Can I use a RBS40V (Orbi satellite with Alexa) as a standalone Alexa without a RBR50 mesh network

Posting this in-case it can help someone...

Ever since my Orbi Voice was automatically upgraded past firmware version 2.5.1.6, the Alex functionality is broken.

The symptom is that Alexa just says the following when asked any question:

"Sorry I'm having trouble understanding right now... for help go to the Netgear Orbi App"

So, Netgear created a bug in the latest firmware... and doesn't seem to care about fixing it.

Because of this lack of support... I've personally changed to a different home router vendor (and couldn't be happier).

But now, I have this really nice Alexa speaker, with great sound, but it's now worthless as an Alexa Speaker...

So, I started on a journey to find a solution to restoring the Alexa functionality.

Here is what I have found in order to make Alexa work again...

- The new RBS40V-200 (in-theory) supports the functionality "Connect to any WiFi router"...
My original RBS40V does not (why?)... So any solution will also require my RBR50 router.

- My RBS40V and RBR50 are now configured as their own separate stand-alone mesh LAN (a different network name).  My RBR50 connects to the Internet through my new vendors router via Ethernet... using DHCP.

- I downloaded RBS40V firmware version 2.2.0.58 and downgraded the Satellite firmware to this old version.

- Reboot satellite... Alexa works again! (Which confirms that the issue is in the newer version)

- Soon, within hours, the RBS40V auto-upgraded to version 2.5.1.6 and then 2.6.2.8...

- Alexa broke again... "...having trouble understanding..." rebooting doesn't fix it...

- There is no way to prevent a firmware update... there is no menu item to disable it...

- Reflash back to 2.2.0.58... Alexa works again...

- Setup a firewall rule in my new router to block: updates1.netgear.com

- The RBS40V quickly updates to: 2.5.1.6 and is unhappy with the block; red ring of death

- Reflash back to 2.2.0.58... Alexa works again...

- With the firewall rule in-place (ahead of time) while at 2.2.0.58 (before any other upgrades)... the auto update silently fails... and the firmware version stays at 2.2.0.58 and Alexa still works!

- So, that's all there is to it...
  - Block: updates1.netgear.com
  - Downgrade the RBS40V to version: 2.2.0.58
  - Reboot

- Conclusion: After almost 20 years as a loyal Netgear customer I've moved on...