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Forum Discussion
Orbi firmware update v2.1.4.16 availability
We’ve been monitoring issues that some customers have experienced in OrbiOS 2.1.4. In response, we’re releasing firmware that provides a permanent fix for the homekit issue along with various other fixes. Please use the manual firmware upgrade process to apply to your Orbi.
Release note:
- Fixes issues with the Apple HomeKit connectivity
- Fixes the wireless crash and reboot issue when the router is under stress
- Fixes WiFi disconnection and IOT issues
- Fixes an issue where devices on the Guest Network are able to see (but not connect to) some devices on the main network
- Fixes an issue where device boot order caused devices connected over Ethernet Backhaul to connect wireless backhaul
- Updates the OpenVPN certificate from MD5 to SHA-256
Note:
CBR40 will be available later this month.
We look forward to hearing your feedback.
-NETGEAR Team
808 Replies
Hello,
I am trying to download RBW30-V2.1.4.16_1.0.17.chk but the download speed is too slow and after a while download stops (Failed - Network error)
Not a pro user at all :)
Any other download link or any other suggestion?
Thanks in advance!
Vangelis
As long as I have had my Orbi AC3000 two unit system, I have problems with Orbi keeping my internet connection. I am connected to the internet via an xfinity cable modem. Prior to Orbi, I was connected to the same xfinity cable modem with my Netgear WNDR37AV and I had NO internet connectivity issues. Orbi does provide better coverage area and higher throughput, but all of that is negated when Orbi cannot hold an internet connection.
This leads me to my current problem with your support team. Yesterday, 6/8/18, your support tech suggested that I update to Orbi firmware version 2.1.4.16 for both the router and the satellite (RBR50 and RBS50). The first firmware update was to the RBS50 satellite and that seemed to upload sucessfully. The next firmware update was to the RBR50 router and using Chrome, I received the message that Orbi could not connect to the internet to perform the firmware upgrade. So, your tech had me try using Windows Edge browser. (I am running Windows 10 Home edition.) When I tried the firmware upgrade using the Edge browser, I received a different error message that leads me to believe that the RBR50-V2.1.4.16.img file is corrupt.
I know that I should have probably grabbed screen shots or I should have written down the exact error message. However, your support got me so mad that I was not thinking clearly. All your support tech would suggest is that I go to one of my neighbors and ask to borrow a different laptop or PC to try updating my Orbi RBR50 firmware. Really? I am supposed to ask a neighbor to lend me their laptop/PC?
Your tech said that he would escalate my case to Level 2 support. But, it is now over 24 hours later and I have yet to hear from anyone at Netgear.
Honestly, I believe your .img file might be corrupt since both Chrome and Edge had problems with it.
In any case, I NEED NETGEAR SUPPORT HELP TO FIX MY ORBI INTERNET CONNECTIVITY ISSUES.
Please offer me a better solution. I was so frustrated yesterday that I felt like taking ALL of my Netgear equipment -- my Orbi AC3000, my Arlo Pro 2 double base units with 6 cameras, my older Netgear routers (I think I have two more in addition to the WNDR37AV) -- and toss all of my Netgear products in the trash!!!
Please help me.
Signed, frustrated3610
- Other than price can any one tell me a single reason not to return my Orbi back to Costco and trade for a Linksys Velop? I use ethernet backhaul which they support so there is no advantage to the 5Ghz backhaul the Orbi has. The Velops are also hands down more stable. I'm tired of losing internet without notice everyweek until I reflash firmware.
e1superman they all have their own set of problems and issues , get away from one type of headache and start another different headache
frustrated3610 Others (including me) have updated their RBR50s with the posted .img file, so it's unlikely the posted file is corrupted. The file might be corrupted on your computer though. Try deleting the .img file on your computer, and then download it again. Then, if your computer has wired Ethernet, connect your computer to the router with a wire. If you don't have wired Ethernet, then you can use WiFi, but move close to the router so you have a good signal. You can also turn off the satellite(s) to be certain your computer's WiFi connects directly to the router. Once connected, log into the router's admin webpage and do the update manually.
st_shaw Thanks for the suggestion. I will try again. FYI, I am connected by wire from the xfinity cable moden directly to my Orbi RBR50; then by wire (the supplied wire from Netgear) directly to a new HP PC running Windows 10 Home. I do not have internet connectivity problems if I connect my old Netgear WNDR37AV but the bandwidth and range do not compare to Orbi's. Also, I am doing a manual update. Here goes my next attempt ... Stick around and I will give an update as to my success or failure.
