RT-AX86U - 2.4 Ghz Network is NOT working anymore (was working before)

[BadKarma]

I have had issues with the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio on my RT-AX86U for the last month or so. In the router settings, it is on however I do not see the 2.4ghz Wi-Fi available on any device. I have had this issue before but always managed to get it back after restarting and changing the Control channel. I live close to many Wi-Fi signals on my road from neighbours and I have always thought it was the saturated bandwidth that was the cause of the issue. The router is located on top of a shelf about five feet up. I have had the router since Dec 2020.

I would switch off the 2.4ghz radio as most of my devices use 5ghz however I need the 2.4ghz bandwidth for smart plugs and the doorbell.

Interestingly, back in 2016, I purchased an RT-AC68U which was doing the same and after speaking with ASUS Support and not being able to find a solution I returned the router. Since then, I have just used the modem/routers supplied by my ISP without any radio issues.

Never been able to find a solution online and I came across this thread yesterday. I was interested in the posts about attached USB devices as I have two external storage devices with m.2 memory. One device has 2 m.2 cards running in raid.

As suggested in one of the posts, I thought I would remove the USB devices, start from there, and possibly look at switching to USB2. The 2.4ghz Wi-Fi was unavailable at this point. I started by clearing a few things behind the router to make space. I had a spare Alexa dot unplugged and the power adaptor with its cable wrapped up, an unplugged ring camera again with the power adaptor and wrapped up cable and I also some two small tins and a few other small items and paper on the same shelf. All these items were behind the router and sitting lower than the router's antennas. Before removing the USB devices, I just checked the availability of my 2.4ghz Wi-Fi and surprisingly it was online and available. I made no changes to the router itself.

I'm happy it is working again. I'll update you if it goes down again, but it has been working since yesterday. I still can't believe how simple this fix was for me. I hope this is helpful to others.

 

[juanantonio]

I have had issues with the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio on my RT-AX86U for the last month or so. In the router settings, it is on however I do not see the 2.4ghz Wi-Fi available on any device. I have had this issue before but always managed to get it back after restarting and changing the Control channel. I live close to many Wi-Fi signals on my road from neighbours and I have always thought it was the saturated bandwidth that was the cause of the issue. The router is located on top of a shelf about five feet up. I have had the router since Dec 2020.

I would switch off the 2.4ghz radio as most of my devices use 5ghz however I need the 2.4ghz bandwidth for smart plugs and the doorbell.

Interestingly, back in 2016, I purchased an RT-AC68U which was doing the same and after speaking with ASUS Support and not being able to find a solution I returned the router. Since then, I have just used the modem/routers supplied by my ISP without any radio issues.

Never been able to find a solution online and I came across this thread yesterday. I was interested in the posts about attached USB devices as I have two external storage devices with m.2 memory. One device has 2 m.2 cards running in raid.

As suggested in one of the posts, I thought I would remove the USB devices, start from there, and possibly look at switching to USB2. The 2.4ghz Wi-Fi was unavailable at this point. I started by clearing a few things behind the router to make space. I had a spare Alexa dot unplugged and the power adaptor with its cable wrapped up, an unplugged ring camera again with the power adaptor and wrapped up cable and I also some two small tins and a few other small items and paper on the same shelf. All these items were behind the router and sitting lower than the router's antennas. Before removing the USB devices, I just checked the availability of my 2.4ghz Wi-Fi and surprisingly it was online and available. I made no changes to the router itself.

I'm happy it is working again. I'll update you if it goes down again, but it has been working since yesterday. I still can't believe how simple this fix was for me. I hope this is helpful to others.

Morning.
Excuse me, but I cannot determine what was the solution to the issue.
As I have been facing the same problem, let me ask you, please. Was removing the USB M.2 attached to to your router which brought to live again your 2.4GHz Wifi?
Thanks.

 

[BadKarma]

Morning.
Excuse me, but I cannot determine what was the solution to the issue.
As I have been facing the same problem, let me ask you, please. Was removing the USB M.2 attached to to your router which brought to live again your 2.4GHz Wifi?
Thanks.

Hi juanantonio,

No, I did not remove my two USB devices.

All I did was to clean up. I removed everything that I had stored around my router.

The router, cabling and USB devices are untouched

 

[juanantonio]

Hi juanantonio,

No, I did not remove my two USB devices.

All I did was to clean up. I removed everything that I had stored around my router.

The router, cabling and USB devices are untouched

View attachment 62867

Thanks for replying, @BadKarma .

First of all, luckily my 2.4GHz is working again. In my case I had to disconnect my old USB pendrive which hosted Entware and all the stuff included in it.

After disconnecting a two-fan accesory bought in AliExp...., and connecting it in some other USB port -not the router's, of course-, it seems that all is working fine.

I have to say that here, in Spain, my dear RT-AX86U can get very hot, at summer. Thus the need of the fans.

I was very afraid of losing my Wi-Fi connectivity, given the fact that I have already more than twenty IoT devices hanging from it.

Best regards.

P.S.: For those who are struggling with this awful issue, don't despair, there are light at the end of the tunnel.

Best regards