Today, I received an email from Netgear stating that a new router firmware version is available for Orbi RBR50 routers. However, both the iOS app and the "Firmware Update" section in the web admin panel say that currently there's no new firmware version available. The current firmware on my router is V2.5.2.4.

I had the same experience with the Android app and web admin. Contacted Netgear Customer Support yesterday. Got this response this morning: It would be better to manually update the firmware version of the router and satellite/s,Here's a link below to do it:https://kb.netgear.com/31573/How-do-I-manually-upgrade-firmware-on-my-Orbi-router-using-orbilogin-comhttps://kb.netgear.com/000037217/How-do-I-check-and-manually-upgrade-the-firmware-on-my-Orbi-satelliteI did a manual update to satellite and then router this morning. Everything's running fine. The two updates took a total of about 30 minutes, including testing after each update.

I was also stuck at firmware V2.5.2.4, and the router showed no newer firmware updates available, despite receiving a notice from Netgear about firmware updates. I went to the support website today and downloaded the latest published V2.7.1.60 (US) and applied it manually to the satellite and then to the router per their general instructions. After rebooting, the router said that an even newer firmware was available, V2.7.2.102, which it allowed me to download and update automatically. Netgear really needs to work on:1) Having a clear published path to new firmware versions that the routers can use for updating, without the "dead end path" that we on V2.5.2.4 have seen, and 2) Tell us *explicitly* what was fixed or improved in each version. There should be a *cumulative* firmware reversion log, that shows ALL fixes and improvements to the firmware over time, so that you can see what things have been fixed that might impact your configuration. My RBR50/RBS50 has been a really good router combo and I love it, but the firmware support and documentation lags way behind the standards seen from other tech companies.

dthittner wrote:I was also stuck at firmware V2.5.2.4, and the router showed no newer firmware updates available, despite receiving a notice from Netgear about firmware updates. I went to the support website today and downloaded the latest published V2.7.1.60 (US) and applied it manually to the satellite and then to the router per their general instructions. After rebooting, the router said that an even newer firmware was available, V2.7.2.102, which it allowed me to download and update automatically. Netgear really needs to work on:1) Having a clear published path to new firmware versions that the routers can use for updating, without the "dead end path" that we on V2.5.2.4 have seen, and 2) Tell us *explicitly* what was fixed or improved in each version. There should be a *cumulative* firmware reversion log, that shows ALL fixes and improvements to the firmware over time, so that you can see what things have been fixed that might impact your configuration. My RBR50/RBS50 has been a really good router combo and I love it, but the firmware support and documentation lags way behind the standards seen from other tech companies.I followed the same steps as you and everything went fine. The Orbi's retained their previous settings with no apparent ill effects. on 1.: NG is behaving like a large organization with disparate departments that don't communicate with each other: the software development dept. seems disconnected from the support web site department from the "check for firmware updates" server department from the "notify users of critical updates" department. They should put all their effort behind one firmware version, QC it and roll it out to all channels when the update is ready. The only exception should be a hot-fix for fixing security exploits that are getting used in the wild. The hot-fix would be followed by a fully vetted release a few days/weeks later. On 2: NG provides minimal information about the change-log for the updates. The following site lists security exploits and fixes.https://www.netgear.com/about/security/One can then google the security bulletin # (e.g., PSV-2020-0224) to find out more details about it. Or google "Netgear security exploits" and see whats getting reported in the media. For example, check out this site and see whats on the top 20 listed alerts :smileyfrustrated: https://nvd.nist.gov/ Not ideal. But "it is what it is".

John_Ba wrote:Had the same and no update, UKWhat should that tell you?

No Orbi RBR50 firmware update (from V2.5.2.4) available

39 Replies

John_Ba
Luminary
Dec 23, 2020
Had the same and no update, UK
- vajim
  Master
  Dec 23, 2020
  John_Ba wrote:
  Had the same and no update, UK
  What should that tell you?
  - BjoernKW
    Aspirant
    Dec 23, 2020
    vajim wrote:
    John_Ba wrote:
    Had the same and no update, UK
    What should that tell you?
    How are we supposed to know? Perhaps that Netgear's update servers aren't working right now?
FURRYe38
Guru
Dec 23, 2020
You can manually update to this version if you want to:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-6-1-40/m-p/1997895/highlight/true#M105941

You don't have too. This version may not be posted to the auto update servers which isn't showing on the Orbi app or on RBRs web page.