Updated my three sat System .One is the rbs50y the others
are 2 RBS50s and the rbk50 router. They are daisy chained with the Y as the link for one of my indoor sats. I updated the daisy chain sat then the rest. All is working fine so far.
RBK40, v2.1.4.16
1) Ethernet backhaul issues after reboot are not really fixed and I'd say they are even worse than in v. 2.1.4.10. Internet connection doesn't work and I get the yellow triangle on Windows.
2) On Windows, I get 3 on 4 wi-fi bars instead of 4 on 4 bars at about 40 cm (15 inches) from the satellite. How is that possible? The signal strength should be at maximum level when I'm so close to the satellite.
3) Internet connection is sluggish, I can't watch a video on YouTube without continuous freezes.
I just did a speed test, I have a 40 mbit/s Internet connection, but I get under 1 mbit/s from the Orbi satellite, and I'm at 40 cm (15 inches) from it (Ethernet backhaul).
manuel-c23 wrote:
RBK40, v2.1.4.16
1) Ethernet backhaul issues after reboot are not really fixed and I'd say they are even worse than in v. 2.1.4.10. Internet connection doesn't work and I get the yellow triangle on Windows.
2) On Windows, I get 3 on 4 wi-fi bars instead of 4 on 4 bars at about 40 cm (15 inches) from the satellite. How is that possible? The signal strength should be at maximum level when I'm so close to the satellite.
3) Internet connection is sluggish, I can't watch a video on YouTube without continuous freezes.
manuel-c23 wrote:
I just did a speed test, I have a 40 mbit/s Internet connection, but I get under 1 mbit/s from the Orbi satellite, and I'm at 40 cm (15 inches) from it (Ethernet backhaul).
I believe I found the cause of issues 2 and 3... and the cause is related to issue 1.
I was at about 40 cm (15 inches) from the satellite, but I was probably connected to the router instead of the satellite, so the signal was weak.
However, I couldn't get the ethernet backhaul connection to reliably work in v2.1.4.16, so I reverted back to v2.1.4.10 (which is also not reliable, but it's better than v2.1.4.16).
I just registered for the first and last time to post my experience with the Orbi RBK50 kit and RBW30. I purchased the RBK50 back in 2017 and later needed to add RBW30 in early 2018. The nuances with WIFI disconnections the other Netgear forums posts had reported in the past about the Orbi system I've also experienced, but was infrequent for the first few months and thought future firmware fixes will address these issues eventually. Up until this Orbi Mesh System, I've had a pretty good no issues experience with several Netgear WNDR routers in the past and recommeded family and friends to Netgear up until this Orbi line of product. I understand there is no one perfect brand and each have their own issues of some kind. I'm not a novice when it comes to troubleshooting network devices, but I do know when you purchase a "working" product it should work right out of the box to some degree, with some issues ironed out in the beginnning with firmware updates is understandable but that's not the case with the Orbi RBK50 kit. I've been keeping up with the issues since around Sept. 2017, workarounds, and firmware updates to date from these Netgear forums. Sure it's got better, but still unreliable. I'm not here for troubleshooting advice, but this firmware update v2.1.4.16 was the last chance I gave Netgear to fix all WIFI disconnection issues I've experienced with Orbi . I've performed the firmware update to all of my Orbi devices to v.2.1.4.16 and performed factory reset to all my Orbi devices. Worked for about a day before disconnection issues came back. I really didn't want to spend more money for an alternate Mesh system out there if I didn't have to, but this whole Orbi system has wasted too much of my time and over the course of almost a year waiting for a stable firmware fix. I've come to a conclusion myself that this Orbi product line is simply unreliable and add my recommendation to others to stay away from Netgear's Orbi products.
