Asus AC3200 Wireless Issues

[Philip_9]

I have a AC3200 router running 378_9313. Can someone explain to me why I can 't download a 15mb file either wireless OR wired. I can surf the internet without any problems on ANY wired or wireless device. When I go to download a simple 15 mb file, I'm getting the STOPPED (ERR = -3295) message about the network connection has been reset. The file will start to download and get to about 13mb and then die on me. That is when I receive the error message.

I have rebooted the router and that didn't resolve the issue. This router has become unreliable if I can't download a small 15mb file. Perhaps, I have QoS configured wrong. I have Adaptive QoS and web surfing as the highest and file transfer as the lowest.

How do I make this router stable and reliable so I don't encounter any problems such as the above error message?

 

[RealBeast]

I would start by temporarily disabling the adaptive QoS, then do some test downloads.

The ASUS adaptive QoS is very setting sensitive and can decrease your router performance in a number of instances. If you set your adaptive QoS settings too high (i.e. too close to your maximum ISP speeds) it can cause excessive buffering and significantly degrade the speeds that you achieve, probably to the point where transfers fail.

What are you actually trying to accomplish with the QoS settings?

 

[Philip_9]

Thanks for the response. I am new to Asus routers so this QoS is new to me. Previously, I was using Linksys AC1900 and didn't have any problems with downloading a torrent file or iOS apps. So, I moved to the Asus AC3200 to have better control of my network especially setting up parental controls.

Are you familiar with QoS and Asus routers? I need some help here besides speaking to Asus.

 

[Philip_9]

By turning OFF QoS, how does the router handle bandwidth and prioritization of devices and the need for web surfing versus file transfer?

 

[RealBeast]

It is a free for all with no QoS if you have lots of heavy users, but you need to turn it off while you determine the cause of your problem. I am not advocating that you not use it, just not *now*.

Then, assuming the problem goes away, we can set up your QoS so that it does what you need without causing problems.

So first try turning it off and downloading to see if the problem is gone. Then if it is gone, post an estimate of how many users, wired and wireless, and how many are light weight, how many are heavy demand users (HD streaming, torrenting, and the like) and how many have latency needs (gaming). Also, if you know, are all wireless users on 2.4GHz or 5GHz or have you divided them up based on needs to maximize the wireless?

(Web surfing takes very little bandwidth and should barely affect download speeds.)

 

[Philip_9]

I turned OFF QoS and there was no change. I still can't download a 15 or 20mb file. What do I do next?

 

[Philip_9]

My router sits in the garage with the modem and a Vista computer and a Mac Mini. These computers are WIRED. Also, I have a Airport Time Capsule and Airport Extreme both are WIRED connected to the router.

Inside my house, I have an Apple TV 3 and a Airport Express WIRELESS to the router. I have a printer and a Mac Mini connected to the Airport Express. Also, I have an Xbox 360 and iPhones.

My kids have iPods, Kindle Fire and laptops which are WIRELESS connected to the router. They surf the internet and watch Netflix.

 

[RealBeast]

Sounds like a fairly complex setup for someone who does not do networking, but can you do the downloads on a wired computer that is attached directly to the AC3200? You may have wireless or other internal LAN problems that are the real issue. I would troubleshoot it from the modem outward to the end users one component at a time the way I always troubleshoot networks.

 

[Philip_9]

Well, I work in the IT field but I don't deal with networking or router support. As I said before, this router is new to me and dealing with QoS is new to me.

Last night, on my Mac Mini WIRED connected to the router, I tried to download a 20mb file and got stopped with the same error message. There was no other traffic on the router at this point and time.

At this point, I feel it is router that is causing the problem. Here is why.

Last week, on this router, I was running firmware 378_7838 and I was faced with the same exact problem. I called up Asus and the tech guy told me to factory reset the router. Ok, so I did reset the router back to 7838 stock firmware. Next, I proceeded to upgrade to 378_9313 and EVERYTHING was working fine. I was able to download a 20gig torrent file AND I was able to download a 20mb iOS app. I was doing this while other devices were on and connected to the router. Later on, that evening, I took out my iPod Touch to download an iOS app. This iPod is WIRELESS connected to the router. That is when I found out that I was facing the same exact problem AGAIN. So, here I am with the exact same problem that I can't download a 15mb file on 7838 firmware AND I can't download the same file on 3913 firmware.

