DHCP is being maxed out
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Hello, I've had an on going problem with my network. I replaced my net gear router because it would freeze and slow to a halt every week or 2 with a archer AX20. The problem I thought was solved but it seems to have come back with this router also which leads me to believe it's something else. This router does handle the problem better. When the problem happens, most devices connected are fine where the other router would freeze. When I try say to use my iPad it won't connect so I use a manual IP and it'll connect but I get no internet. I reset the router and all is good. Today it happened again but it was my sons PS4 that wouldn't connect. So I did a network scan and I noticed every single I.P. Address is taken. The dhcp on the router is set to 100-254 amd everyone in that range is gone. I disconnected a switch supplying a few device and my son connected instantly but the scan still says the IP address are being used. I don't use more than 50 with smart switch etc. I have a few tp link unmanaged switches and I have the deco e4 mesh system in access mode. I've had a problem with this network for at least 4 years with different setups. Could it be a faulty cable Ethernet cable?
I don't know about Chromebooks, but in recent builds of Windows 10 you can activate such a feature under Start -> Settings -> Network & Internet -> Wi-Fi. For Apple iOS devices you can find some information here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211227
However, I would expect the implementations of MAC randomization from major players like Microsoft, Apple, etc. not to cause the troubles you are having. They use different MAC addresses for different Wi-Fi networks, but it should always stay the same for a particular Wi-Fi network.
Android 11 introduced an "enhanced" version of this feature (in the Developer Options) that apparently would indeed change the MAC address every time it connects.
If you want to find out if your router problems maybe arise from one client device frequently changing its MAC address and you don't mind going through some effort, then you could try adding all your devices to the "Whitelist" of your AX20 and activate Access Control. If any of the devices later changed its MAC address on its own, then it would not be able to access the Network anymore.
