, even if green/ON in router settings page. Router restart or disable/enable the network in Admin page makes it work again. The 2.4GHz has no issues and there's no other 5GHz network anywhere near.
Firmware: latest. Authentication:WPA2-Personal. Network Key Rotation Interval: 0. Wireless mode: N only. Channel bandwidth: 40 MHz. Control Channel: auto.
Maybe a setting that helps?
Thanks!

 

[wh7qq]

I don't use wifi on my 56U so everything below is a shot in the dark.

How is your 5G signal strength? Unless it is booming in, it can, for no apparent reason, just drop...atmospheric effects or whatever...effin mystery. Same for 2.4G...wifi is a bugger. BTW, they are two separate radios so one may be good while the other sucks. Microwave radio propagation in a home is impossible to predict at the signal levels allowed for unlicensed equipment but in general, 5G is of shorter range and more subject to walls, floors and distance than 2.4G

You mention a phone. I would never have an essential service like a phone dependent on wifi.

You say "even if green/ON in router settings page." Not sure what you mean here...don't see green in my RT-N56U settings. What "setting" page? What firmware are you using?

The first thing to try in troubleshooting any router is to restore factory default settings and then MANUALLY restore the minimal required settings for your network. It is a nuisance, especially those keys, which can wait until you have it all working again. Write down all the passwords before starting and double check for accuracy.

 

[mariusi]

Hi & thx. The signal is great, I mostly use it at about 7ft distance. It's a nuisance that the network dies because the phone switches to 3G (cellular data) and 'til I notice it can waste a few MBs. I "fixed" this by making the 2.4GHz network also known and it does fallback to that now. But I still want to elucidate the mystery of the 5GHz dropping as I plan to use that for streaming TV/Chromecast (prefer it because of no apparent interference around; and as far as I know, the 5GHz is the recommended band for that).
The page where I see it as being ON is the home page (http://192.168.1.1/index.asp), right side panel for 5GHz network with AiRadar ON and green. Changing here ON-OFF-ON repairs the network availability. Firmware is the latest as far as I know (3.0.0.4.378_4850).
I guess I'll check the System Logs again, maybe it does write something useful next time

 

[wh7qq]

At this point, your guess is as good (or probably better) as mine. Just one thing. On the Asus Download website, I see the 4850 version as being "beta"...maybe revert to the 3879 version, or try a recent Merlin version, or John's Fork. I forgot to ask...when you upgraded to the 4850, did you revert to factory defaults and restore manually? Sometimes the old config files can screw things up in surprising ways. As I said, "shots in the dark". Another shot...I have heard claims that 5G routers can interfere with Nexrad radar if driven at high levels and I would expect the reverse to be true if near enough to the radar site. I am 5 miles away from one but I don't use 5G so ??

 

[L&LD]

Is this an RT-AC56U or an RT-N56U?

Today and even back in August, the 378.xx firmware was old. Have you tried with the 380.xx firmware yet (if you're still having problems)?

 

[mariusi]

N56U
The last one I found under http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN56U/HelpDesk_Download/
is 378. I googled now and I think 380 might be only for other routers like AC68U ?

 

[L&LD]

For the RT-N56U, you're correct that is the latest firmware (although beta). I was hoping you'd be using the RT-AC56U instead.

I would recommend you try the Padavan firmware for your model. I am using it (in Bridge mode) without issues for over a year now.

https://bitbucket.org/padavan/rt-n56u/downloads