Chromecast / Google Home or Google Home Mini - WiFi Issues (Particularly with TP Link routers)

[#1]

I'm writing this post to make other users aware of potential WiFi issues caused by Google Home / Home Mini and Chromecast.

My setup for a while has been a TP-Link Archer C60 router with an Openreach Modem, which has worked really well until recently. At the beginning of this month I connected a Google Home to the network and that is when things started to go wrong.

The symptoms are :

• Devices would connect to WiFi but had no internet connectivity
• Wired devices could not access the Internet either
• Devices reporting that they could not obtain an IP Address or IP Configuration errors
• Could not log into router web page ,router returning 500 errors to the browser or staying on login screen
• Incorrect LED status on the front of the router
• Switching it off and back on again restores connectivity for a while.

It has come to light that there is a serious bug in the firmware of Google devices, specifically the Google Home, Home Mini and Chromecast. The result of the bug is that the router is bombarded with network traffic when the device wakes up from standby. The longer it has been on standby the worse the problem. The devices typically wake up when an android phone connects to the WiFi network. 

This sheer volume of network traffic hitting the routers when the device wakes up is causing some routers to crash.

There are reports of TP-Link, Synology and Linksys routers being affected.

TP-Link have issued new firmware for the Archer C1200 router and are urging users of other models in their range to contact their technical support.

Link to C1200 Firmware is here : http://www.tp-link.com/us/faq-2050.html

Note this should only be installed on Archer C1200 routers, please check your hardware version and region before downloading as there are several versions of this router. If in  any doubt contact TP-Link support before installing new firmware to confirm you have the correct file.

http://www.tp-link.com/uk/support-contact.html

Google are working on an updated firmware for the devices but have not said when it will be released. The only solution in the mean time is to switch off the device.

See: https://www.xda-developers.com/google-home-chromecast-connectivity-issues/ for a technical explanation.

[#2]

I was just about to post the same thing; another link with info is http://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/15/router_vendors_update_firmware_to_protect_against_google_chr...

I have two Chromecast devices and I've seen odd interruptions in the wi-fi connection to my Hub One router, so perhaps it's time for a firmware update - for either end, I don't mind how it's fixed.

[#3]

Netgear have release firmware updates for Netgear Orbi routers and Linksys have released updates for their WRT3200ACM and WRT32X routers.

Fixes for Netgear Orbi Users here : https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/OrbiOS-2-1-1/td-p/1476960

Fixed for WRT3200ACM and WRT32X  here: http://community.linksys.com/t5/Wireless-Routers/WRT3200ACM-and-WRT32X-Firmware-update-available-1-1...

Warning: Check region, model number and hardware version before installing firmware, as installing incorrect firmware can brick your router. If in doubt cotact the manufactures tech support team before installing.

Netgear Tech Support: http://www.netgear.com/support/contact.aspx

Linksys Tech Support: https://www.linksys.com/gb/support/

[#4]

It seems that this should only happen if an android device is also on the same router; a fix from Google should be coming on 18th January http://www.androidpolice.com/2018/01/17/google-says-fix-coming-tomorrow-wi-fi-problems-associated-ca...