RT66N slows down after a while...need reboot

[alexbc]

I have an RT-66N router, and it works great initially, but for some weird reason after it's plugged in for a few days, it just slows down quite a bit... and needs either a Reset, or an unplug of the main Ethernet to get back up to regular speed.

My ISP is around 25-30MPBs, and when it's restarted, I get almost exactly the same speed wired direct to the wall, through N66 LAN, through both 2.4 and 5GHz wireless lines... then when it slows down, it gets to somewhere between 3-6 Mbps, across all channels, 2.4, 5GHz, and Gigabit.

I have about 9 devices connected to it, from iPad, iPhones, TV, PC, laptop, Xbox, Nest, Receiver, and some use 5GHz, some 2.4Ghz (don't support 5)... but it's not like all of them are downloading concurrently at all times and mostly it's only 2-3 concurrently.

I am on the latest Asus firmware so have no idea why this maybe happening? Is the router defective? or something else is going on?

Thanks!

 

[messerchmidt]

try merlin wrt or ddwrt - and add a cheap laptop cooler to the unit (positioned below) to blow up air through it. use the usb on the router to power same.

 

[alexbc]

try merlin wrt or ddwrt - and add a cheap laptop cooler to the unit (positioned below) to blow up air through it. use the usb on the router to power same.

Would those firmwares improve on this? Why this maybe happening. Is it just warming up too much?

 

[ColinTaylor]

Would those firmwares improve on this?

Possibly, if there's some sort of bug in the current firmware which is causing this. Changing to an older or different firmware may solve it.

Why this maybe happening. Is it just warming up too much?

That's very unlikely. If it were overheating you'd be seeing random disconnections and rebooting rather than a uniform slowing down.

I've been using Merlin's firmware version 374.43 for some time now and found it to be rock solid. Just remember that if you change to Merlin's firmware you will have to do a factory reset after the initial installation and then re-enter all your settings from scratch. Don't try and load saved settings from your old firmware.

 

[alexbc]

Possibly, if there's some sort of bug in the current firmware which is causing this. Changing to an older or different firmware may solve it.That's very unlikely. If it were overheating you'd be seeing random disconnections and rebooting rather than a uniform slowing down.

I've been using Merlin's firmware version 374.43 for some time now and found it to be rock solid. Just remember that if you change to Merlin's firmware you will have to do a factory reset after the initial installation and then re-enter all your settings from scratch. Don't try and load saved settings from your old firmware.

Damn. I stayed with stock firmware thinking it'd be more reliable. It's quite a curious issue as it just slows down connection for whatever reason and it's across wired and wireless connections. Quite confuisn.

How do I do that factory reset, etc? What if I tried to reload the firmware of Asus once more to see if it improves things? I've heard to clear DRAM and reload, etc.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Damn. I stayed with stock firmware thinking it'd be more reliable. It's quite a curious issue as it just slows down connection for whatever reason and it's across wired and wireless connections. Quite confuisn.

It does sound odd, so it might not be anything to do with the firmware. I'm not saying the stock firmware is unreliable, I don't know. I've only ever used Merlin's.

How do I do that factory reset, etc? What if I tried to reload the firmware of Asus once more to see if it improves things? I've heard to clear DRAM and reload, etc.

You can do a factory reset by going to Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting > Factory default.

Are you using any of the "advanced" features like "Download Master" or QoS that might be causing the issue?

 

[alexbc]

It does sound odd, so it might not be anything to do with the firmware. I'm not saying the stock firmware is unreliable, I don't know. I've only ever used Merlin's.


You can do a factory reset by going to Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting > Factory default.

Are you using any of the "advanced" features like "Download Master" or QoS that might be causing the issue?

I'm using QoS. Should I disable?

 

[alexbc]

Interestingly, my firmware is not the latest. I have version 3.0.0.4.376.2524 , and whenever I try auto-update on the Asus, it says it's updated?

However, on Asus website, there's a newer version below:
ASUS RT-N66U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.376.3602
For US and TW only.

I am in Canada, is that the reason Asus is not triggering this? Should I try this manually instead?

Thanks

 

[RMerlin]

Interestingly, my firmware is not the latest. I have version 3.0.0.4.376.2524 , and whenever I try auto-update on the Asus, it says it's updated?

However, on Asus website, there's a newer version below:
ASUS RT-N66U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.376.3602
For US and TW only.

I am in Canada, is that the reason Asus is not triggering this? Should I try this manually instead?

Thanks

Asus does not always publish every new releases to the auto update site. Or sometime they delay the publication to ensure that the new build does not introduce new issues.

 

[ColinTaylor]

I'm using QoS. Should I disable?

After doing a factory reset I would just setup the bare minimum to get yourself going. admin password, wireless passwords and SSID, etc. Run with that for a while. If there are no problems then start adding in your other customisations.

 

[alexbc]

Would upgrading to AC-66U model improve ANYTHING? If most of my devices only support N-band?

 

[jerry6]

Would upgrading to AC-66U model improve ANYTHING? If most of my devices only support N-band?

NO , i tried that and the N 66 is as good as it gets if you don't have AC clients , even with ac clients my n 66 does better tan my ac 66 , better connection rates and transfer speeds . Of c ourse this is with router and client 30 feet apart with several walls , might be different if in the same room

 

[L&LD]

Since the RT-AC66U and the RT-N66U are very similar hardware wise, I can see the difference being small.

However, moving up to a current AC class router like the RT-AC68U or the RT-AC87U will show the weaknesses of the RT-N66U easily.

 

[KevTech]

Would upgrading to AC-66U model improve ANYTHING? If most of my devices only support N-band?

It has been tested that yes it can.

http://www.timhiggins.com/wireless/...oes-an-ac-router-improve-n-device-performance

 

[N66uASUS]

Use the one in my signature. Working great for me