RT-BE88U - Guest and IoT not working with USB 3.0

[WillyTP]

Hello,
I signal a bug, which I see to be present both in release 3006.102.2 and latest alpha2 firmwares for BE88U.

Once I attach a USB 3 device on the router, guest network and IoT networks stops working. Literally there is no signal anymore. Main net instead works fine.

If I choose USB 2 mode, everything works fine again.

Rather weird, it's the same usb key I was using on RT-AX88U Pro.

Anybody else experienced this issue?

Kind Regards

 

[bennor]

@WillyTP, What does the system log show? May want to post what the system log is indicating to help RMerlin if it really is a bug in the firmware.
Are you running any add-on scripts?

 

[WillyTP]

Hello @bennor
Issue happens nevertheless having scripts installed or not.

It merely happens with USB 3.0 setting on, by plugging in the device.
Mine is Sandisk 3.2 Gen1 64Gb.

Now, in USB 2.0 mode, I installed Diversion and Skynet, everything is working.

Kind regards

 

[OzarkEdge]

Once I attach a USB 3 device on the router, guest network and IoT networks stops working. Literally there is no signal anymore. Main net instead works fine.

Are your guest and IoT WLANs on 5.0GHz not working?

OE

 

[WillyTP]

Look like I've spoken too soon.
After a while, even with USB 2.0 mode Guest and IoT WANs (both 2.4 and 5Ghz) stopped working.

They appear as usual into the GUI, however there is no physical signal.
Only way to solve, remove USB stick.

Another bug hunted: with the USB stick attached, I was not able to add an AiMesh node.
After removing it, node was added as usual.

BTW, my setup is BE88U as main router, 2x AX58U as nodes.
Unfortunately now I cannot debug more, I literally need the guest network working for a while.

Kind regards

 

[bennor]

@WillyTP what does the router logs show?
Have you tested with multiple USB devices? Or are you using just one single USB device?

PS: As a last resort troubleshooting step, try a hard factory reset and manual reconfiguration without the USB device attached and without reloading a saved router.cfg file.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Look like I've spoken too soon.
After a while, even with USB 2.0 mode Guest and IoT WANs (both 2.4 and 5Ghz) stopped working.

They appear as usual into the GUI, however there is no physical signal.
Only way to solve, remove USB stick.

Another bug hunted: with the USB stick attached, I was not able to add an AiMesh node.
After removing it, node was added as usual.

BTW, my setup is BE88U as main router, 2x AX58U as nodes.
Unfortunately now I cannot debug more, I literally need the guest network working for a while.

Kind regards

Maybe that USB drive is failing and messing with the router circuits(?)

OE

 

[sfx2000]

Once I attach a USB 3 device on the router, guest network and IoT networks stops working. Literally there is no signal anymore. Main net instead works fine.

If I choose USB 2 mode, everything works fine again.

You've answered your own question...

USB3 will interfere with 2.4GHz - back it down to USB2, all sorted...

 

[WillyTP]

Hello @sfx2000, everyone.
As said above, even with USB 2 I've had a fail.

I had to remove it to keep IoT and Guest working.
In case of interference issue, shouldn't it interfere with main network too?

Plus, the fact that I wasn't able to add an AiMesh node with USB key attached is really weird (error was: another device is attempting to add AiMesh node).

As now I can't sort if it's a USB key damaged (no evidence at all however), firmware issue or maybe just the router defective.

P.S. attached log of USB attached while router in operation. USB 2.0 mode.

Kind regards

 

[bennor]

@WillyTP, as previously asked. Have you tried using a different USB key or USB storage device as a troubleshooting step?
Try using a USB extender cable to move the USB device away from the router. Some have found that using such extender cable's solved their WiFi interference issue.

 

[WillyTP]

Hello @bennor
I don't have another USB key to make tries now.

Model is a Sandisk 64Gb Ultra Fit USB 3.2 (no issues at all on RT-AX88U_Pro)

I may try with an extender cable.
I'll post results, thank you.

 

[bennor]

I don't have another USB key to make tries now.

I may try with an extender cable.

A basic troubleshooting step is to try a different USB device. Likely cheaper or easier to find/borrow a spare USB key/flash drive to use as a test before using an extender cable.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Plus, the fact that I wasn't able to add an AiMesh node with USB key attached is really weird (error was: another device is attempting to add AiMesh node).

