AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3

AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3

AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3
AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3
Saturday
Model: Archer AX72  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.4.3 Build 20250814 rel.60946(4555)

2 issues noted with my setup after firmware upgrade to  1.4.3 Build 20250814 rel.60946(4555)

 

For info, my network setup is two AX72 V1 routers. One is the main router and the other is configured as an Easymesh Satellite that is connected using Ethernet backhaul. There is a TP-Link TL-SG1016D unmanaged gigabit switch connecting them. On average, there would 34 devices simultaneously connected , 24 IoT tp-Link smart plugs, washer, dryer (isolated on  IoT Wifi), 3 laptops, 3 HD and 4K TV's, 2 phones, a VoIP phone, 3 laptops.  10 of the devices would normally be connected via the Easymesh satellite. PC's, laptops, VoIP phone, NAS etc are wired ethernet.

 

A) First issue was Easymesh appears not to like using the ECO Mode - Power Saving feature. I set is to be on from 0:00 to 09:00. Its fine fine when it first activates and I can see the power on the WiFi is reduced. When it is turned off at 09:00, I soon note that the satellite AX72 WiFi is only operating at 30 mbits (testing with Pixel 8/Speedtest.Net). After reboot of the AX72's it is back to my normal 850 to 930mbits (I have a megabit fibre connection). the CPU on the main router is also up to 65-80% whereas it is usually 45-55%. When I stopped ECO Mode, everything went back to my normal average of 45-55%. With Easymesh and the second AX72 removed from the network ECO Mode appears fine.

 

My suspicion is that Easymesh doesn't not play well with power changes when using the new ECO Mode. Anyone else noticed similar behaviour?

 

B) I turned on and tried both the new DoT and DoH privacy settings for DNS and tested both.  DoT triggered the orange Internet connection issue LED on the Satellite AX72 intermittently (two to 4 times on hour). Streaming etc wasn't lost but I saw spikes on the CPU. DoH also triggered the orange Internet connection issue LED but not as often. The RAM on the main AX72 router went up to 2% to 60% but that is to be expected with the DoH encryption overhead. The real issue with these privacy setting was intermittent delays of up to 5 seconds in getting a DNS response (i.e. web page loading being intermittently stalled).

 

Again, I'm suspicious of an Easymesh set up not playing well with these privacy settings (though I know some ISP's do not play well with DoT regards handling port 853 being open for TLS). I don't think DoH should have been an issue though?

 

Finally - the network as described has been highly stable, very reliable, everything just works at the optimum speed under Firmware 1.2.6 . Using the settings above under Firmware 1.4.3,  I had CPU much higher (especially after using ECO Mode over 24 hours). With them off, performance is great, snappy page loads, and the CPU is back to a rock solid 45-55% and the RAM is 58% and doesn't budge - just as per FW 1.2.6.

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#1
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3 Reply
Re:AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3
13 hours ago

Hello @TheRobinK ,

Thanks for contacting our community.

 

Have you checked the system log? Is there any error message in it?

The tech team has been made aware of your case; they will likely reach out to you via email to continue troubleshooting. Please check your email inbox and confirm.

 

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#2
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Re:AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3
12 hours ago
Yes - I checked the system log and didnt see any errors. During the issues with the Easymesh Satellite AX72 displaying the Orange internet connection fault LED, I watched the log on the Main AX72 and it showed nothing.
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#3
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Re:AX72 Issues after firmware update to 1.4.3
8 hours ago

OK - I have done some more testing. There defiinitely is a issue using two AX72's where one is an Easymesh satellite using Ethernet backhaul

 

My setup worked fine, was stable over the weekend after I had removed the ECO Mode and the encrrypted  DNS over DoH. the logs were clean and CPU was averaging 45-51% with RAM rock steady at 58%

 

Today I turned on just the DNS over DoH using Cloudflare 1.1.1.2 and Quad9 9.9.9.9. Left the satellite off. All fine, no errors in logs. CPU up about 2% and RAM the same (expected with DoH - uses a bit more of both for DoH)

 

Turned on the Easymesh satellite over ethernet backhaul. Problems started again - its orange LED turned on fairly frequently. Checked the satellites logs (I can log onto its management interface as of this new Firmware 1.4.3). The log for the satellite is clean BUT it also shows me it is using the DNS servers under the DHCP menus settings - NOT the ones specified for DNS over DoH. Other devices on the network - even if connected to the main router - started dropping connections intermittently (wired and
WiFi connected devices).

 

The situation got worse when I removed the DNS servers under the DHCP menu settings. Still no errors in either AX72's logs but I noted that the logs for the satellite now said it was pointed to the Main Router IP for its DNS. Next thing I see is that the main router thinks the satellite AX72 is disconnected (even though 8 devices are connected to the satellite and working) but it does show those 8 devices as connected via Ethernet rather than WiFi as usual. The satellie routers management interface could be contacted and the orange internet LED was on. CPU on the router was now 65% spiking to 90% plus and RAM was 67% and seemed to be climbing.

 

At no point were there errors in either AX72's log.

 

So - I turned off the DoH for DNS, put Cloudflare and Quad9 back in the DHCP page DNS settings and rebooted everything.  All is back to being steady, stable and quick. SO -It appears that the DoH setting is fine but only when no active Eashmesh satellite (a second AX72 in my case) is turned on.

 

And finally, DoT causes the same issues when the process I followed above was repeated.

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#4
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