Asus RT-AC66U constantly dropping connection

[sharktaco]

Hello friends,

I've been looking around the forum and found pretty similar problems to my problem, but unfortunately no answer has really solved it.

Like this threads:
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=12825
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=14476

So heres the deal, I moved into a apartment with 2 roommates because of school. The family that I rent from lives on the floors above. (I'ts a 3 story house). So basically there is around 7-8ish people who use the same connection. When I first got here the inet situation was a mess. They had 2 routers going at once with 2 different DHCP-servers. And the connection was total shirt. Like, it would work for 10sec before you got kicked out.

I took the job to fix the whole ordeal, so I took the zyxel p2812 router modem (wich comes from the inet provider) and put it in bridge mode so it only serves as a bridge, and then I bought a Asus RT-AC66U to use as a router. I set it up standard and have both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz set to the same SSID. The channel controller and everything else is set to automatic or recommended. All the cat cabels are either CAT5e or CAT6.

It all worked fine for about a month or 2.
Then I and others started to loose connection quite often. Its VERY sporadically when and how often it happens. Sometime it happens every minute/30 seconds, sometimes(if I pray to the internet gods) I have the connection a full day.

Something I noticed is that it often happens when one of my roommates comes home and gets on his computer. I've asked him about it and if his doing something to the inet and he denies that.(Im not accusing him or anything, its just an observation).

The router is running Firmware Version:3.0.0.4.274.
I've tried the tips and tricks thats in the guide linked earlier, but no results.

Heres a little snippet from the system log where the connection dropped all the time, the log is like this no matter what. So I dont know if this helps but I might as well give it a shot since im lost.

Jan 10 15:53:40 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 15:54:24 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.21 a4:17:31:0b:6d:e4
Jan 10 15:54:24 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.21 a4:17:31:0b:6d:e4 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:55:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.101 d0:51:62:38:00:a4
Jan 10 15:55:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPNAK(br0) 192.168.1.101 d0:51:62:38:00:a4 wrong address
Jan 10 15:55:40 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPDISCOVER(br0) d0:51:62:38:00:a4
Jan 10 15:55:40 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPOFFER(br0) 192.168.1.26 d0:51:62:38:00:a4
Jan 10 15:55:40 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.26 d0:51:62:38:00:a4
Jan 10 15:55:40 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.26 d0:51:62:38:00:a4 android-f285480ad0ee9d03
Jan 10 15:56:17 miniupnpd[600]: HTTP Connection from 192.168.1.21 closed unexpectedly
Jan 10 15:56:17 miniupnpd[600]: HTTP Connection from 192.168.1.21 closed unexpectedly
Jan 10 15:56:17 miniupnpd[600]: HTTP Connection from 192.168.1.21 closed unexpectedly
Jan 10 15:56:17 miniupnpd[600]: HTTP Connection from 192.168.1.21 closed unexpectedly
Jan 10 15:56:30 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 15:56:30 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 15:56:34 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 15:56:34 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 15:56:39 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 15:56:39 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 15:56:48 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 15:56:48 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 15:58:47 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 15:58:47 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:59:00 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 15:59:00 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:59:03 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 15:59:03 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:59:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 15:59:13 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:59:22 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 15:59:22 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:59:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 15:59:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17 Balder-PC
Jan 10 15:59:55 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.21 a4:17:31:0b:6d:e4
Jan 10 15:59:55 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.21 a4:17:31:0b:6d:e4 Balder-PC
Jan 10 16:01:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPDISCOVER(br0) 00:25:ae:08:d6:6f
Jan 10 16:01:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPOFFER(br0) 192.168.1.233 00:25:ae:08:d6:6f
Jan 10 16:01:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPDISCOVER(br0) 00:25:ae:08:d6:6f
Jan 10 16:01:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPOFFER(br0) 192.168.1.233 00:25:ae:08:d6:6f
Jan 10 16:01:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.233 00:25:ae:08:d6:6f
Jan 10 16:01:26 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.233 00:25:ae:08:d6:6f
Jan 10 16:03:48 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 16:03:48 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 16:07:52 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPDISCOVER(br0) 00:c0:ca:75:23:17
Jan 10 16:07:52 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPOFFER(br0) 192.168.1.242 00:c0:ca:75:23:17

So any help would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and the connection is a DSL connection if that matters.

