r/NETGEAR

Why would netgear sunset wifi equipment (Orbi RBK753) by stopping software support? There is no explanation other than corporate greed. Netgear is not going to get another dime from me for the rest of my life.

Firmware V1.2.7.2

I have spent the better part of 4 hours today trying to figure out why this router is blocking one of my 55 connected devices. The device is a Debian 12 server that I use for home assistant. I had some devices complaining of DNS issues so decided to update the router's DNS options to point at Google 8.8.8.8. After that the PC no longer could access the outside web.

I initially thought it was the machine itself and not the router. I did every possible test I could, deleting network settings along the way. I removed it from my static IP list and changed it from a wired to a wireless connected PC for further testing. After not being able to get anything to work externally, I spoofed the MAC address with a temporary change and this instantly allowed me to ping Google. Within 5 minutes I couldn't again.

I'm at a loss on this one and am about to factory reset the router in hopes that I can revitalize it. It is 3 days outside the return window and I am livid. I did make a backup of the router that I could restore in hopes that I can save my 30 or so static IP settings. I've also disabled every possible security setting in that router because it has been temperamental with so many of my devices since I bought it.

Any advice or recommendations to try before I take the nuclear option?

Edit: I decided to connect my PC to my phone's hotspot and it worked immediately. I then disconnected the hotspot allowing it to remain on the wired connection to the router and it kept working for about 2 minutes. Then it died again. It is like while I was connected to both the wired connection and my hotspot, it confused the router for a few minutes after and still allowed a connection.

I am unable to connect to any PC game servers on my new CAX30, this is my first time away from ISP gateways so leniency on my ignorance is appreciated.

NAT Type is showing as "Port Restricted NAT" on the Nat checker website, and I have tried everything I've been told.

- Checking UPNP (It was on)
- DMZ
- Disabling Firewall

My internet services work fine, Youtube, smart TVs and general download/upload.

Help would be greatly appreciated!

TL;DR: My Netgear EAX12 WiFi extender intermittently intercepts DNS and answers external lookups with its own LAN IP (192.168.1.250 → routerlogin.net), breaking HTTPS with cert errors. Proven it's the extender (unplug it = stops). Latest firmware doesn't fix it, and there's no DNS setting in its UI. Looking for a way to disable this behavior.

Setup

• ISP router (192.168.0.1) → Netgear R8000 as the main router (LAN 192.168.1.0/24). So yes, double-NAT.
• 2× Netgear EAX12 extenders, wired ethernet backhaul, broadcasting the same SSID as the router ("One WiFi Name").
• ~20 devices rely on the extenders for coverage (the R8000's own WiFi is weak in my office).

Symptom

• Intermittently, a fresh DNS lookup for an external domain (e.g. api.github.com) resolves to 192.168.1.250 instead of the real IP. HTTPS then lands on the extender's routerlogin.net admin page → TLS cert error.
• Irregular — bursts and lulls, averaging every few minutes, not on a fixed schedule.
• Only fresh/uncached lookups are hit. Established connections (Zoom, open tabs) are totally fine, and raw internet (ping 1.1.1.1 by IP) never drops. So it's purely DNS, and only a fraction of lookups at a time.

How I proved it's the extender

• dig @192.168.1.1 api.github.com intermittently returns 192.168.1.250.
• Even dig @8.8.8.8 and dig @1.1.1.1 (aimed straight at public resolvers) get intercepted and return 192.168.1.250 — so it's transparently grabbing ALL port-53 traffic regardless of destination.
• 192.168.1.250:443 serves a NETGEAR cert, CN=www.routerlogin.net.
• Unplug the extender → hijacking stops completely (verified 24 min clean). Plug it back in → it returns. As definitive as it gets.

Already tried / ruled out (please don't just suggest these)

• Updated EAX12 firmware to the latest (1.0.3.38) — no change. Netgear's changelogs never mention DNS.
• Checked every menu in the EAX12 web UI — there is no DNS / secure-DNS / resolver setting (only "Always use HTTPS to access extender," which is just for the admin page).
• Set the router's upstream DNS to 1.1.1.1 / 8.8.8.8 — no effect (the extender intercepts regardless of destination).
• Unplugged the second extender — no change.
• Router logs show no WAN/internet drops; the internet itself is rock stable.
• (I know per-device encrypted DNS/DoH sidesteps it, since the extender can't read encrypted queries — but I'm after a network-level fix or a way to stop the extender doing this, not configuring 20 devices individually.)

One lead I'm chasing The extender's wired backhaul only negotiates 100M/Full at the router (should be gigabit — smells like a damaged cable pair). I'm wondering if a flapping/marginal link makes the extender think it's lost its upstream and flip into this captive-portal DNS-redirect mode. The bursty, irregular timing would fit a flapping link.