I didn't experience ANY of these issues when I was using the Linksys 1900ac router. I had the same exact set up as I do now. The only difference is, I changed the routers.

It appears that performing a factory reset TEMPORARILY fixes the download file problem but I can't reset it each and every time I am faced with this problem. Frankly, I shouldn't have to reset anything only configure this router.

What else can you suggest?

 

[RealBeast]

I agree that it is a router issue *if the QoS is off* and computers connected via Ethernet are having the same issue, most likely a firmware issue.

Do you still have the Linksys 1900AC? If so, and the 3200 does not work properly with the QoS off, replace it with the 1900AC and use the AC3200 as an AP until the firmware matures unless you can return it for refund until the bugs are ironed out.

 

[Philip_9]

Do you own a Asus router? If so, which model and firmware?

Can I use the Linksys as the main router to provide internet and network access but use the Asus router to manage and record the activity on the network? Also, can I use the Asus router to apply parental controls to devices and monitor the activity?

Since you feel it is a firmware issue why haven't other users come forward with the same issue? I, possibly, can't be the ONLY user who has this problem with 7838 and 3913 firmware.

 

[RealBeast]

I own several AC68 that have DD-WRT build 22490, unfortunately there are no builds for the AC3200 yet.

No, if you use the AC3200 in AP mode you lose all the controls too.

I've had many issues with ASUS firmware the last few years and all were resolved by using DD-WRT. I doubt that you are the only user with there issues, as I have seen a number of folks that had issues with the QoS and ended up turning it off or adjusting it significantly.

Did YOU actually ever test the AC3200 with the QoS off?

My suggested course is meant to get your network functional ASAP, which to family members if often quite important and creates additional stress for the person managing the network.

 

[Philip_9]

What is the difference between AC68 and AC3200? When you say DD-WRT, are you speaking of custom Merlin firmware?

In terms of testing the router with QoS off, describe what you want me to do and I will post back my answer.

I have QoS turned OFF and last night I was not able to download a single file WIRED and WIRELESS.

 

[RealBeast]

The AC68 is an AC1900, there is no benefit to me beyond that as I have no adapters that can handle faster. Yes Merlin is the author of DD-WRT.

Oh, and I forgot (they just came UPS yesterday) but I bought some RT-N56U units that I got for $20 each to use for APs on install jobs, they were too cheap to pass up.

If you look at your manual, you can switch the Adaptive QoS ("enable smart QoS") to off in the Adaptive QoS panel, QoS tab. I would also shut off the bandwidth monitor for testing -- use speedtest.net -- that is the first tab in Adaptive QoS, which is under the general items along the left side panel.

Disabling QoS should not affect your Internet at all if that is all you did.

 

[Philip_9]

We can agree that Asus stock firmware is the *possible* cause of my issues. Right? If that is the case, did Merlin release firmware specific to the AC3200 or can I use a substitute firmware that works with AC3200?

I have confirmed that under Adaptive QoS, in QoS tab, QoS is OFF. Also, I have turned OFF Bandwidth monitor. Do I reboot the router?

 

[Philip_9]

After turning off QoS completely, I am ONLY able to download ONE iOS app at a time and it bombs out on me. I get the "network connection has been reset" message. I am remote into my Mac Mini which is connected to the Airport Express which the AE is connected to the router. When I get home, I will download an app on a wired computer and I will let you know. I doubt that I will have success on a WIRED connection but I will try it again.

 

[Philip_9]

Should I be using 5 band or 2.4? Perhaps, that is what is causing the download issues. Maybe?

 

[RealBeast]

You may well have multiple issues that are confusing the situation, such as overlapping wireless channels. I would install the free version of inSSIDer from HERE and run it on a laptop. It will give you all wireless networks by SSID and channel strength. That will include your devices and any neighbors, but their signals should be fairly weak.

