Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi

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Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi

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Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-03-18 14:35:05 - last edited 2020-03-18 14:37:06
Model: Archer C6  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.1.5 Build 20191112 rel.36515(5553)

Greetings. I recently bought an Archer C6 (US) v2 router. I am facing multiple issues with the 2.4 Ghz wifi network. First I will detail out the network:


DSL splitter --> DSL Modem --> Archer C6 router


DSL Modem: is configured in bridge mode and has only one device connected to it i.e Archer C6.


Archer C6: is configured with internet connection type PPPoE. Two wired devices are connected, PC (on LAN1) and IPTV (on LAN 2). Both 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz wifi are enabled with most devices connected to the 2.4 Ghz network. Smart connect is Enabled.


Problems:


1. All devices connected to the 2.4 Ghz network will not be able to connect to it after some time. Usually this happens when we wake up in the morning which is to say after long periods of inactivity on the mobile devices however the devices can loose connectivity at other times too. When this happens, in the wifi settings (android) it shows "Obtaining IP address" but it never connects. The device connected to the 5Ghz network does not face any issues.

  • What I have tried already: Resetting the router, turning the smart connect option on/off, disabling 5 Ghz network, reinstalling firmware.
  • What temperorily fixes the issue: Restarting the router, changing any random setting in the wifi settings on the router and pressing save button.

2. Sometimes the devices connected to the 2.4 Ghz network are not able to access the internet. The internet works on PC (connected through LAN) and also on 5 Ghz network at the time when 2.4 Ghz devices are facing the issue. Disabling and re-enabling the wifi on mobile device fixes the issue.

3. The DHCP service always provides the same IP addresses to the connected devices (for example: Cellphone 1 with mac address xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx will always get 192.168.0.119). Restarting the router, resetting the router, disabling wifi on the connected device etc etc does not change the IP. Is this normal behavior? Shouldn't the DHCP provide random IP addresses everytime?

4. Enabling the "Local Management via HTTPS" option shows "invalid security certificate" error (pic attached).

 

Note: The only setting I changed related to DHCP is the Lease time (1440) but if I remember correctly I faced the issue even when it was at the default value (120).

 

Internet: I have a 15 Mbps ADSL connection.

 

File:
Screenshot from 2020-03-18 18-04-36.pngDownload
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#1
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17 Reply
Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-03-19 08:21:48

@Muni 

 

 

Thanks for the information provided. Point 3 is normal. Once the DHCP Lease time expired but the device is still connected to the router, it will apply to get a new IP address, and usually, it takes the same IP address as before. 

 

As for the first 2 issues, it seems that the 2.4GHz wireless connection is unstable but the LAN connection and 5GHz work well. 

 

May I know have you ever tried to reset the C6 and re-configure the PPPoE connection to give it a go. 

 

And who is your internet service provider? Try to remove the DSL splitter and connect the DSL modem to the telephone line directly. 

 

Good day. 

 

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#2
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-03-19 09:39:09 - last edited 2020-03-19 09:47:15

@Kevin_Z 

 

Thank you for clarifying the DHCP question. I have reset the router several times and I have also reinstalled the firmware a few times. I have also reconfigured the PPPoE a few times. I configured PPPoE on the modem and configured the router to "Dynamic IP" as well. None of this fixes the issue.

It is strange that the problem only occurs on 2.4 Ghz network. If it was an issue with the internet shouldn't the 5 Ghz network be affected as well?

 

My ISP is PTCL.

 

Edit: I noticed this thread https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/175434

It's a different product but the issue is similar. Although he is facing issue on the 5 Ghz network.

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#3
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-03-20 10:41:44

@Kevin_Z 

 

Update: This is the log for a device failing to connect: (Note: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX is the censored MAC of the affected device.)

