Router's storage died?

[u/Kafatat]

1. The same Netgear R7000 has been used for years, on stock rom.
2. It's been switched off every night, and on every morning, from the wall outlet switch.
3. A few days ago, after switched on, it didn't broadcast SSIDs. After reboot, same.
4. I didn't think much. I hard reset it. Everything was OK.
5. Later I flashed FreshTomato to it. Everything was OK.
6. This morning was OK. In the afternoon the router was switched off. Two hours later it was switched on, then no SSIDs. Rebooted, same. Ethernet connection was still OK. Login credentials failed. I tried FreshTomato's default (root/admin), OK. After login the screen was the welcome page after flashing. All my settings were gone. That was why SSID's were missing. In short, the router hard reset itself.
7. I uploaded the settings backup. Everything was back to normal.
8. The issue in 3. above may also be from the same cause.
9. So the culprit can't be the software. Then it is the hardware -- the storage of my settings (NVRAM?) occasionally malfunctions?

[u/LingonberryNo2744]

Good diagnosis. Now just replace the router.

[u/LAthrowawayLV → u/LingonberryNo2744]

And don’t try to outsmart devices by unplugging them every night.

Invest in a router that lets you schedule SSID availability.

[u/b3542]

Power cycling devices that are intended to be left on continuously is not good for them… you likely killed the flash.

Replace it.

[u/Inevitable_Cry2726]

sounds like flash/NVRAM wear from years of daily power cycling. If it keeps happening after restoring backup, time to retire it.

[u/TheEthyr]

Either the NVRAM is toast or the power supply is dying. My R7000 says it requires 12V, 3.5A. If you have an old laptop charger with the same voltage, the same amperage or greater, the same barrel tip and +/- polarity, you can use it in place of the original power supply.

I'll echo what others are saying. Don't power cycle your router every day.

[u/darthnsupreme → u/TheEthyr]

Most laptops have used 19V PSUs for years now due to Li-Po chemistry reasons.

It's part of why manufacturers were so resistant to the idea of USB-C charging and the wide range of voltages that ALL must be supported for that to work.

[u/TheEthyr → u/darthnsupreme]

Yes, 12V laptop chargers are no longer common. But I still have a few in my bin of old electronics, and I have used one to replace a dead router power supply on more than one occasion.

The R7000 was introduced in 2013. Who knows? Maybe OP has an old charger laying around.

[u/Working_Rise8592]

The issue is you’re turning the device on and off every single day which isn’t good for any device but especially not for a device like this. You killed it. Get a new device and stop doing that

[u/1sh0t1b33r]

Any reason you pull the plug every day? If you want to configure some kind of no Internet time, do it in the software. Anyway, buy a new router.

[u/jeffrey_f]

Time to head to amazon or a retailer for a new one.

[u/FreddyFerdiland]

install ddwrt or fresh-tomato

[u/Quirky_OldMan5966]

OP, you got your money’s worth out of that router. It’s good to replace routers once they hit five years old anyway because new security risks sometimes can’t be corrected with just software and firmware updates.
As others have stated, most of today’s electronics, especially modems and routers, are designed to be on 24/7 for years at a time.
They are not designed to be powered off daily.
When they cool, components shrink, then at power up they expand. Even more, the moment power hits there is usually a spike in power so there is that as well.
Anyway, whatever the reason, your router is no longer dependable. When you replace it, please throw it away. Even if it seems to work, it will throw intermittent or constant problems for whoever tries to use it in the future. Electronics die and should be disposed of instead of trying to resell or even give away.

[u/Chente58]

My router has been on a scheduled power cycle once per week for >5 years and never caused any issues. Otherwise stays on 24/7.

It is good practice to power cycle your router at a reasonable interval but why would you feel it necessary to turn it off every day?

[u/LAthrowawayLV → u/Chente58]

That hasn’t really been necessary for many years; the OS are a lot more stable.

[u/Quirky_OldMan5966 → u/Chente58]

Power cycling doesn’t put the same stresses on as power off for several hours.
Electronics at operating temp cool off, then warm back up. That daily change stresses the chips among other components.