Open Box/Refurb RT-AC3100

[Smokindog]

I've had very good luck with open box/refurb routers from newegg over the years. I currently have 2 RT-AC3100 refurbs that were like new and have given me no problems.

However, I've been trying to add a 3rd with great frustration. The first one actually had a big sticker on it that said BAD with an inventory list in the box of other defective routers with serial numbers Wouldn't even boot or complete a recovery reload of firmware. I suspect someone grabbed from the RTV stack.

I received the replacement refurb RT-AC3100 today and there is no 2.4GHz radio signal. I've factory reset it, updated the firmware, factory reset again, remoted into the router and did an nvram erase, and even put it into recovery mode to force a reload of the firmware. In all these attempts the 2.4G radio light is lit on the front panel but the signal is non-existent. I'm using WiFi Analyzer and multiple PCs/android devices. The 5G signal is fine and I can even join it to my AiMesh. Just no 2.4G signal.

Before I RMA once again, do any of you have any thoughts on other things to try?

 

[Swistheater]

I've had very good luck with open box/refurb routers from newegg over the years. I currently have 2 RT-AC3100 refurbs that were like new and have given me no problems.

However, I've been trying to add a 3rd with great frustration. The first one actually had a big sticker on it that said BAD with an inventory list in the box of other defective routers with serial numbers Wouldn't even boot or complete a recovery reload of firmware. I suspect someone grabbed from the RTV stack.

I received the replacement refurb RT-AC3100 today and there is no 2.4GHz radio signal. I've factory reset it, updated the firmware, factory reset again, remoted into the router and did an nvram erase, and even put it into recovery mode to force a reload of the firmware. In all these attempts the 2.4G radio light is lit on the front panel but the signal is non-existent. I'm using WiFi Analyzer and multiple PCs/android devices. The 5G signal is fine and I can even join it to my AiMesh. Just no 2.4G signal.

Before I RMA once again, do any of you have any thoughts on other things to try?

sounds like who ever certified it refurb saw all the lights on and figured it was working. - send it back, get another.

 

[Gar]

I tried a 3200 and a 3100 late last year and returned both. They looked clean but had issues. Both from Newegg. Got a 3200 that worked, but not a 3100.

 

[Swistheater]

so far I have worked with RT-AC3100, RT-AC5300, GT-AX11000, RT-AC56U, 3 RT-AC68U

*no failures or Issues with anyone of them except a short in a power cord which i replaced

 

[Gar]

I meant to add they were all refurbished.

 

[Swistheater]

half of mine were refurbished including AC3100 and AC5300. most the time it is just some one returning it because they didn't like it, but in some cases especially when bought from scrupulous characters selling on Newegg or amazon and not being sold directly by newegg or amazon, you might get a dud.

 

[OzarkEdge]

The 5G signal is fine and I can even join it to my AiMesh. Just no 2.4G signal.

Interesting... I was under the impression that AiMesh would not add a node if all wireless backhauls were not available, i.e. working 2.4 and 5.0 radios. I guess that's not so.

OE

 

[Smokindog]

It's on the UPS truck. Thanks for the help!

 

[Smokindog]

Well I think I'm about to totally give up on the third refurb AC3100 I purchased from newegg. The first two are running fine and performing well (purchased 2-3 months ago). When they again went on sale for on $79.99 I decided to pick up a 3rd but it took 3 tries (2 RMAs) to get one that worked and it seemed all was well for a couple weeks. THEN in the past 2 days I've experienced intermittent lockups, random loss of the 5GHz radio, and now am having difficulty resetting (it even ignored a "reboot" CLI via SSH).

I've put it into recovery mode and fed it the previous stock firmware (13 instead of 17). It's "aging" right now after the recovery. Going to allow it to "rest" for an hour or so.

I believe this last batch of refurbs were probably some of the oldest as I haven't seen them advertised for a couple weeks. They were definitely the least expensive. An interesting quirk I've noticed is after a factory reset, this AC3100 displays "Please reboot your router" (or something like that) where the other two I have automatically reboot.

