RT-AC3100 5GHz Problems

[Jack426]

Hey everyone! I had to sign up to see if anyone possibly knows whats going on with this router. I've scoured these forums as well as others (including Asus Forums) to no avail.

The problem is that my 5GHz band shows a noise level around -64 dBm almost constantly and I'm usually unable to connect devices to it, if I can connect a device to it, the connection is extremely slow (Tx Rates of about 7Mbps to the router from my PC, 0.5-1Mbps Internet speeds) and unreliable. I usually end up being kicked off and connected back to 2.4GHz (noise level of -92, Tx rates 200Mbps, 20-40Mbps Internet speeds), which works perfectly fine. Occasionally the noise level will spike to -89 dBm and connection is suddenly fine, with Tx rates of 900Mbps and Internet speeds of 50-70Mbps. These bursts usually last just a minute or so, and happen very sporadically.

I thought that maybe it was interference from something, so I took one day to disconnect/turn off any device near the router, however the problem persisted. Then, I decided to unplug the router from my surge protector and plug it directly into the wall, and this seemed to fix the problem for months. However, suddenly this week, the problem has started right back up. (I've changed nothing, and I haven't added any new devices near my router.) I spent many hours trying to fix the problem before, and now I've spent all day today reading and trying different "fixes", however nothing has worked.

Also tried updating the firmware today (3.0.0.4.380_7743), but that didn't do anything.
Thank you for taking the time to read this long post and for any and all advice,
J

 

[pete y testing]

(noise level of -92, Tx rates 200Mbps, 20-40Mbps Internet speeds), which works perfectly fine. Occasionally the noise level will spike to -89 dBm

how are you reading this ? is your referring to the levels in inSSIDer and the like that signal level in rssi and the higher the negitive number the worse the signal is

anything above -70 and you will start to see degregation in the signal quialty and throughput past -80 and your ether just too far away from the transmission or what ever is in the way is to thick to penetrate eg concrete or brick

5 gig does not penetrate as well as 2.4 gig

but as an example of penetration

at 25 meters from router and through about 4 plaster board walls

5 gig

write 32.1 MB/s read 33.6 MB/s sync 520 rssi -66 ch 153

2.4 gig

write 10.6 MB/s read 14.1 MB/s sync 195.0 rssi -63 ch 11

see the above rssi levels as well both below -70 db at 25 meters or 80 odd feet

 

[Jack426]

how are you reading this ? is your referring to the levels in inSSIDer and the like that signal level in rssi and the higher the negitive number the worse the signal is

anything above -70 and you will start to see degregation in the signal quialty and throughput past -80 and your ether just too far away from the transmission or what ever is in the way is to thick to penetrate eg concrete or brick

5 gig does not penetrate as well as 2.4 gig

but as an example of penetration

at 25 meters from router and through about 4 plaster board walls

5 gig

write 32.1 MB/s read 33.6 MB/s sync 520 rssi -66 ch 153

2.4 gig

write 10.6 MB/s read 14.1 MB/s sync 195.0 rssi -63 ch 11

see the above rssi levels as well both below -70 db at 25 meters or 80 odd feet

Thanks for responding! I've been reading the noise levels directly from the routers wireless logs, and I'm referring directly to the noise level, not RSSI or SNR, both of which show 0 dBm all the time. I've attached an image of what I'm reading, and I can say that the noise value definitely corresponds to wether or not I can connect to 5G. I know my problem isn't due to distance or penetration, because if routers noise level shows lower than -70 (closer to 0), you typically can't connect (if you can, your speeds are extremely slow), even when standing right beside it.

Also, apologies, I wasn't exactly sure where to post this...

 

[pete y testing]

ok get something like inssider or one of the wifi testing apps and have a look at what signals are around you , also what type of home phones do you have if any as some older ones also run on 5 gig , check for any other 5 gig transmissions around you like av senders etc

 

[Jack426]

ok get something like inssider or one of the wifi testing apps and have a look at what signals are around you , also what type of home phones do you have if any as some older ones also run on 5 gig , check for any other 5 gig transmissions around you like av senders etc

Will do. Surprisingly when I got home today the noise level was showing -89, and all was working well. I know that I have a few neighbors with 5G routers. I don't have a home phone, so I can rule it out. When it first happened months ago, I thought it was interference from something... I just can't figure out what. If it is interference, I feel like it has to be something coming from outside my home.

 

[pete y testing]

If it is interference, I feel like it has to be something coming from outside my home.

try different 5 gig wifi channels and see if it helps