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Forum Discussion
Gsmites
Nov 01, 2019Tutor
FW V2.5.0.38 Apple products dropping wifi
Since updating Firmware to V2.5.0.38 our Apple products (iOS 13.2 - Iphone/IPad) keeps dropping wifi connection. All the other devices have zero issues (Nest, Echo, Hue). It's been super reliable u...
Gregron
Nov 01, 2019Star
This new firmware v2.5.0.38 is atrocious, I even tried the factory reset and it did nothing. I was exactly in the same boat as you it completely killed my connectivity and my wifes. Both of our iPhones had having connection drops, she even reported her laptop had been dropping and I blamed it on recent storm(not realizing my hard wired PC had been just fine.)
Anyway I just bought a new(last gen) iPad Pro this week and almost returned it today thinking it had a bad wifi chip, for example in the kitchen in the middle of the two Orbi's I was getting 15mbit/sec lossy WiFi when my connection maxes out at 230mbit. I took it to work today and its wifi was flawless on the company wifi all day! So when i got home I did more test and I noticed when doing speed tests to compare the iPad and my iPhone 11 Pro the pro too was getting suboptimal(but better) speeds and also dropping connection!
Anyway after a factory reset and no improvement in connection I downgraded directly to the last firmware v2.3.5.30 (first the satellite then the router.) and WOW everything instantly better. I went from getting 15mbit to 180mbit in the kitchen immediately after the update and back to 200+ everywhere else in the house closer to the Orbi's.
Anyway here's a direct link to the last good Firmware from July, you can downgrade to it directly https://kb.netgear.com/000061080/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-3-5-30
I found it by just going to the Orbi Download page and clicking view previous verions. I was able to downgrade directly to v2.3.5.30without doing some two step downgrade like it says to do to go from v2.2.1.212 to v2.3.0.32
- FURRYe38Nov 02, 2019Guru - Experienced User
I saw no isuses with my Apple devices with v38 loaded. Others as well are working with v38:
https://kb.netgear.com/31486/How-do-I-reset-my-Orbi-system-to-factory-default-settings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePZSc7vnRlQ- Wire1852Nov 02, 2019Apprentice
I have also see Apple products lose connection to the internet when connected to the Orbi wifi with the the firmware update. I have resolved the issue by either toggling between networks or turning wifi off then on. I find the people telling you not to update if your router is working to not be living in the real world where security issues always need to be address immediately. Netgear has lost credibility and I am start to wonder what the value of the Netgear Community is when the repeated suggestion is not to update your software if your router is working. The main goal of the forum seems to be if to make excuses for Netgear and blame the Netgear customers for keeping their software up to date.
The only thing I have concluded is to buy future routers from anyone but Netgear. And ignore posts from certain members of this forum.
- FURRYe38Nov 02, 2019Guru - Experienced User
Certain members are here in the forum to try and help users get there problems solved. For the most part these member do help get prolems solved. Something some members don't seem to understand or see. We do express suggestions that is fully up to users to try, Or not. In the end it's the users responsibility and be willing to follow the suggestions and recommendations. If users don't then thats fine. Users can progress and refer to NG phone support and get help directly from NG support. We can only do so much here in the forums.
"You can lead a horse to water, can't make it drink."
Good Luck.
- WakeyNov 03, 2019Star
Exactly the same with me, I have a 500+ (usually about 540) connection down, 36 ish up.
As soon as I put the new firmware on my ping increased by a couple of points, my upload speed went from a constant 35 plus to anything from sub 1 to about 15, and my download speed at least halved.
As soon as I rolled back the satellites, it seemed back to normal, but I also did the router too.
This firmware is a disaster. I am not upgrading it again as the performance on the previous one is generally excellent. The new firmware destroys the product. I was also using an iPad Pro.
- Retired_MemberNov 03, 2019
Wakey wrote:I am not upgrading it again .................................Smart decision
- GsmitesNov 06, 2019Tutor
Gregron Thanks for the link to the last firmware and will give that a try. I also attemped to do the suggestions by FURRYe38, factory reset, making the manual changes to the router and it didn't seem to do anything other than aggravate me further.