Are there AC3100 firmware/hardware "specialists" here? Just wondering if there is anything else I might want to try before asking for the final RMA. Yes, I've done all the resets/... between and after the above mentioned steps.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

 

[COBOL-Coder]

sounds like who ever certified it refurb saw all the lights on and figured it was working. - send it back, get another.

You've done well so far, you have 2 working, why introduce a possible flawed router, make -his one a new one…

 

[Smokindog]

You've done well so far, you have 2 working, why introduce a possible flawed router, make -his one a new one…

I've got a spare AC68 I'll use if I give up on this AC3100 (refurb as well). It was in service for a couple years before this recent AC3100 "upgrade attempt".

This AC3100 is back in the master and helped to extend the coverage outdoors as well as serve the ROKUs in the bedroom and master bath! I can come up with other solutions! In fact, it's already in place as I "tinker"!

 

[Smokindog]

After a day of doing resets and reloads in between everything else I've got the once ailing AC3100 up and running. I'm not saying it's stable for the long term and I'm not saying it's the problem but there seemed to be a link to using a config file from one of my other AC3100s, also in AP mode. I can't see the revision number on the two routers as the refurb S/N tag covers it and I don't want to peel it back until the the 90 day warranty is expired (in case I do return)

I had been using a "minimal config" file to get the basics on the router that I saved from another AC3100. In the final round of resets/reloads I did everything from scratch and things are as expected.

Anyone close to the software/firmware

1. Can the revision be determined from something on the router via SSH or other means?
2. Is there a thread that details the changes in the AC3100 revisions?
3. Do you think it plausible that a config file for AP mode from another router of the same vintage and firmware could be the culprit?

 

[L&LD]

After a day of doing resets and reloads in between everything else I've got the once ailing AC3100 up and running. I'm not saying it's stable for the long term and I'm not saying it's the problem but there seemed to be a link to using a config file from one of my other AC3100s, also in AP mode. I can't see the revision number on the two routers as the refurb S/N tag covers it and I don't want to peel it back until the the 90 day warranty is expired (in case I do return)

I had been using a "minimal config" file to get the basics on the router that I saved from another AC3100. In the final round of resets/reloads I did everything from scratch and things are as expected.

Anyone close to the software/firmware

1. Can the revision be determined from something on the router via SSH or other means?
2. Is there a thread that details the changes in the AC3100 revisions?
3. Do you think it plausible that a config file for AP mode from another router of the same vintage and firmware could be the culprit?

3. I do.

 

[Smokindog]

Well the 5Ghz radio decided to call it quits today. I spent 3-4 hours with the chicken bones and garlic but it wasn't in the cards to resurrect. It's going back to Newegg, this time as a return. They've got them listed for sale (open box/refurb) but they're now $100 and I just decided the AC68 in the cabinet will serve equally well as the bedroom AP. I've had about all the fun I can stand

I seriously believe that the AiMesh software has caused pervasive issues across the product line whether it's explicitly enabled or not. I don't ever recall spending the time nor seeing the unexplained and unusual issues at the level being reported. Obviously this is a SWAG but I just don't go for coincidences I hope ASUS gets out ahead of all these anomalies we're seeing.

 

[follower]

I've had very good luck with open box/refurb routers from newegg over the years. I currently have 2 RT-AC3100 refurbs that were like new and have given me no problems.

However, I've been trying to add a 3rd with great frustration. The first one actually had a big sticker on it that said BAD with an inventory list in the box of other defective routers with serial numbers Wouldn't even boot or complete a recovery reload of firmware. I suspect someone grabbed from the RTV stack.

I received the replacement refurb RT-AC3100 today and there is no 2.4GHz radio signal. I've factory reset it, updated the firmware, factory reset again, remoted into the router and did an nvram erase, and even put it into recovery mode to force a reload of the firmware. In all these attempts the 2.4G radio light is lit on the front panel but the signal is non-existent. I'm using WiFi Analyzer and multiple PCs/android devices. The 5G signal is fine and I can even join it to my AiMesh. Just no 2.4G signal.

Before I RMA once again, do any of you have any thoughts on other things to try?

How about replacing an AC adapter?

 

[Smokindog]

How about replacing an AC adapter?

Probably should have tried that but it's too late, already at the UPS store