RT-BE92U Persistent Thermal Zone Faults

[RicoSuave]

First post here so bear with me if I miss anything. Since purchase, my RT-BE92U has been plagued with the same issues others have posted here. Up until the new firmware version dropped, I was having constant problems with network stability. I am currently running the latest firmware version (3.0.0.6.102_37435) and a lot of the issues seem to have been resolved except for one. Before the firmware update, I was seeing intermittent thermal zone errors in the system log. Since applying the update, I am consistently getting the following errors that appear every 3 seconds exactly:

Jan 4 18:29:52 kernel: read_bpcm_reg_direct_keyhole: Wait for completion failed, devAddr 0x3, offset 24, idx 2
Jan 4 18:29:52 kernel: thermal thermal_zone0: Failed to get RAIL 0 temperature, ret=256
Jan 4 18:29:52 kernel: thermal thermal_zone0: Failed to get temperature, ret=-1
Jan 4 18:29:52 kernel: thermal thermal_zone0: failed to read out thermal zone (-1)

On occasion, the errors coincide with a drastic decrease in wireless network performance. Under normal conditions, when connected to the 6GHz network, my wireless network download speed averages around 1100Mbps. This will drop to a nearly unusable 2-3Mbps. The 2.5GHz and 5GHz networks also see a decrease in speed to around the same 2-3Mbps. Wired clients seem unaffected. Once I perform a hard reset to the router, it seems to correct the speed issue for a while, but the thermal zone errors continue to persist. This seems to happen anywhere from once a week, to every day. Performing a hard reset isn't something I want to nor should have to keep doing to correct the issue every time it happens. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to stop this from happening. I am getting very close to returning this router and exchanging it for a different brand. Thanks.

[MongoNC]

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@Aureliannn_ASUS wrote:

Hi all,

Regarding the "Thermal Zone Faults" error message in your router logs, our team currently suspects that it is due to abnormal CPU usage or temperature reading rather than the router being under high-stress conditions. 

Our initial assessment indicates that the cooling system is functioning correctly, and this issue does not affect the router's normal operation, so please feel assured.

We will need some time to discuss and address the CPU usage issue with the manufacturer. 

A firmware update will be released to correct this in the future. Please be informed and thank you for your understanding. 

If you encounter any anomalies during use, please provide a detailed description of the issue so our team can investigate further.

Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation.

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I second what @changkai posted. 

We could post log after log but I will make the brave assumption that whatever one person has in their log, the rest of us have as well. This forum, SMBForums, and Reddit are rife with people with the same issue. 

My experience has been that I have had an unexpected reboot every other day since I bought this router. I've turned off everything. Factory reset it. Reloaded the firmware. Everything that was suggested in this forum I've tried and yet it does the same thing; one CPU goes berserk and it eventually crashes the router forcing a reboot. So I've acquiesced and bought a different router - one that has proven to be more bulletproof than this one.

I understand you're doing your part as a moderator but others have given you their logs so you have the data.

[Lid]

I have wasted so much time, energy and a huge amount of money of this new router. I cannot afford another one.  I wish I had not gone for the latest offering, it's unlike me but I got tempted in. 

After a resetting the whole thing I have managed to avoid repeated thermal warnings but only by not using any hard drive on the USB and turning off a load of features I reasonably expected to use.

My older AC68U had two drives and one was constantly in use storing CCTV footage.  The latest router clearly could not cope with this at all.  Streaming of 2 cameras to the HDD hammered it to the point it didn't work.  But clearly it should when a 10 year old router handled it just fine. This has to be firmware.

I've also had to remove two SSID and now have just the main and kids. Also disappointing as I liked to have a guest and the IoT was a good idea or so I thought. 

If I don't touch the interface it is mostly stable and gets speeds in excess of the older model. If I try to make changes it will refresh, hang, sulk and reboot. 

My log is so full of dump packets and authentication messages it is hard to find any useful information. 

The kids secure VLAN is glitchy. It will reliably allow a connection but the clients have no internet and don't get an address from the router. I cannot fathom why but assume this is another ASUS failure of this router.  

I've selected no auto firmware update but the log also shows it constantly searching.

RAM is always nearly maxed out around 900s.

Come on ASUS get this sorted, it's a disgrace.

[changkai]

If ASUS support team needs more time to provide a firmware patch, at least give us some configuration tips (e.g., turn off certain features) to mitigate this issue in the mean time, so that we can still endure for a while more.

[Lid]

@changkai well said, so far no help has been forthcoming.  You have to wonder what if any testing ASUS conducted before releasing this product. Adding a hard drive or enabling built in security features is hardly a surprise and should not make this router fall over.

I notice is it no longer available on Amazon and other selling sites.  Call me cynical but I do fear we've been sold a dud that will quietly discontinued. I hope I am wrong.

[gsotrout1]

I appreciate that the mods are at least engaging here and acknowledging there is an issue.

I believe an amicable solution will be forthcoming.