If your system is working, you don't have to necessarily update.

Good Luck.
BjoernKW wrote:
Today, I received an email from Netgear stating that a new router firmware version is available for Orbi RBR50 routers.

However, both the iOS app and the "Firmware Update" section in the web admin panel say that currently there's no new firmware version available.

The current firmware on my router is V2.5.2.4.
- vajim
  Master
  Dec 23, 2020
  FURRYe38 wrote:
  
  If your system is working, you don't have to necessarily update.
  
  good advice from one of the smartest here on this forum
  - Bing-Stroller
    Luminary
    Dec 23, 2020
    So, basically ignore the email from Netgear stating that a new router firmware version is available for Orbi RBR50 routers if yours is working OK.
    Even though the Subject Line is "Important Security Firmware Update from NETGEAR"
khemist
Initiate
Dec 29, 2020
I had the same experience with the Android app and web admin. Contacted Netgear Customer Support yesterday. Got this response this morning:

It would be better to manually update the firmware version of the router and satellite/s,
Here's a link below to do it:
https://kb.netgear.com/31573/How-do-I-manually-upgrade-firmware-on-my-Orbi-router-using-orbilogin-com
https://kb.netgear.com/000037217/How-do-I-check-and-manually-upgrade-the-firmware-on-my-Orbi-satellite

I did a manual update to satellite and then router this morning. Everything's running fine.

The two updates took a total of about 30 minutes, including testing after each update.
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Dec 29, 2020
  Glad that worked for you. Manual updates work well.
  Enjoy.
  khemist wrote:
  I had the same experience with the Android app and web admin. Contacted Netgear Customer Support yesterday. Got this response this morning:
  
  It would be better to manually update the firmware version of the router and satellite/s,
  Here's a link below to do it:
  https://kb.netgear.com/31573/How-do-I-manually-upgrade-firmware-on-my-Orbi-router-using-orbilogin-com
  https://kb.netgear.com/000037217/How-do-I-check-and-manually-upgrade-the-firmware-on-my-Orbi-satellite
  
  I did a manual update to satellite and then router this morning. Everything's running fine.
  
  The two updates took a total of about 30 minutes, including testing after each update.
  - vajim
    Master
    Dec 29, 2020
    Glad that worked for you. Manual updates are NOT recommeded by many.
    
    Enjoy.
--Chuck
Guide
Jan 03, 2021
Ref: RBK Downloads (Click on "View Previous Versions) It looks like v2.5.2.4 was the last version before NG released "US Region only" versions. I guess they haven't implemented any way to indicate which region the hardware is located. Therefore the appropriate (US Region or NON US Region) firmware couldn't be listed in their app and this probably breaks any NG update pushes.

US Region got FCC'd?
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Jan 03, 2021
  v40 is the most current for ALL regions:
  https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-6-1-40/m-p/1997895/highlight/true#M105941
  
  Only v2.7 versions are reported for US Region only.
  --Chuck wrote:
  Ref: RBK Downloads (Click on "View Previous Versions) It looks like v2.5.2.4 was the last version before NG released "US Region only" versions. I guess they haven't implemented any way to indicate which region the hardware is located. Therefore the appropriate (US Region or NON US Region) firmware couldn't be listed in their app and this probably breaks any NG update pushes.
  
  US Region got FCC'd?
  - --Chuck
    Guide
    Jan 03, 2021
    While v40 could be used for any region.
    At the current time, v2.7.1.60 is listed as the current version for the US region.
    
    FURRYe38
    FURRYe38 wrote:
    v40 is the most current for ALL regions:
    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-Version-2-6-1-40/m-p/1997895/highlight/true#M105941
    
    Only v2.7 versions are reported for US Region only.
    --Chuck wrote:
    Ref: RBK Downloads (Click on "View Previous Versions) It looks like v2.5.2.4 was the last version before NG released "US Region only" versions. I guess they haven't implemented any way to indicate which region the hardware is located. Therefore the appropriate (US Region or NON US Region) firmware couldn't be listed in their app and this probably breaks any NG update pushes.
    
    US Region got FCC'd?

Forum Discussion

No Orbi RBR50 firmware update (from V2.5.2.4) available