 

2020-03-20 07:54:24 wireless[3220]: <6> 208053 ath0:STA XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX IEEE 802.11 disassociated
2020-03-20 07:54:01 dhcps[5415]: <6> 212052 send offer ip 192.168.0.168 and dns 192.168.0.1 to XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
2020-03-20 07:54:01 dhcps[5415]: <6> 212051 receive discover from XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
2020-03-20 07:54:01 wireless[3220]: <6> 208054 ath0:STA XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX IEEE 802.1X succeeded to athorize
2020-03-20 07:54:01 wireless[3220]: <6> 208052 ath0:STA XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX IEEE 802.11 associated
2020-03-20 07:54:01 wireless[3220]: <6> 208051 ath0:STA XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX IEEE 802.11 authenticated

 

These lines are repeated again and again in the log and have filled up the whole log. The line I have highlighted is what shows up in log for any device that is failing to connect.

 

For reference, this is the log for a device connecting normally: (Note: ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ is the censored MAC of the device.)

 

2020-03-20 11:56:32 wireless[3220]: <6> 208053 ath0:STA ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ IEEE 802.11 disassociated
2020-03-20 11:56:28 dhcps[5415]: <6> 212054 send ack ip 192.168.0.119 and dns 192.168.0.1 to ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ
2020-03-20 11:56:28 dhcps[5415]: <6> 212053 receive request ip 192.168.0.119 from ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ
2020-03-20 11:56:28 wireless[3220]: <6> 208054 ath0:STA ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ IEEE 802.1X succeeded to athorize
2020-03-20 11:56:28 wireless[3220]: <6> 208052 ath0:STA ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ IEEE 802.11 associated
2020-03-20 11:56:28 wireless[3220]: <6> 208051 ath0:STA ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ:ZZ IEEE 802.11 authenticated

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#4
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-03-22 11:27:00

@Kevin_Z 

 

So it happened again and this time I quickly opened the dhcp page of the router and noticed that the problem occurred when the lease time of the devices ended.

 

I am patiently waiting for your response.

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#5
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-03-29 17:46:26

@Muni I had the same issue and solved it with a workarund: I set 25 hours for the dhcp lease time, but also set the autoreboot feature every 24 hours at about 5 AM. So, as there is no dhcp lease finishing, the problem is "solved". It is not a big solution but it is ok for me. The auto reboot is also useful for the router to search for best wifi channels in both bands.

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#6
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-05-28 17:36:35

@adios 

 

Nice workaround. I'm also facing the same issue with my 2.4 Ghz connection and will try to give this a go

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#7
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-06-13 13:35:08

@adios 

 

Sorry for replying so late. I did consider this workaround however due to the randomness of disconnects decided not to use it. I appreciate your help. smiley​​​​​​

 

@Kevin_Z 

 

The EU version of the router is getting firmware updates but US version is not. Both versions are facing similar issues and the whole forum is filled up with Archer C6 issues. The last firmware update for US version was released on 2019-12-16 which was a long time ago.

 

I'm requesting you to kindly update the firmware immediately to fix issues related to 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi network. If the firmware update is not ready please provide an expected date for the firmware release. 

 

Thank you.

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#8
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-06-13 21:21:22

@Muni 

have a c5 and had the same problem with the new rogers ignite service.  had to turn off 2.4ghz on the router and use a range extender logged into 5ghz on the router as the AP for 2.4ghz.

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#9
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-06-14 10:49:56

@Muni 

 

It could be the device that has problems witch the dhcp server from the C6.

What happens, when you set the device to static dhcp list or set static IP at the device ?

 

Best Regards

Archer AX73(EU)V1 in Router Mode to use OneMesh with RE300 (used as AP only)
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#10
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Re:Archer C6: Multiple issues with 2.4 Ghz wifi
2020-06-14 11:08:49

@aTOMic1971 

 

I suspected that it could be dhcp and also pointed it out in this thread. But unfortunately binding the MAC and IP of my devices didn't resolve the issue.

 

I went through many forum threads, sone of them not even for the same model, and found that it is a common issue. Some models face issues on the 5GHz and some on 2.4Ghz. Also both the EU and US versions have this problem ruling out the probability of defective device.

 

Since you mentioned dhcp, can you please confirm if you get the same local ip address for a particular device after the lease time is over or is it a random ip each time?

 

Thank you.

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#11
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