Questions

1. Is this a known EAX12 / Netgear extender behavior? Any way to disable the captive-portal DNS redirect?
2. Does the EAX12 have a true Access Point / Bridge mode that disables the internet-check + captive DNS? Is it hidden in the Nighthawk app or the setup wizard (it's not in the web UI)?
3. Does the marginal 100M backhaul sound like the likely trigger — i.e., does this firmware captive-redirect DNS when it thinks the upstream is flaky?

Thanks in advance — happy to run any diagnostic commands and report back.

---

This issue was investigated with the help of Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant), and this write-up was produced by it.

I'm having a problem using a router in AP Mode. My setup is this:

Modem --> Netgear Nighthawk RS150 (Router) --> switch --> Netgear Nighthawk AX5400 (AP Mode)

I reset the AX5400 and set it to AP Mode. When it went to restart, I no longer can enter the admin page. I have tried routerlogin.net, aplogin, I have pulled the IP from my main network page. Tried that. Nothing worked, whenever I enter any of the above, the browser just says it can't connect. The effect is I can't change the AP router's network info to have one seemless network ID/password, kind of rendering the AP mode pointless for me.

EDIT: I should note, I have retrieved the IP from the main network a few times and have noticed it has changed once or twice.

What in the world can I do to access the admin page for the AP?

Thank you guys for any help!

I have been battling this problem for months and it is driving me crazy. I have searched reddit, I have googled anything and everything that pertains to this. Nothing has helped me.

So I have a Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 router with Spectrum modem (EN2251). My router will randomly stop broadcasting internet, over wired and wireless. Always both. Still have power to router and modem, but the internet light goes red on my router. Sometimes it will have during the day and sometimes at midnight.

Netgear support is trash, their only idea was to reset my router, didn't work. I have moved my router/modem to a colder room, thinking the router was overheating. I have changed settings to my router. I have changed the 5 GHz wireless network channel and mode. I have disabled the Port Scan and DoS Protection. This has all been done because of posts and comments from reddit and from other sites I have googled. And NOTHING has helped!! This router is just making me lose my mind.

Can someone, anyone, please help me!!!!!

This is the latest disconnect log for reference. Let me know if I need to add another screenshot of something.

https://preview.redd.it/jz8klye5gqah1.png?width=787&format=png&auto=webp&s=c3ed139ed9c2e95489c9f91b1c25f627f067279b

I have a Netgear AC1900 Cable Modem Wifi Router combo. Model C7000v2. I don't need it to be my main gateway anymore, but it is pretty new and I hate to not use it in some way if I can. Can this box be used as an extender etc? Any uses for it ? I do have some low/dead spots that could use an extra boost, or maybe to help with security cameras that are further away? It has the coax, a USB and 4 LAN ports but of course no WAN. TIA for any good ideas!

I just bought a Hitron CODA56 modem and when connected directly to the modem I get about 2.3Gbps down and about 350Mbps up. After connecting the router to the modem, I only get about 1.4Gbps down and 40Mbps up. What is slowing down my speed? Anyone else experience similar issues?

Troubleshooting steps taken:

• Turned off Protection Engine (on by default and tested)
• Turned off Access Control
• Turned off QoS (also tested with it on)
• Turned on IPv6 and set connection type to Auto Detect (also tested with it off)
• Rebooted both modem and router multiple times
• Factory reset the router and setup from scratch

Hey all,

I received a notification that my Netgear router (which is supporting my home's mesh network) is nearing its end of service.

I'm looking for advice on whether it's wise to continue using the existing hardware (with Netgear Armor), or if it's best to upgrade to a new router (and consequently replace my existing mesh satellites with new ones).

When setting up my mesh network last year, it didn't occur to me that support for these products would expire and that I'd be pressured into upgrading every couple years.

Admittedly naive of me, I guess.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks

My power flickered last night and I haven't had internet all day. I usually have to cycle everything after a power outage. I have a Netgear Nighthawk AX1500 mesh router and an Arris Surfboard S33 modem. Router is stuck on an orange light. I tried unplugging and leaving it for a few minutes and plugging it back in and unplugging both router and modem and letting them cycle and plugging modem then router back in. Nothing. I also can't connect to the router via the Nighthawk app or routerlogin.net to check any settings. I did connect my PC to the modem directly with an Ethernet cord and did get internet so I assumed the router is toast so I bought a new one and that is also stuck on orange. I tried using all the new cords and even plugged it into a different outlet (was originally plugged into a surge protector) and nothing. I don't know what else to do. Please help 😭

Hey all,

I have a Nighthawk MR90 mesh system, with the base router and two satellites. We’re making a spare room in the house into an office for working from home, and would like to add another satellite.

Is this feasible? I couldn’t find an answer on the Netgear website, and the AI overview cited a link talking about the MR60… assuming it’s similar?