Orbi Firmware update 2.5.0.38 problems

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Nov 11, 2019
From where did you reset the RBR? From the RBR web page or use of the back button. Press of the back button for 15 seconds should erase and wipe out all configurations. Did the setup wizard not appear for you after the reset? This should be the first thing seen if you setup with a PC and web browser.
RonRolfsen wrote:
Over the weekend reset the router (but not the satellites) - rebooted and now it seems to be working. What was very odd was that the reset did not wipe out the settngs (password, static IP addresses) - so it seems as if it did not do a complete reset from scratch (not complaining but not what was expected, and yes, I did the reset correctly). In any case it has now been up for 24 hrs and recognizes all the devices and satellites and no issues with the web GUI. Thanks for the help and comments.
- RonRolfsen
  Guide
  Nov 11, 2019
  Reset on the router via paperclip for >10 seconds. Did not get the setup wizard. Attached via the web GUI via PC to the router and when the login did not accept the defaut admin/password - tried my existing one which then connected. (as I said it was weird - I know should not have been this way - I was not smoking or drinking :-) Rebooted the router and then things appeared to be corrected. So I don't know if there is some partial reset but when I inserted the paper clip and counted, the lights changed to the flashing yellow/amber by the reset hole. Might not have been a full 15 seconds but definately greater than 7 seconds as indicated by the manual. Bottom line it is now back to normal.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Nov 11, 2019
    Ya 10 seconds isn't enough. 15 seems to be the sweet spot. For next time if needed.
    Glad is all working now. Please mark your thread and solved so others will know.
    Be sure to make a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
    
    Enjoy. :smileywink:
    RonRolfsen wrote:
    Reset on the router via paperclip for >10 seconds. Did not get the setup wizard. Attached via the web GUI via PC to the router and when the login did not accept the defaut admin/password - tried my existing one which then connected. (as I said it was weird - I know should not have been this way - I was not smoking or drinking :-) Rebooted the router and then things appeared to be corrected. So I don't know if there is some partial reset but when I inserted the paper clip and counted, the lights changed to the flashing yellow/amber by the reset hole. Might not have been a full 15 seconds but definately greater than 7 seconds as indicated by the manual. Bottom line it is now back to normal.
jtlynn23
Tutor
Nov 25, 2019

Both the 2.5.0.38 and 2.5.0.40 firmware updates have been disasters on my RBR50 and RBS50.

The problems with wireless performance and the Device List began with .38 and continue with .40.

WiFi performance has been dismal: for some reason the unit randomly ratchets back WiFi speeds to a max of 40-50 Mbit/sec every few days. When this happens, a hardwired speed test between the Orbi router and my cable modem consistently shows my full bandwidth of 700 Mbit/sec. Power-cycling the unit brings WiFi speed back to normal, but every couple days it inexplicably kicks back down again. Clearly, this firmware has messed with the WiFi services on the RBR50 and RBS50.

The "Devices" list is messed up-- devices I got rid of 2 years ago have reappeared as "active," and I can't fix a single incorrect entry on the list-- I agree that this is an "annoyance" but it serves as a blatant sign of a company that lacks pride in its work and disrepects its customers. I have managed software development teams and the fact that this software was actually approved for release to customers is appalling.

Netgear should be ashamed of themselves for releasing this on their customers.

And before the fanboys tell me to do a factory reset-- a solution which has met with very mixed results in this forum-- I will say that I refuse to spend another minute of my energy trying to fix this vendor's lousy work.

If a "factory reset" really is the answer, I will gladly start out from scratch again, and here's how I will do it:

I just returned from Best Buy with a Linksys Velop Mesh System that I bought via a sweet Black Friday deal. I will be going through a new setup process, and it's going to be with a competing product.

I have had this Orbi system for over two years and have had minimal trouble with it. And I've been a Netgear customer since the late 1990s in their Bay Networks days. This experience has destroyed my confidence in the Netgear brand.

If anyone wants a used Orbi system with half-baked firmware on the cheap, let me know.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Nov 25, 2019
  I was told today that NG pulled v30 and v40 from there Orbi update servers. So users shouldn't see this on there FW update page on the RBR. Yes there available via the download site.
  
  They confirmed that v34 is the standing latest version that they recommend upgrading to. You can upgrade to v34 which has the web page certificate fix or downgrade to v30 or last working version of FW. A factory reset is the last resort if users can't get there systems working normally. Those of us who do resets and manual upgrades, this seems to avoid issues seen by those of you who do see issues and choose not to do a reset. It's up to you. NG said it was coming out with a new FW udpate to fix the device naming issue found in v38. For those of you who can't get there systems working, with or with out a factory reset, revert back to something that works for you and wait for the next update to arrive. No date was given when the next FW upate will be released.
  
  Good Luck.
  - chrissnv
    Guide
    Dec 09, 2019
    FURRYe38 wrote:
    I was told today that NG pulled v30 and v40 from there Orbi update servers. So users shouldn't see this on there FW update page on the RBR. Yes there available via the download site.
    
    They confirmed that v34 is the standing latest version that they recommend upgrading to. You can upgrade to v34 which has the web page certificate fix or downgrade to v30 or last working version of FW. A factory reset is the last resort if users can't get there systems working normally. Those of us who do resets and manual upgrades, this seems to avoid issues seen by those of you who do see issues and choose not to do a reset. It's up to you. NG said it was coming out with a new FW udpate to fix the device naming issue found in v38. For those of you who can't get there systems working, with or with out a factory reset, revert back to something that works for you and wait for the next update to arrive. No date was given when the next FW upate will be released.
    
    Good Luck.
    Hey FURRYe38
    First of all thanks for all your help and support it is greatly appreciated.
    Even though a lot of us don’t agree on factory resets as a normal process when troubleshooting (it should be a rare occasion if at all necessary and not with nearly every FW release), in my experience a revert of Firmware is the first resort to get things back to normal.
    
    I am not sure in which post but I saw somewhere that some of the Gurus have a test device, so I would like to suggest something that would help all of us probably a lot.
    I would like to suggest you try to not do the factory resets and then send Netgear some feedback and then do the reset. I would hope that they listen to you more closely to avoid any future disasters.
    
    Why am I suggesting this:
    In my experience in large scale hosting operations a factory reset is the last thing you want to do with any upgrade, and I treat my home the same way. Either the settings transfer over and work or they don't. If they don't I revert and figure out what I either have to unconfigure or get a fix from the vendor.
    If that doesn’t help to convince anyone - I would assume you don’t want to do a factory reset (loose all your data) on your personal computer every time a patch comes out either.
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Also tagging Blanca_O for visibility to give maybe some of you Gurus a channel into Netgear.

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Orbi Firmware update 2.5.0.38 problems