The question of which frequency range depends on what other devices are using each. The best thing to do is sit down and draw a sketch of your home, include the approximate location of any wireless radios (routers and access points) and a rough guess where most users will be with their particular wireless devices so that you can intelligently "assign" each device a first choice wireless radio to connect over.

I should have asked earlier, but until recently I didn't appreciate that you have more than just the AC3200 with wireless -- is the AC3200 the only device that is assigning IP addresses? That is are all other devices in AP mode with their DHCP service disabled?

 

[Philip_9]

Yes, I have the Apple products like Extreme and Time Capsule set to OFF mode which means they don't give out any IPs.
The AC3200 is the only one that is set to hand out IPs and is set up to act as a traditional router.

In terms of bands, how do you have your bands configured? Do you specify all wireless devices on 5 band and 2.4 is used for something else?

Later on, I am going to turn OFF everything and unplug the Apple products. I will only let my wife and I use the router to test service and I will see if I still have any issues wired and wireless. I will post back my results later.

 

[RealBeast]

No, I name them like SSID24 and SSID5, and let users select between them. I do encourage them to divide up the bandwidth equitably though so that they can all co-exist.

Fine as long as all your other devices are just set as APs no problem. Do they have IP addresses that are not in the DHCP range of the AC3200?

 

[Philip_9]

Well the AC3200 gives each one of them IPs. So, the extreme will have an IP and Time capsule will receive an IP. The router treats them like a device or computer.

 

[Philip_9]

Are you an Apple or Android person? I have mostly Apple products. I like my Apple stuff. I work with Apple products but I like Chromebooks as well.

 

[RealBeast]

I use Androids, but friends that come over with iPhones connect fine.

I generally assign APs a static (or at least reserved dynamic) address.

 

[bill001g]

Although it may not be your issue since you have issues on wired connections these newer fancy routers are radio pigs. They use 40mhz of the 60mhz bandwidth on the 2.4g and use 160mhz of the 180mhz on the 5g. This means with the default settings no other wireless ap/router can exist without interfering. This includes yours as well as any other neighbors and if a neighbor has a router like this it pretty much guarantees a conflict.

In most cases where you need multiple radios to get good coverage you are better off using 20mhz bands so they each can have their own. Of course this means you have now converted your fancy 802.11ac router into 300mhz 802.11n. Still 20mhz of bandwidth with no interference can many times transfer data faster than 80mhz with lots of interference.

Still your installation is complex so it can be a lot of things. Maybe try transferring data between machines inside your house. This would quickly let you know if the problem is the router going to he internet or if there is some internal issue between your equipment

 

[Philip_9]

I performed a test on this router. I unplugged the Extreme, Time Capsule, Express and any other unrelated device. First off, I turned off the router and modem. I turned on the modem and waiting till it was up and running. Next, I turned on the router and waiting till it was on and running. Next, I disabled QoS, Bandwidth, Parental Controls, Network Protection and any other setting. I basically tried to strip down this router as good as I can with settings.

1. Mac Mini - I tried to download an iOS app, 15mb, on both wired and wireless. Both FAILED the test.
2. Vista - I tried to download two torrent files both over 500mb on a wired connection. PASSED.
3. iPod Touch - I tried to download an iOS app on a wireless connection. FAILED.
4. Mac Mini (Inside house) - I tried to download an iOS app, 15mb, on wireless. Both FAILED the test.

As you see by my results, the Apple products failed the test but the PC passed on a wired connection.

Next, I turned off the Asus router and plugged in the Airport Extreme and configured it. I ran #1, 3, 4 tests and all Apple products PASSED with flying colors. I didn't need to test any PCs because I know they work with the Extreme.

Conclusion: Either I have a problem with the Asus router itself or the stock firmware is bad. Again, I tried 7838 and 3913 both didn't work in my situation. On a side note, I purchased the Asus router from Newegg. Maybe I got a bad model.

I am going to try Merlin 378 - 56.2 later today. I was told this version is a stable release and *hopefully* will work. What is the proceedure for install Merlin? I need a step by step directions on installing Merlin firmware.