 

[sinshiva]

hey

can you reboot the router and post a complete log from beginning to just after problems start?

 

[L&LD]

That is really old firmware.

You may want to try the latest stable version the 374.36Beta1 for the RT-AC66U you have.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/kbpwk0n2r24ne9w/RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_374.36_beta1.zip


Don't worry about the 'beta' label - it is stable as per RMerlin.

 

[sharktaco]

hey

can you reboot the router and post a complete log from beginning to just after problems start?

Allright, will do.

Thanks for reply!

 

[sharktaco]

That is really old firmware.

You may want to try the latest stable version the 374.36Beta1 for the RT-AC66U you have.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/kbpwk0n2r24ne9w/RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_374.36_beta1.zip


Don't worry about the 'beta' label - it is stable as per RMerlin.

Okei, Ill see what I can do. I dont have access to the router atm, willl see if I can get it tomorrow.

Also, im like 97,89% sure about the roommate thing now. Like. Earlier today he was home, and the inet was acting up. He then left for school and it was only me and the other roommate online. It worked flawlessly. As soon as he got home and got on his computer. Boom, it starts acting up again. And this has happened pretty mutch all the time the inet has been acting up.
Could he possible be running a program or changed settings for this to happen?
I've been watching whos connect to router pretty closely as of late, and hes computer name comes up multiple times(the same name) with different ip's. He was also doing some bridging with his computer networkcard to get wirelessinet to his xbox. This for a fact fracked up the inet and I got him to stop with that.
Hes not the techiest guy.

Okey, so maybe scratch that. Now its happening when I stream heavy stuff or put some load on it.

And this is the only thing thats happening in the sys log when it drops:

Jan 10 21:54:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 21:54:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 21:55:17 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 21:55:17 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 21:56:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 21:56:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 21:59:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 21:59:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 22:00:47 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 22:00:47 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 22:05:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 22:05:38 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 22:05:58 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 22:05:58 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC
Jan 10 22:06:59 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf
Jan 10 22:06:59 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.103 bc:85:56:a9:cd:cf Froseth
Jan 10 22:07:22 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPINFORM(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91
Jan 10 22:07:22 dnsmasq-dhcp[552]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.1.181 c0:18:85:f8:b1:91 Nesteby1-PC

Will update firmware ASAP.

Thanks for reply!

 

[L&LD]

Sounds like you have to think outside the box to have your network working as you want at all times.

Get rid of that roommate.

 

[sharktaco]

Sounds like you have to think outside the box to have your network working as you want at all times.

Get rid of that roommate.

I wish mate!
Luckily im moving at the end of the semester.

Gonna try the merlin firmware and see what happens.

 

[cmillar6]

One you flash to newer firmware the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz band should never have the same SSID, give them both a unique one.

 

[sharktaco]

UPDATE TIME

After upgrading firmware to "3.0.0.4.374.36_beta1 (Merlin build)", I put different SSID on the 2.4Ghz and the 5GHz bands.

Everything was working good for a long time, but know there is another problem. The 5GHz network works fine, not dropping connection or anything.
But the 2.4GHz network keeps losing connection after some time.
There shouldnt be any heat issues, its always around this numbers 2.4 GHz: 53°C - 5 GHz: 59°C.

Heres a pastbin of the log after a reboot. Where I shortly after connected to the 2.4GHz and lost connection pretty fast. Cant see anything wrong myself. PASTEBIN

Have seen some people saying that changing the security and putting 2.4 GHz on a selected channel instead of auto have worked out, but idk.

So if anyone has had any experience with this issue, please let me know.

 

[L&LD]

I have to repeat myself; you're using old firmware.

The current version is 374.40 - see if that doesn't fix your issues.

And make sure to do a complete reset to factory settings after you flash the firmware and then enter all settings manually (do not use a backup config file).