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Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing

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Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing

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Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
2020-05-05 03:38:28 - last edited 2020-05-05 03:46:38
Model: Archer A20  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.1.1 Build 20191026 rel.10453(5553)

I'm experiencing the following issues:

  • Wifi signal is extremely weak. I can only connect to the wireless network when I am sitting next to the router. I can run a ping command in the terminal and watch it start to fail more and more as I walk away from the router. At about 10 feet I will only get request timeouts.
  • All three wireless LED indicators are constantly flashing. It doesn't matter what radios are enabled or not, they're all flashing all the time.
  • When multiple radios are enabled, my laptop and phone have trouble connecting to any one network. When only one radio is enabled, my laptop and phone are able to connect.

 

Here's a couple seconds from the system log indicating the LEDs are flashing:

 

2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:08 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_ON
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_2_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI5G_OFF
2020-05-04 19:52:07 led-controller[1440]: <6> 288051 Start to run WIFI2G_OFF

 

Things I've tried, none of which have improved the wifi signal strength issue:

  • Power cycling the router.
  • Upgrading the firmware. It was out of date this morning, and is now up to date.
  • Only enabling a single wireless radio - this allows devices to connect to the network, but only when next to the router.
  • Used a network diagnostic tool to find the best channel to use for 2.4 or 5GHz radios.
  • Restore and Factory Restore, which are separate options under "Factory Default Restore".
  • Setting QoS to standard from streaming.
  • Enabling IPv6.
  • Plugged into a different outlet with a different surge protector.

 

Other facts worth noting:

  • This was purchased in July 2019.
  • It is plugged into a Tripp Lite 12 outlet surge protector that still indicates it is protected.
  • There have been some storms over the past week.
  • Wired connections work just fine.

 

 

Potentially related - https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/193408

 

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5 Reply
Re:Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
2020-05-05 17:01:23

@rzb 

 

That is unusally behaivor but thank you for being so through in your response.  I would suggest that we do an RMA for the product.  I would like to have my testing team look into this a bit further.  I owuld need you to go to https://myproducts.tp-link.com/.  Sign in using the same credentials you use for the community.  Register your product and then let me know when that is completed.  I will then approve the RMA and we can go from there.

Check out the Latest: Recent Smart Home Features and Updates for Tapo and Kasa Securing Your TP-Link ID with 2FA:Deco and Tether | Smart Home Splash into a Smarter Summer with Sub-G Sensors, Matter, and Apple Home!
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#2
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Re:Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
2020-05-05 18:34:19

@Carl The product is now registered. Thank you!

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#3
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Re:Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
2020-05-06 16:20:25

@rzb 

 

Great your RMA is approved just go back to the warranty portal and select your shipping method.  We will send you the replacement based on the method chosen.  To note advanced RMAs do have a convience fee attached based on how fast you want the product shipped but also include a free return label.  

Check out the Latest: Recent Smart Home Features and Updates for Tapo and Kasa Securing Your TP-Link ID with 2FA:Deco and Tether | Smart Home Splash into a Smarter Summer with Sub-G Sensors, Matter, and Apple Home!
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#4
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Re:Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
2021-10-07 23:52:41 - last edited 2021-10-07 23:58:41

@Carl  I am having exactly the same issue.  From one day to the next the WiFi signal became extremely weak.  I can see the 2.4 and 5.8 channels when I am sitting next to the router, but when I walk away they drop significantly, and completely at about 8 feet or so.  I think the internal signal amplifier(s) may have failed? 

 

This is an Archer A20  (tp-link AC4000) and is just a few months old, it was purchased new April 2021.  I am running the latest firmware (1.0.3 Build 20191026  rel 16299, HW Archer A20 v3.0) . Wired connection works fine.

 

Thanks for your help. - Dan

File:
screenshot.jpgDownload
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#5
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Re:Archer A20 weak wifi signal and wireless LEDs flashing
2022-02-07 16:34:48

@danboarder 
Exact same problem started this morning. I don't have any flashing LEDs or anything to indicate there's an issue.

Just what I would say is an unusual amount of heat from the unit, and the inability to get a signal more than a few feet away.

I've done everything I can think of including resetting to factory, and setting it up on the other end of the house to test wifi strength with nothing attached to it. The wifi side of the unit is hosed. Ethernet is working just great.
This is my favorite router so far, but I'm wary of buying another considering the price and the fact that this only ran for maybe a year before dying.

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#6
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