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Orbi Firmware Update 2.5.0.38
Does anyone have any details on this new firmware upgrade?
Release Notes:
[Bug Fix] Fixes issues with the Apple HomeKit connectivity.
[Bug Fix] Fixes the wireless crash and reboot issue when the router is under stress.
[Bug Fix] Fixes the WiFi disconnection and IOT issue.
[Bug Fix] Fixes the guest isolation issue for multicast and broadcast traffic between the main host and guest.
[Bug Fix] Fixes the Ethernet backhaul boot-sequence issue.
[Bug Fix] Updates the OpenVPN certificate from MD5 to SHA-256.
[New Features and Enhancements] Enhances the device recognition mechanism of the attached devices list.
[Bug Fixes] Fixes the compatibility issue with Sonos devices.
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.
I was told to day 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.