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Forum Discussion
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...
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
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
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.
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.
Leading someone is fine as long as you’re honest and acknowledge firmware shortcomings and offer ALL options. Resets should be viewed as a last resort Just because a firmware and or reset worked for you doesn’t mean others will see the same result. Your position also ignores the whole reason folks got in the jam they are in. Most users don’t want to live on the edge or sign up for beta testing.
