Issues with TP-Link AX6000 device
Issues with TP-Link AX6000 device
I acquired this AX6000 recently, intending to upgrade my outdated Asus RT-N66U. With Merlin updates no longer available for that model, I acted on a discount without fully considering the risks. Soon I faced some issues. The device was covered in fingerprints, indicating it was a refurbished return item. I attempted a factory reset, which was challenging but ultimately successful.
My wife reported problems: her phone couldn't maintain a stable connection through the stairwell, and she lost Wi-Fi on her iPad in the living room. Initially I thought it might be related to my previous WiFi experiences, but then I noticed the router struggled with AC protocol devices.
After testing, I found my computer's speed was extremely low—only 2 to 5 Mbps upload. This prompted me to restart the router, which helped temporarily. However, daily restarts became necessary. To simplify, I added a wall switch for her to toggle the router on and off.
I discovered the router could schedule restarts, which was useful. Then I ran a bandwidth test and realized my PC was only getting 2 to 5 Mbps. This led me to investigate further. I tried Ethernet cabling, but it worked fine on another laptop, suggesting the issue wasn't with the router itself.
Running tests confirmed my Windows installation was performing well, so I suspected a hardware or configuration problem. I eventually replaced the Ethernet cable with a patch cable for her, which resolved the issue.
My computer became slow during browsing, prompting me to boot into a Linux Mint system where it performed optimally. I plan to upgrade my SSD this fall and install a fresh Windows 10.
I’ve stopped playing Xbox games regularly, preferring Netflix instead. I bought the Xbox All-Digital on Black Friday and mostly use it for streaming. Now I’m eager to try Red Dead Redemption 2, but my PS4 is lagging. It connects perfectly without ports, yet LAN fails. I suspect the problem lies with the router or firmware.
I checked for updates and found a patch, but my router couldn’t download it from TP-Link. I discovered the firmware was dated March 2020, which seems suspicious. Forums revealed others had similar issues. TP-Link later pulled the release, which explained part of the trouble.
I attempted to enable PS4 ports manually, but it couldn’t detect my console’s IP. Connecting via Ethernet resolved the issue, so I’m left questioning the quality of both the router and the PS4.
In summary, this experience has highlighted several reliability concerns across my devices, from firmware quirks to connectivity problems.
You’re likely missing the expected performance from your TP-Link AX6000. It seems there might be configuration problems with your system that aren’t showing up during a live Linux setup. To help, consider sharing more details: your internet speeds, home size, number of floors, where the device is placed, and whether other wireless gadgets work smoothly. Also, check if your Ethernet cables connect properly to all areas and if any WiFi 6 devices are available. The TP-Link site mentions a recent firmware update—download it via a wired connection to the router, not over WiFi. After installation, reset the router to its original settings before customizing it. This approach often resolves compatibility issues with consumer routers.
Firmware updates can really make a difference. However, I emphasize this point. WiFi 6 represents a completely new standard. It’s wise to wait about a year before upgrading to a newer version so any remaining issues can be resolved. In the meantime, run a WiFi analyzer to assess signal strength throughout your home. Just because one router performed well in one area doesn’t guarantee success everywhere. You might need to tweak its placement, but at a minimum, perform a site survey using a WiFi analyzer app to understand signal distribution.
I pay for 80 Mbps / 80 Mbps fiber. 1 level, 2nd floor apartment, 100 sqm. (sorry for the metric, this is in Europe) Located where I have written WiFi on the drawing. Walls are made of drywall. The floor is made with hollow concrete. Outer walls made of wood. I have not tested WiFi extensively yet. But ran a speedtest from cellphone with AC speed support getting Ping 3 ms, Jitter 2 ms. Download almost 43 Mbps, and Upload 38 Mbps. These are similar numbers on the Playstation 4, but now and then the upload speed drops significantly on PS4, and the connections now and then drops. Sometimes I only get 5 Mbps upload on the PS4, as this is the unit I have tested WiFi mostly from until now. WiFi isn't stable enough. And ethernet is not possible, only from the Xbox. To my knowledge I have not got any devices getting full speed WiFi matching near the 80 / 80 Mbps subscription. Yes and yes, I do have ethernet laid to all parts of the house, except I have not added the wall plugin to Bedroom 1 yet. And no ethernet in laundry, bathroom or kitchen as of yet. Ethernet exists in Man Cave, Bed2, Hallway and Living Room, plus attic, plus an external storage outdoor (without the wall plugin), not all this is connected to the router as of yet. Bed2, Man Cave, Hallway and Living Room is all connected to this router, that has 8 eth. ports. Yes I do have WiFi 6 on one computer in the Man cave. Any NIC's either ethernet cabled or WiFi provide the same speed as if it is capped by something in Windows 10. This is also the newest computer with Zen2, 64 Gig RAM, SSD, Asus CF Hero 8 WiFi motherboard. The speed from this motherboard except in Linux is capped around 2 til 5 Mbps upload, and about 25 Mbps download. I have attempte Inplace installation of Win10 without it solving a thing. Next plan is to buy a brand new SSD and install Win10 from scratch (future). I will check for any new firmware releases after posting this. It is only days ago since last checked, and that firmware was pulled, visible from cloud but undownloadable as of yet. But I will recheck this firmware. @Donut417 thanks for the tip, I may look into that as well. Any specific apps or units recommended for surveying the WiFi landscape around the apartment?
Connected straight to the ISP, testing is now underway. As a network beginner, I used TP-Link support to connect the PS4 through DMZ. Initially, I reserved an IP address for it, but only partially received it on the local network—never on the internet. Later, the IP vanished again. It seems the connection is going directly to NAT Type 1, whereas the PS4 typically uses NAT Type 2. Edit: This might be because the ISP is giving a fully open internet connection without any filtering or protection. For reference, see this guide: https://www.denofgeek.com/games/how-to-c...pe-on-ps4/ I've updated my notes with a stick figurine for your reference.
I attended a support chat with TP-Link. We attempted to place the PS4 in the router's DMZ by assigning a static IP first. The router performed inconsistently. Occasionally it got a fixed IP through the DHCP server, but then the PS4 would sometimes receive an IP without internet access, even when using static DNS. It would repeatedly display the message "LAN cable not connected." Overall, the experience was very frustrating and I believe this device should be returned for replacement. This issue occurred with firmware 1.1.1 build 20200714 over an Ethernet connection. The firmware update didn't improve my setup.