Netduma R2 multiple issues

[dap007]

Good Day Guys,

Since I updated the Netduma R2 router to the 3.x firmware about a year ago, I began experiencing multiple random issues. I kept hoping with the successive firmware updates that the problem would be solved, but this was not the case.

General background - I have not changed any particular setting aside from the setup process and Wifi Channels. No system/advanced settings were changed from the default. The update process was followed as per the firmware link "NEW R2 FIRMWARE: 3.2.453"

1st issue - I would randomly lose internet access and always assumed it was my ISP. I configured my internet modem to bridged mode to allow the R2 to handle the routing information. I never got this issue in the 2.x firmware. On testing, the ISPs modem was operating fine and realized after unplugging the R2 for about 10 seconds, my internet would be restored. I changed this setup to putting the R2 on the ISPs modem DMZ and I am still getting the internet issues on the R2.

2nd issue - I had to use the higher wifi channels in my home to avoid overlapping wifi channels. Around every 2 weeks on average (sometimes 1 week sometimes 3 weeks) I would lose wifi. Before resetting the R2, I would use a cable to connect to the R2 and realize I cannot even select the higher wifi channels in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. For example, I can only select up to channel 48 on 5GHz and channel 8 on 2.4GHz. I would proceed to hold the reset button on the R2 to reset it and after going through the setup process, everything would be fine, (No changes made to the ISPs modem). The lack of visible wifi channels on the R2 is not the same everytime, in the attached pic, I can get the 2.4GHz channel up to 11, but sometimes it is only up to 8 being selectable.

For reference, ONLY the wifi on the R2 is "ON". The ISPs wifi is Disabled.

 

3rd Issue - The 3rd bedroom is located on the further side of the house, and with the old 2.x firmware I never had wifi connectivity issues. After the 3.x update, the wifi performance is bad. Worse than the ISPs standard modem. I have the R2 in the same position on a shelf since getting it and the wifi performance is noticeably worse since the 3.x update. 

 

 

Is there any way to revert to the old 2.x firmware until the 3.x version is sorted?

PS: My wife is ready to dump the R2.
 

 

[Netduma Liam]

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for all the information you've provided.

On the first issue, are all devices disconnecting or is it just Wi-Fi devices disconnecting? Are you able to access the DumaOS interface from a device while the disconnection is occurring? Are there any log entries around the time of the disconnection? It's worth mentioning if the R2 reboots, the logs will be cleared, so you'll only see log information from the time of the disconnection if the R2 did not lose power during that time.

On the second, that is a bit of a strange one. If you change the channel width, do you then see more channels? Even if you simply change it, then change it back?

For the third, which kind of devices specifically are connecting to the R2 from the third room? Or are we talking about a mobile device that moves between rooms and simply doesn't receive great connectivity when in the third? Do you know if this device/devices are connecting to the 5GHz Wi-Fi or the 2.4?

[dap007]

Hey.

Issue 1 and 2 are kinda related, because I get Ethernet but due to the channels on the Wifi "disappearing", devices can not connect to Wifi. The pic has a brief example as the higher channels are literally un-selectable without a reboot (holding the reset button), plugging off for 20sec doesn't fix the issue.

I will try and get some logs when it happens again.

 

When I change the channel width, no additional channels are seen.

 

For the 3rd issue, the devices are a Laptop and 2 phones. I can get a usable signal outside, but as I walk inside it is like a dead zone, even rebooting the laptop and phone inside the room doesn't help. The strange thing is that when the router is operating normally (or I hard reset the R2), I get usable signal strength in the far room. Also connecting to either 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz makes no difference.

😐

 

[Netduma Liam]

8 hours ago, dap007 said:

Hey.

Issue 1 and 2 are kinda related, because I get Ethernet but due to the channels on the Wifi "disappearing", devices can not connect to Wifi. The pic has a brief example as the higher channels are literally un-selectable without a reboot (holding the reset button), plugging off for 20sec doesn't fix the issue.

I will try and get some logs when it happens again.

 

When I change the channel width, no additional channels are seen.

 

For the 3rd issue, the devices are a Laptop and 2 phones. I can get a usable signal outside, but as I walk inside it is like a dead zone, even rebooting the laptop and phone inside the room doesn't help. The strange thing is that when the router is operating normally (or I hard reset the R2), I get usable signal strength in the far room. Also connecting to either 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz makes no difference.

😐

 

I see, thanks for letting us know.

I think in this scenario logs would really help us, if you can grab those next time the problem occurs, send them over and we can get a developer to look into it.

[dap007]

Will do.

[dap007]

Hey the problem happened at least once before, but I will not at home and my wife had to reset the router.
 

I just realised it happened again and it may have been so for a few days. I am getting internet, but the performance is up and down. It is still operating , but possibly due to me selecting the lower spectrum of the wifi channels. So as before, all I could connect to are the first few bands.

 

log-1675967396533.txt

[Netduma Fraser]

In LAN Settings, set the DHCP lease hours to 168 and apply, this should help with the disconnects, then while connected via ethernet, disable WiFi entirely from the WiFi settings, reboot the router from the interface, wait 2 minutes, access, enable WiFi, apply, reboot from the interface, wait 2 minutes then see if it's more stable from then on.

[dap007]

OK. I did a full reset and set the DHCP lease to 168 hours. I disabled the wifi and reboot from the interface and waited for it to come back up. When I re-enabled it, the wifi is still only showing a limited channel selection on both the 2.4 and 5Ghz bands.

(1 to 11 on 2.4 and only channels36, 40, 44, 48 on the 5Ghz bands)

Only way to fix it is to hard reset again and everytime I switch the wifi off and save it, it doesn't come back on with the full band selection.

[Netduma Liam]

14 hours ago, dap007 said:

OK. I did a full reset and set the DHCP lease to 168 hours. I disabled the wifi and reboot from the interface and waited for it to come back up. When I re-enabled it, the wifi is still only showing a limited channel selection on both the 2.4 and 5Ghz bands.

(1 to 11 on 2.4 and only channels36, 40, 44, 48 on the 5Ghz bands)

Only way to fix it is to hard reset again and everytime I switch the wifi off and save it, it doesn't come back on with the full band selection.

I've had an R2 running on the latest Early Access firmware for a good couple of weeks now, do you think you could perhaps sign up for the early access beta here:

 and let us know if you're still having issues on that firmware?

[dap007]

I just set the DHCP lease to 168 hours and I did not modify the wifi settings. So far it is operating normally, will provide an update in a week or two.

I also signed up for the Early Access.

 

[DARKNESS]

14 hours ago, dap007 said:

I just set the DHCP lease to 168 hours and I did not modify the wifi settings. So far it is operating normally, will provide an update in a week or two.

I also signed up for the Early Access.

 

If I were u I'd turn off mirror settings and just have both 2.4 and 5 GHz separately Ive noticed actually let me rephrase Ive known this channel thing been an issue for a while depending on the devices you use it may or not be compatible and then depending on your surrounding it may also have an affect. Also changing frequency should just do a boot u sequence id suggest reinstalling the firmware and hard resetting and maybe even plug and unplug router to refresh cache for 5 minutes. I can tell u it a nuisance but that the best advice I can give you can also just downgrade to version of firmware all u do is download the file and apply to were it says update again and remember to always hard reset after updating that means holding the reset button for 30 secs.