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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
Seems like there working with you already.
Good Luck.
- Doesn't matter what I try (openDNS, Google, Cloudflare etc), is completely broken.
Thanks Netgear. You almost convinced me that you had your stuff together.
But nope. You don't.- They definitely do not. And we have heard no words or signs of engineering presence in these forums for weeks. Most likely because they know their firmware is fundamentally broken. Kinda like how all the Trump supporters just STFU suddenly last night... Lol
This is the present layout of my Orbi system. I had a lot of connectivity issues with the release but it seems to be stable and performing well.
I moved “satellite G” to the first floor immediately below the router in the second floor. Also recently added a second wall satellite on the second floor.
I set the router to used a daisy chain topology and moved the router a few feet from a Phillips Hue hub. I susp3ct the Hue hub was the biggest issue.
Bottom line- I have good connectivity and performance now.
BretD AmitR DarrenM Some low hanging fruit to fix: it seems the character limit validation for setting a new admin login password (the 32-character max) wasn't included/executed properly under ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
I had changed my password to longer than 32 characters and the change *was accepted*, but I then subsequently couldn't log in—not knowing then that there was actually a character limit in place. There was not much other choice but to reset my Orbi system (because I had disabled password recovery), and I found out about the character limit in the initial setup. So the character limit validation at least works and shows the relevant error message in the inital setup process. I haven't tried on the Orbi app, and I don't have the Genie app, so I don't know about whether the issue also occurs there.
Dear Forum/Community members, Can somebody help me understand why Netgear only explains "manual update" on the support website? Today, I used "online update" to 2.1.4.16 and admit it was a mess. I lost internet connection, had to restart a couple of times, tried different routes to switch off all, restarting routers/satellites in different sequences, with or with ethernet cables (ethernet backhaul!) pluggin or out.
Ultimately, my "online update" worked only after switching off all, restart router first, then one satellite, then the other, without ethernet cables plugged in. System was then stable, and could plug in the ethernet cables later and the system switched to Ethernet backhaul and now appears stable. Online update was definitely full of troubles.
So back to my question: Why does Netgear explains the "manual update" on support websites, and does this mean that I should never to "online update"?
Best regards
V.
Manual Update means downloading the FW update files for your system to a PC. Then wire connect this PC to the satellites first and upgrading them first, then wire connect to the router and upgrade the router lastly.
I kind of ran into the same issue when setting up my friends system out of the box. After getting the satellites upgraded and the router to v.10, I did use the routers FW upgrade to upgrade ALL using it's web page to v.16 and it workd for me:
valentinissimo wrote:
Dear Forum/Community members, Can somebody help me understand why Netgear only explains "manual update" on the support website? Today, I used "online update" to 2.1.4.16 and admit it was a mess. I lost internet connection, had to restart a couple of times, tried different routes to switch off all, restarting routers/satellites in different sequences, with or with ethernet cables (ethernet backhaul!) pluggin or out.
Ultimately, my "online update" worked only after switching off all, restart router first, then one satellite, then the other, without ethernet cables plugged in. System was then stable, and could plug in the ethernet cables later and the system switched to Ethernet backhaul and now appears stable. Online update was definitely full of troubles.
So back to my question: Why does Netgear explains the "manual update" on support websites, and does this mean that I should never to "online update"?
Best regards
V.
Thank you for your reply. I had seen your message beforen when I was looking for "online update". It came up in a thread of a user who asked a similar question like me.
Anyways ... I searched more and then stumbled across the very first post in this thread, the one in which the Netgear representative announces the 2.1.4.16 firmware and it literally says "Please use the manual firmware upgrade process to apply to your Orbi."
So this settles the question. Netgear only talks about Manual Update because that's what Netgear recommends. I find this utterly lame to propose "Online Update" in the Web Interface, and via the Orbi apps on iOS and in reality recommending a "Manual Update" for which you need a computer.
Anyways ... I can confirm that the "Online Update" was not a smooth ride. Too many issues. So manual update is the way to go. Netgear ... not what I expected.
V.
This firmware hangs the entire system.
Please see this testing.
Version : 2.1.4.16 for both router and satellite
I made a screen capture video of the RBK53.
I am currently using 1 router and 1 satellite.
When the satellite is not attached to the router, the router works fine.
Until the satellite is attached as shown in 2:59 of the video, the router does not work well when the client is pinging to the router
At 4:22, i tried to get the debug log from the router, no response from router.
At 7:47, the web page to show google main page is also not working
Every page hangs until i removed the satellite the speed test started working again
You may want to see the video in this link. The log files are there too.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Oqmh0q7kc66aM9E1YUEoBUOwyjjmI7bg
regards
chris
Review this and see if it helps you any:
System is still running v.16 with out any issues since installation...
chuahyenhua wrote:
This firmware hangs the entire system.
Please see this testing.
Version : 2.1.4.16 for both router and satellite
I made a screen capture video of the RBK53.
I am currently using 1 router and 1 satellite.
When the satellite is not attached to the router, the router works fine.
Until the satellite is attached as shown in 2:59 of the video, the router does not work well when the client is pinging to the router
At 4:22, i tried to get the debug log from the router, no response from router.
At 7:47, the web page to show google main page is also not working
Every page hangs until i removed the satellite the speed test started working again
You may want to see the video in this link. The log files are there too.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Oqmh0q7kc66aM9E1YUEoBUOwyjjmI7bg
regards
chris
It seems to have a hanging issue with only 1 router and 1 satellite.