But, I am thankful for the reponses and for all who has tried to help me out with this.
- Retired_MemberNov 06, 2019
Gsmites wrote:Gregron Thanks for the link to the last firmware and will give that a try. I also attemped to do the suggestions by FURRYe38, factory reset, making the manual changes to the router and it didn't seem to do anything other than aggravate me further.
But, I am thankful for the reponses and for all who has tried to help me out with this.
...He tries hard....
- FURRYe38Nov 06, 2019Guru - Experienced User
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Try disabling the following and see:
Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).I use these configurations and my apple devices don't see any wifi drops.
You can try the following:
Advanced/Wireless Settings both 2.4GHz and 5GHz changed CTS/RTS Threshold to 2307.
Others are having good operation after a reset:
Gsmites wrote:Gregron Thanks for the link to the last firmware and will give that a try. I also attemped to do the suggestions by FURRYe38, factory reset, making the manual changes to the router and it didn't seem to do anything other than aggravate me further.
But, I am thankful for the reponses and for all who has tried to help me out with this.
- Retired_MemberNov 06, 2019
FURRYe38 wrote:What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Try disabling the following and see:
Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).I use these configurations and my apple devices don't see any wifi drops.
You can try the following:
Advanced/Wireless Settings both 2.4GHz and 5GHz changed CTS/RTS Threshold to 2307.
Gsmites wrote:Gregron Thanks for the link to the last firmware and will give that a try. I also attemped to do the suggestions by FURRYe38, factory reset, making the manual changes to the router and it didn't seem to do anything other than aggravate me further.
But, I am thankful for the reponses and for all who has tried to help me out with this.
More V2.5.0.38 follies.....waisted time
- samekhNov 10, 2019Initiate
I'm trying to do this now. I was able to roll back the satelite, but when I went to the next step and uploaded the file for the router and hit the upload button it results in the page coming back with, "500 Internal Server Error". At that point I have to refresh the page and re-login before I can get back to the admin page to try again. I've tried 3x in Safari and 1x in Chrome all with the same result. Any ideas?
- AccutronmanNov 10, 2019Guide
Clear cache to the browser and re-login into Orbi. Make sure you're connected to the Orbi router with an Ethernet cable and that your uploading the RBR labeled file and the RBS one.
- Wire1852Nov 10, 2019Apprentice
samekh wrote:I'm trying to do this now. I was able to roll back the satelite, but when I went to the next step and uploaded the file for the router and hit the upload button it results in the page coming back with, "500 Internal Server Error". At that point I have to refresh the page and re-login before I can get back to the admin page to try again. I've tried 3x in Safari and 1x in Chrome all with the same result. Any ideas?
I had the same issue when I rolled mine back. What worked for me was to reboot the router after the satelite has been rolled back to (2.3.5.30) & give both the router & satellite time to both boot (I waited a good 10 minutes). At that point I then tried rolling back the router to 2.3.5.30 and it worked. Hope that helps.
BTW I got the 500 internal error from 2 different computers before rebooting the router and then rolling back the router to 2.3.5.30
- samekhNov 10, 2019Initiate
Rebooting the router between satelite and router firmware rollback totally worked, thank you!
- Philippe69May 04, 2020AspirantCould you please explain to me how to downgrade a firmware on Orbi ? I’ve tried to upload the previously released firmware 2.5.1.106 (as the latest 2.5.2.104 is creating internet drop) through manual update, but I get a error message about wrong firmware. Thanks in advance for your help.
- FURRYe38May 04, 2020Guru - Experienced User
Use a wired PC for this process. Safari(Mac), IE11, Firefox or Opera browsers are recommended.
Log into the RBSs web page and send the FW file there first.
Then send the RBR FW file lastly.
Factory reset the RBS and RBR and setup from scratch. After makeing sure the system works after setting up, be sure to make a backup configuration to file for safe keeping. This saves time if a reset is needed again.
Philippe69 wrote:
Could you please explain to me how to downgrade a firmware on Orbi ? I’ve tried to upload the previously released firmware 2.5.1.106 (as the latest 2.5.2.104 is creating internet drop) through manual update, but I get a error message about wrong firmware. Thanks in advance for your help.