RT-AC68U wifi failure

[gatorback]

After I plugged in a USB fan into the router, it brought down the wifi. I had to reset the device to its default values.

Wifi now works, why doesn't this icon light up? Sometimes it does, mostly not.

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[L&LD]

Must be some fan?

Did you do it through a hub?

 

[gatorback]

No hub: I noticed the failure occurred after plugging the fan into the router. It is not possible to be certain that this is the result of the fan, but it is likely the culprit as the device has been in flawless service for 6+ months.

Fan was disconnected from router after noticing the failure. Fan is now connected to a USB PC docking station now.

Last night the remote client bridge was not connecting and the symbols (wifi, etc.) were not lit up as shown in the OP. The tablet was able to detect the SSID.

As of this morning everything seems to work properly now. Wifi clients are now connected.

 

[martinr]

From Wikipedia:

Max. current

• 0.5 A (USB 2.0)
• 0.9 A (USB 3.0 & 3.1)
• 1.5 A (USB BC 1.2)
• 3 A (USB Type-C)
• Up to 5 A (USB-PD)

So on USB 2.0 that would equate to 2.5W. And, given the fan would have an inductance component, there might be a relatively high inrush current? I've no idea if this might explain it, or what happens if one exceeds the max current in a USB power feed.

Any idea of the wattage of the fan?

I find it hard to believe, but it's all that comes to mind.

Can you remember if it was plugged into the USB 2.0 or 3.0, given the latter has a much higher max current?

Can't tempt you to try it again "to see what happens"? (Probably not if a restore to factory default settings is needed afterwards.)

 

[gatorback]

From Wikipedia:

Max. current

• 0.5 A (USB 2.0)
• 0.9 A (USB 3.0 & 3.1)
• 1.5 A (USB BC 1.2)
• 3 A (USB Type-C)
• Up to 5 A (USB-PD)

So on USB 2.0 that would equate to 2.5W. And, given the fan would have an inductance component, there might be a relatively high inrush current? I've no idea if this might explain it, or what happens if one exceeds the max current in a USB power feed.

Any idea of the wattage of the fan?

I find it hard to believe, but it's all that comes to mind.

Can you remember if it was plugged into the USB 2.0 or 3.0, given the latter has a much higher max current?

Can't tempt you to try it again "to see what happens"? (Probably not if a restore to factory default settings is needed afterwards.)

Interesting. One would like to think that the product designers would try to stay within the USB 2.0 spec.

Plugged into the USB 3.0. I can not definitely say that this caused the problem, however, problems occurred immediately after.

The fans are plugged into a laptop dock, so I am reluctant to risk borking it up.