- I went back to the previous firmware and it fixed my issues. I am hoping since it’s not an official release, it doesn’t auto update. This whole product has been pretty terrible though. After using Apple routers for 10 years and never having problems, I decided to get this. Now it’s been nothing but problems. Let’s see how long it works on the current firmware.
I'm running firmware version V2.1.4.10 which is what my system came with... worked fine for 3 months and now we're having issues.
Side note: Not sure on the model numbers as the bottom of my system says RBR50 but came with the one satellite... hmm.
- Whatever update came out in the past week, I’m now getting disconnects. Tried to manually update to this new .16 fix and same issue. At least let us revert back to previous firmware or turn off auto update.
I’m going to buy a different router cause this is unacceptable. Now I see that v2.1.4.16 doesn't seem to be available from the download site as it used to be...does that mean it's been pulled back because of problems? Or is that just a bug? My Orbi never auto-flashed it in any case, but now it's gone?
Thanks.
RogerSC wrote:
Now I see that v2.1.4.16 doesn't seem to be available from the download site as it used to be...does that mean it's been pulled back because of problems? Or is that just a bug? My Orbi never auto-flashed it in any case, but now it's gone?
Thanks.
The links at post #1 in this thread are still working. That post also says to manually update your Orbi. I don't know that the files were ever posted anywhere else. The RBS50Y file was not on the download site last time I looked.
I think its all a numbers game, it seems the issues here are filed by above average knowledge of routers and protocols, we could be in the bottom 5% of users, which i think is acceptable for netgear and choose to ignore, the other 95% of orbi users are average joe (or jane) and might be inclined to blame their phones or ISP for internet or connecitivity outage, how many joe's or jane you think can troubleshoot their own network issues?
So if its (orbi) is selling and getting the fastest speed during reviews, joe and jane will buy them and call it a day,
Its been six months and every update seems to introduce new issues and repeat issues, I'm just waiting for Asus to perfect their AImesh and will return my orbi 53 to costco, thank god for satisfaction guaranteed.
BretD wrote:
We’ve been monitoring issues that some customers have experienced in OrbiOS 2.1.4. In response, we’re releasing firmware that provides a permanent fix for the homekit issue along with various other fixes. Please use the manual firmware upgrade process to apply to your Orbi.Release note:- Fixes issues with the Apple HomeKit connectivity
- Fixes the wireless crash and reboot issue when the router is under stress
- Fixes WiFi disconnection and IOT issues
- Fixes an issue where devices on the Guest Network are able to see (but not connect to) some devices on the main network
- Fixes an issue where device boot order caused devices connected over Ethernet Backhaul to connect wireless backhaul
- Updates the OpenVPN certificate from MD5 to SHA-256
Hello Everyone,I have the Orbi RBK23 pack (1x router 2x satellite) the router is connected to an unmanaged switch (TP-Link) and both satellites are connectedto the router by wire which are connected to the switch.I have manually installed this firmware and my problems with disconnecting wifi signals are still their...But it seems to be better then before the update...I am also having problems that Facebook will not load pictures/ videos when turning the wifi of and connect to 4G it works fine.Turning wifi back on and it will not load again thats only through wifi with my cabled computer no issues...Can anyone think what could cause that?And I am not sure, but is the conclusion that the satellites are working better with or without the wired backhaul?Hopefully someone can give me some instruction because otherwise I will have to return this set and look for something else :-)Best regards,Stefan from the NetherlandsThis version in AP mode is rock solid 2 days with 39 devices support (Iphone/Ipad/firetv/smarthings/Garage door opener/alarm), placed it in AP mode just to test. Put it back in Router mode and wired backhaul/wireless backhaul is being undecided and a reboot twice just to get it stable again. 2 VPN Client (purepvn) and ghost no longer work, it worked at 2.12. VPN server still works
Suddenly, that Asus AC5300 at 291.00 at frys and a AC68U at ebay with AIMESH with wired backhaul running on both sounds appetizing. Merlin supporting both is a plus.
