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Forum Discussion
New Orbi firmware 2.1.2.18 update issues?
I noticed that there was a new firmware version 2.1.2.18 for Orbi RBK50. Has anyone installed this version, and has there been any issues after the installation. Please provide any details that you...
The android/Google issues have been in the news. I'm not denying there are issues for some. But I have the same android devices for months/years. No issues before I had to switch Orbi to router mode. All issues immediately after. Issues started within hours. Too much of a coincidence.
Last sunday my RBR40 router stopped working around 4am. Wouldn't come back on/wouldn't factory reset. All it had was the green power light on the back no light on top. The satellites just had purple on top. I had the 3 unit set since november 2017 and it worked wonderfully until then. So I set up a support ticket and they determined that it needed to be replaced. I suspect that it bricked during an auto-update to 2.1.1.18. Flash forward 2 days and $29 for expedited replacement and my new router shows. I get it set up and it updates to 2.1.1.18 and then the router keeps reseting about every 20 minutes. My wife and kids are driving me crazy about internet dropping. I finally conclude that it must have something to do with the .18 update so i roll back to 2.1.1.16 (make sure to do satellites first then router) and everything seems ok. The next morning I wake up to the same problem and realize that it has auto-updated again to .18. So I found a thread that tells you how to disable updates through Telenet and the unit stays on .16 for two days. Then I start seeing problems again. So I start looking at from a google aspect, my wife and I each have a S8 phone and tablet. I had my phone and tab updated to the latest Google Play Services 11.9.75. But finally figuerd out my wifes phone was on an older version. It was not apparent because Google Play Services doesn't appear through the appstore. Go to settings>apps>>app manager then scroll down to Google Play Services. Check that you are on 11.9.75 if not scroll to bottom and select app detain store to update. After that I told each of my many chromecasts/homes to reboot. I then updated Orbi to .18 and it appears to have fixed everything. For reference I am using my 3-pack Orbi in router mode downsteam of a Fios G1100 with the Orbi routing in 10.0.0.* addresses and the fios only passes through the internet. (Wifi disabled). Anyway hope this might help someone as I understand the frustration first hand.
TLDR: make sure all of your android devices are running Google Play Services 11.9.75 or newer.
wrote:TLDR: make sure all of your android devices are running Google Play Services 11.9.75 or newer.
Thank you. Both our android phones do indeed have Android Services version 11.9.75.Hello,
Even when all my devises are updated to the latest Google Play service version, still Orbi disconnects at least 2-3 daily. Both my router and sattellite are running the latest version firware as well. I thinks is is more of an issue with Netgear!
...and it appears my comment on this fiasco has been removed from this thread. Nice, mods! It was here, I edited it twice after posting. I didn't use foul language and was not confrontational. Any Netgear employee mod care to explain?
I talked at length about how every firmware after 2.0.0.74 has had persistent issues with transfer speeds for devices connected wirelessly to router or satellites, wire-connected devices maintian excellent transfer speeds. I also asked WHY (after I manually set NVRAM settings to stop automatic firmware update after twice having to manually revert to 2.0.0.74) that I awoke this morning to terrible wireless speeds - again - and found that I had been auto-upgraded to 2.1.2.18.
wrote:...and it appears my comment on this fiasco has been removed from this thread. Nice, mods! It was here, I edited it twice after posting. I didn't use foul language and was not confrontational. Any Netgear employee mod care to explain?
I talked at length about how every firmware after 2.0.0.74 has had persistent issues with transfer speeds for devices connected wirelessly to router or satellites, wire-connected devices maintian excellent transfer speeds. I also asked WHY (after I manually set NVRAM settings to stop automatic firmware update after twice having to manually revert to 2.0.0.74) that I awoke this morning to terrible wireless speeds - again - and found that I had been auto-upgraded to 2.1.2.18.
Can't definitively tell you what happened to your posting, and I don't work for Netgear...but I've had several postings disappear as a result of editing. I tend to think that it's a race condition of some sort in the forum software, never had the problem with editing posts on any other forum. I've gotten to the point where I copy and paste postings into Notepad before hitting "Post" after editing. Saves time when postings just disappear.
Netgear can do better on this one...
same experience.
worked with support changed MTU to 1462, then 1400. No improvement.
Very discouraging.
Still at least one slow internet experience/day-requiring a reboot on the .18 release.
Even when all my devises are updated to the latest Google Play service version. Both my router and sattellite are running the latest version firmware as well. I thinks is is more of an issue with Netgear!
Ist level Netgear support should stop blaming google.
I have also been experiencing the same hair-pulling frustration of at least daily wifi drops. But here is the thing: I own zero google/android devices. So, this issue cannot just be explained away that Google/Android broke Orbi.
My setup:
Orbi 3-pack AC2200 (1 router, 2 satellites)
I have three stories at my home.
- 1 satellite on our top floor
- 1 router on main floor (plugged into our Comcast cable modem). Cable modem is in AP mode and Orbi acts as the router
- 1 satellite in the basement (where I work)
Now here is the strange thing.. I can replicate this problem after having experienced it now for months on end. From my basic testing it seems like my Apple iPhone can cause the wifi to go out if I move from my basement up to my top floor and then try to do internet browsing. It seems to me that the "mesh" routing gets really confused when my phone moves from one satellite to another. I have to imagine Netgear QA have tested this but its pretty consistent. I see the same behavior with an iPad. If you move between satellites you are almost guaranteed to crash the Orbi wifi network.
NetGear has always been good to me which is why I have stuck around but this has me really questioning them for future purchases. I just spent the nearly $500 on this new "mesh router" that got high reviews for it to blow up in my face... daily reboots cost me money out of my pocket as my business is from home. Frustrating is not the word for it.
