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Forum Discussion
New Orbi RBR50/RBS50 Firmware Version 2.3.1.44
Netgear is pushing out yet another a new Orbi firmware update.
Hopefully it's better than the last version v32.
Please share your experience.
Firmware Update
...
Has anyone else noticed WiFi speeds that degrade over time with this latest firmware? I only have a few data points (just updated ~48 hours ago), but already I've had to power cycle my router and satellite twice to get speeds back up to normal. I normally have around 300Mbps down / 12MBps up, but after the router has been up for ~5 hours, all WiFi speeds dramatically degrade to cap around 30Mbps down. I've tested this on a Mac (macOS 10.14.4) and multiple iOS devices (all running 12.2) and get the same results. But this only affects WiFi. If I plug directly into the router or satellite, I still get normal speeds. When I power cycle the router and satellite, everything returns to normal for a while but seems to degrade.
I did disable implicit beamforming and MU-MIMO (separately to test) to see if that helps. Having implicit beamforming off but MU-MIMO on didn't seem to matter. Now I'm testing with both off.
I'm using the Orbi in AP mode (1 router, 1 satellite) behind an EdgeRouter 4. No Ethernet backhaul.
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
Do LAN wired speeds degrade as well?
How was the FW updated? via Auto update? Or manually?
Try a full factory reset on the system and setup from scratch.
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
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?
BartleyR7 wrote:
Has anyone else noticed WiFi speeds that degrade over time with this latest firmware? I only have a few data points (just updated ~48 hours ago), but already I've had to power cycle my router and satellite twice to get speeds back up to normal. I normally have around 300Mbps down / 12MBps up, but after the router has been up for ~5 hours, all WiFi speeds dramatically degrade to cap around 30Mbps down. I've tested this on a Mac (macOS 10.14.4) and multiple iOS devices (all running 12.2) and get the same results. But this only affects WiFi. If I plug directly into the router or satellite, I still get normal speeds. When I power cycle the router and satellite, everything returns to normal for a while but seems to degrade.
I did disable implicit beamforming and MU-MIMO (separately to test) to see if that helps. Having implicit beamforming off but MU-MIMO on didn't seem to matter. Now I'm testing with both off.
I'm using the Orbi in AP mode (1 router, 1 satellite) behind an EdgeRouter 4. No Ethernet backhaul.
Answers inline.
FURRYe38 wrote:
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
Like original post mentioned, I'm not connected to a modem from the Orbi. I'm connected to an EdgeRouter 4. If you mean the modem (connect to the EdgeRouter 4), it's a Motorola SurfBoard 6190. That and the EdgeRouter 4 (both in terms of physical hardware and firmware versions) haven't changed.
Do LAN wired speeds degrade as well? As original post mentioned, no, LAN speeds remain stable.
How was the FW updated? via Auto update? Or manually? Manual frimware update was done by upgrading first to v2.2.1.212 and then to 2.3.1.44 (per release notes: https://kb.netgear.com/000060756)
Try a full factory reset on the system and setup from scratch. I'm not going to do this until I exhaust other options. If this is the requirement/fix to every problem Netgear introduces in new firmware versions, then it's probably time for me to jump ship anyway.
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? This can't be the issue since I've been using the Orbi for over a year in the same house without this problem. Placement of router and satelliete haven't changed.
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. This recommendation is met, and hasn't changed in over a year.What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz. Auto channels. Manually setting channels had no effect.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many? This is difficult to quantify as we live in a populated area. The short answer is yes, although it is relatively constant. I did a quick survey and found 18 visible SSIDs. However, less than half of them have a signal strength that would support connection. I did not attempt to connect to networks that are not mine. However, this has also remained relatively constant, if not over the past year then at least over the past 3 months.
BartleyR7 wrote:
Has anyone else noticed WiFi speeds that degrade over time with this latest firmware? I only have a few data points (just updated ~48 hours ago), but already I've had to power cycle my router and satellite twice to get speeds back up to normal. I normally have around 300Mbps down / 12MBps up, but after the router has been up for ~5 hours, all WiFi speeds dramatically degrade to cap around 30Mbps down. I've tested this on a Mac (macOS 10.14.4) and multiple iOS devices (all running 12.2) and get the same results. But this only affects WiFi. If I plug directly into the router or satellite, I still get normal speeds. When I power cycle the router and satellite, everything returns to normal for a while but seems to degrade.
I did disable implicit beamforming and MU-MIMO (separately to test) to see if that helps. Having implicit beamforming off but MU-MIMO on didn't seem to matter. Now I'm testing with both off.
I'm using the Orbi in AP mode (1 router, 1 satellite) behind an EdgeRouter 4. No Ethernet backhaul.
BartleyR7 wrote:
Answers inline.
FURRYe38 wrote:
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
Like original post mentioned, I'm not connected to a modem from the Orbi. I'm connected to an EdgeRouter 4. If you mean the modem (connect to the EdgeRouter 4), it's a Motorola SurfBoard 6190. That and the EdgeRouter 4 (both in terms of physical hardware and firmware versions) haven't changed.
Do LAN wired speeds degrade as well? As original post mentioned, no, LAN speeds remain stable.
How was the FW updated? via Auto update? Or manually? Manual frimware update was done by upgrading first to v2.2.1.212 and then to 2.3.1.44 (per release notes: https://kb.netgear.com/000060756)
Try a full factory reset on the system and setup from scratch. I'm not going to do this until I exhaust other options. If this is the requirement/fix to every problem Netgear introduces in new firmware versions, then it's probably time for me to jump ship anyway.
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft? This can't be the issue since I've been using the Orbi for over a year in the same house without this problem. Placement of router and satelliete haven't changed.
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. This recommendation is met, and hasn't changed in over a year.What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz. Auto channels. Manually setting channels had no effect.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many? This is difficult to quantify as we live in a populated area. The short answer is yes, although it is relatively constant. I did a quick survey and found 18 visible SSIDs. However, less than half of them have a signal strength that would support connection. I did not attempt to connect to networks that are not mine. However, this has also remained relatively constant, if not over the past year then at least over the past 3 months.
BartleyR7 wrote:
Has anyone else noticed WiFi speeds that degrade over time with this latest firmware? I only have a few data points (just updated ~48 hours ago), but already I've had to power cycle my router and satellite twice to get speeds back up to normal. I normally have around 300Mbps down / 12MBps up, but after the router has been up for ~5 hours, all WiFi speeds dramatically degrade to cap around 30Mbps down. I've tested this on a Mac (macOS 10.14.4) and multiple iOS devices (all running 12.2) and get the same results. But this only affects WiFi. If I plug directly into the router or satellite, I still get normal speeds. When I power cycle the router and satellite, everything returns to normal for a while but seems to degrade.
I did disable implicit beamforming and MU-MIMO (separately to test) to see if that helps. Having implicit beamforming off but MU-MIMO on didn't seem to matter. Now I'm testing with both off.
I'm using the Orbi in AP mode (1 router, 1 satellite) behind an EdgeRouter 4. No Ethernet backhaul.
An update about this. I'm now ~24 hours in to my last restart, and WiFi speeds seem to be holding up. The only thing I changed (after my last test) was disabling MU-MIMO. Will keep monitoring though.
Ok sounds good, Yes, if you don't have any mimo supporting devices, that can be disabled. Keep Beamforming enabled however. Save off a back up config to file.
BartleyR7 wrote:
An update about this. I'm now ~24 hours in to my last restart, and WiFi speeds seem to be holding up. The only thing I changed (after my last test) was disabling MU-MIMO. Will keep monitoring though.