When troubleshooting, be careful piling up rationals that may not stand together as the cause of the problem being investigated.

For example, adding a wireless node requires WPS, typically on 2.4GHz for best range. 2.4GHz is susceptible to USB3.x EMI/noise... even more so when the attached USB equipment is poorly shielded. Maybe you can add a wireless node when using USB2.0 Mode?

If you can source a USB3.x extension cable, try using it to locate the USB drive much farther away from the router/AP. No way to run a storage railroad, but still an interesting experiment.

OE

 

[T1000]

Once I attach a USB 3 device on the router, guest network and IoT networks stops working. Literally there is no signal anymore. Main net instead works fine.

I have two Asus RT-BE88U routers and an Asus AC88U AP and I have the same problem on both. When I connect something to the USB, pen drives or portable SSDs, the IoT network stops working and all my home devices are unreachable. This happens both in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz and it took me a month to understand that this was the problem.As soon as I remove the device from the USB socket everything starts working again. This is a clear BUG that needs to be solved as soon as possible because we are talking about a router with a list price of 500 bucks.

EDIT: with the last firmware update I also can't enter the "AI DISK" sub-menu since I get and empty page.

 

[Ripshod]

@T1000 have you tried usb2.0 mode? Perhaps changing the 2.4 channel may help too(?)
Further reading for you

BUG: WRT1900ACSv2: USB 3.0 flash drives

Hi, I'm running into issues using USB3 flash drives with my WRT1900ACSv2. As soon as I connect a USB 3 drive to the router's USB3 port wifi stops working. After removing the drive wifi comes back. This only affects 2.4GHz radio. 5GHz remains available. Connecting a USB2 drive to the same port...

forum.openwrt.org

https://help.keenetic.com/hc/en-us/articles/213968889-Possible-Wi-Fi-network-problems-after-connecting-a-USB-3-0-device-to-the-Keenetic-router

https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=254615

This is NOT an Asus issue., it's a usb issue.

 

[ColinTaylor]

This is NOT an Asus issue., it's a usb issue.

If it's effecting the 5GHz band as well it's not (just) a USB interference issue. It would also effect the main 2.4GHz network and not only the guest network. The answer will be in the System Log.

 

[T1000]

@T1000 have you tried usb2.0 mode? Perhaps changing the 2.4 channel may help too(?)

I found a way (not exactly conventional) to avoid the problem: I used a triple shielded and braided USB cable that allowed me to place the SSD and the stick about 2m from the router and the IoT/Guest worked without any issue for 2 hours, so far. However, I find that this is just a workaround for an issue that wasn't there before.

I can't try to force the USB 2.0 because as I said above since I updated to the latest firmware the "AI DISK" section is no longer accessible (I also asked if anyone who owns this router can enter "AI DISK" for that reason). At the same time, on the router's home page it doesn't allow me to switch to USB 2.0 (I now just see "USB 3"). It's clear that the latest firmware has somehow interfered with the USB management.

Also before updating the firmware the transfer rate from PC to USB (on the router) reached 130-140MB/s while now it stays between 50-60MB/s (an entry level speed).

No USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 choice as before

This is what I get when I click on "AiDisk" (an empty page)

 

[sino4006114]

Also got this problem randomly, the USB3.0 on BE88U is pretty buggy

 

[Ripshod]

Nothing to do with aidisk. On the main gui, click on the icon representing the drive and see what pops up in the right sidebar. The usb2.0/3.0 setting is also available in Administration>System.

 

[T1000]

Nothing to do with aidisk

Maybe you didn't understand what I meant, they are two separate issues:

the first one is that entering "AiDisk" I get a blank page (while with the old firmware, on that page, I had the possibility to start the wizard procedure for creating/deleting the FTP server which is different from the manual "FTP" section). I've gently asked if someone can try to enter "AiDisk" and tell me what they get. I just need to know if this issue is just mine or it's everyone's.

The second one is that on the router home page (main GUI), clicking on the icon that represents the drive (I put the photo above), no longer allows me to switch between USB3 and USB2 because in the menu that opens on the right that item is no longer clickable (the same as Administration/System). Having said that, I am only interested in USB3 mode because I have an FTP server and I need it to be fast (with the long cable I mentioned above it seems to work without interfering with the IoT network. I suggest the OP to do the same as a workaround since it worked on both my BE88Us).

This is the premium cable I used (18€ for 2m, not very cheap):