When working with 1 router, everything is fine until the satellite is attached to the network.
All hell broke loose.
I am using a ethernet backhaul and its on cat 5e cable. It is running well.
My existing hardware is Netgear R6300v2 as a router and Asus as an access point.
When i tried to use Orbi router and Asus as access point. it is working fine.
I changed the Asus to Orbi satellite, everything hangs.
Router is high on CPU. Cannot go to external website.
I have attached the video as well as log files for your necessary debugging.. if you can find the bug
================
Version : 2.1.4.16 for both router and satellite
I made a screen capture video of the RBK53.
I am currently using 1 router and 1 satellite.
When the satellite is not attached to the router, the router works fine.
Until the satellite is attached as shown in 2:59 of the video, the router does not work well when the client is pinging to the router
At 4:22, i tried to get the debug log from the router, no response from router.
At 7:47, the web page to show google main page is also not working
Every page hangs until i removed the satellite the speed test started working again
You may want to see the video in this link. The log files are there too.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Oqmh0q7kc66aM9E1YUEoBUOwyjjmI7bg
regards
chris
This sounds like the problem I'm having. Download Wireshark and run a packet capture as you plug in the satellite. I'm willing to bet your network is getting flooded with ARP requests, curiously only when the satellite is plugged in.
v2.1.4.16 has broken loopback
Correction. UPnP was insufficient for the task. I needed to explicitly forward the ports <Sigh>
I'm thinking rolling back to the beta v2.1.3.4 is the best option.
That was rock solid and for whatever reason they broke stuff when they moved to the 2.1.4.x chain.3
I have had nothing but trouble with the Orbi models I have and this firmware update but have also had issues with previous firmware updates as well. I've factory reset, toggled more settings than I'd like to mention and have wasted more time than any paying customer should ever have to spend on a product, let alone one that costs this much. This system is totally unstable and does not work as advertised. I'm an engnieer who works on WiFi products. Removing satellites and rebooting these routers always fixes the problem. If I worked on this prodct I would resign immediately. This by far the worst router I have ever delt with. My one star reviews will be all over amazon shortly. I have absolutely had it with Orbi and am done. The anger and frustration from customers is well earned and asking for "cooler heads" to prevail is asking far too much from customers. I expect and demand quality in the products I buy. This stuff should never leave the shop in this condition. It is 100% unnaceptable.
Baseman70, I have been communicating on this forum since purchasing my Orbi RBK50 kit in March 2018, and in the first fortnight or so I had problems with Apple HomeKit and Lifx, but since installing FW v2.1.4.16, my Orbis have behaved flawlessly. Mine are in AP mode on a stable Billion router, with reserved DHCP addresses passed to the Orbis.
So it never ceases to amaze me that there’s a very vocal minority out there who seem to have unimaginable difficulties with their Orbis. And so many of these people claim to have a strong background in IT, as though this explains all, and is a justification for Netgear to start again.
Baseman70, you say “This system is totally unstable and does not work as advertised”. I disagree, and say the system is stable and works entirely as advertised.
I also have an IT background. IT staff used the term “PEBCAK” (Problem Exists Between the Chair And Keyboard) to describe users who had problems where no-one else does. In most cases, we were right.
If you think the goods don’t work as advertised, then return them for a refund.
Please don’t speak for me an others who have no issues.
You must work for netgear. Blame the customer. Classy! I speak for no one but myself. We’ve been testing Orbi for quite some time. If it works for you, great. That doesn’t mean that it works for me or that I don’t know what I’m doing as you ungraciously suggest. The length of this thread in addition to your snarky and defensive reply speak volumes. Good day IT guy.
I fully agree
the router + satellite is really unstable, it's unacceptable !
no response and support from Netgear.
3 days and 20 hours ago I removed both my wired hubs(switches) from the system. They fed TV, DVD, DVR, Reciever, X_BOX. The only items direct connected to the ORBI now are true computers. Since doing so my stuff has been stable as a rock! WTF! My Amcrest security cameras have been up since the change and not 1 dropped notification. Before I was dropping signal 50-60 times a day. Could all my problems be related to my D-Link switch? How many of you are still having problems and running some type of unmanaged switch?
What is the Model # of these switches?
I use both HP and D-Link NON managed switches. I have DGS-105 switches in the middle of my router and satellite...
millertime_101 wrote:
3 days and 20 hours ago I removed both my wired hubs(switches) from the system. They fed TV, DVD, DVR, Reciever, X_BOX. The only items direct connected to the ORBI now are true computers. Since doing so my stuff has been stable as a rock! WTF! My Amcrest security cameras have been up since the change and not 1 dropped notification. Before I was dropping signal 50-60 times a day. Could all my problems be related to my D-Link switch? How many of you are still having problems and running some type of unmanaged switch?
Unmanaged switches are simple things. Perhaps it’s the order In which you plug things in?
I have my Orbis operating in AP mode, with a single output from my Billion modem/router going to the Orbi router’s yellow RJ45 WAN port.
I have a wired backhaul running through a patch panel on the wall, and Orbi router’s LAN port 1 connects directly through the patch panel to the Satellite.
I also have a Netgear unmanaged 16 port switch that connects to the Orbi router’s LAN port 2. All other wired-in devices connect through this switch, either directly, or via other ports on the patch panel.
Orbi router LAN port 3, and remaining modem LAN ports are not used. This configuration works, and I can check each connected device one at a time if troubleshooting
