Hello, I'm seeing packet losses with my Orbi. I have the RBK53 (RBK50, boxed with two remote Orbi devices). The Orbi is hardwired to my firewall. Also hardwired to my firewall is a Linux computer. Using the Linux computer, overnight I ran a ping test to 8.8.8.8. In the morning, I had no packet loss. At the same time I also ran the same ping test from two computers connected via WiFi to the Orbi:1) Desktop with fast USB WiFi adapter (Connected to Orbi with 5 bars and 500+ mbps),2) Older laptop with internal WiFi adapter (Connected to Orbi with 5 bars and 80+mbps). In the morning, the ping test from the Linux computer had zero packet loss. The desktop and laptop each had 1% packet loss. Any ideas why this would be? The 1% loss is fairly high.

I moved back to my ASUS 88U for a brief period. Reinstated my coverage issues, but certain things did stabilize (packet loss, odd disconnects on my work Skype calls). I'm back on the Orbi again, with good coverage, but having the packet loss and Skype disconnections again. Ran a quick test where I jacked into my powerline Ethernet during a long series of calls, and didn't get a disconnect. So, not the most controlled testing, but the Orbi is definitely causing some issues, and configuration changes (channel assignment, beamforming, whatever) isn't resolving it.

It appears Netgear has been listening. If you try to download the latest firmware, they give you v2.0.1.4, a version released last year - four firmware releases ago. The "latest" firmware "prior" to this was v2.1.2.18, a newer release from January 2018. So they're acknowledging there's a problem with their firmware and are downgrading everyone to a version 4 releases ago. The firmware's zip files are interesting, take a look at the dates below: "Latest" Version 2.0.1.4Release notes date: 2/14/2018Img file date: 11/10/2017 "Prior" Version 2.1.2.18Release notes date: 1/17/2018Img file date: 1/5/2018 The Orbi firmware product manager needs to make sure their resume is up-to-date.

After a bit of struggle, I was able to update my RBR50 and two RBS50 units to the latest firmware V2.1.1.16.(Serious Netgear, if my RBR50/RBS50 units appears to be working well, why do I need to reboot the RBR50 in order for the updates to work properly? And why do I need to manually update all the units? This isn't junior league.)Anyway, the packet drops are still happening with the latest firmware V2.1.1.16. Things look OK, then packet time will increase, then there is a loss of packets. And as before, when I run the test at the same time from a hardwired system, I am not losing packets. The below ping tests were run at the same time:Test from Orbi systemReply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=160ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=252Request timed out.Request timed out.Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=252Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=252Test from hardwired system64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=23 ttl=253 time=28.9 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=24 ttl=253 time=28.8 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=25 ttl=253 time=29.3 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=26 ttl=253 time=30.2 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=27 ttl=253 time=30.3 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=28 ttl=253 time=28.7 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=29 ttl=253 time=29.6 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=30 ttl=253 time=33.6 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=31 ttl=253 time=30.7 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=32 ttl=253 time=28.7 ms64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=33 ttl=253 time=29.3 ms So something is definitely wrong with the Orbi system where it is losing packets. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this? Thanks in advance.

Orbi losing packets | NETGEAR Communities

22 Replies

DarrenM

Sr. NETGEAR Moderator

Dec 06, 2017

You may want to try the latest firmware for orbi.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Announcing-availability-of-OrbiOS-2-1/m-p/1448548#M16957

DarrenM

Escondido

Tutor

Dec 07, 2017

Thanks DarrenM, I appreciate the info on the update firmware.

I did see that others were still seeing packet drops with certain devices. I'm seeing packets dropped with a desktop using a Belkin USB Wifi and a laptop using a built-in Wifi.

But the new firmware is definitely worth a try - I am currently on V2.0.0.74. If it works I'll report back.

Escondido

Tutor

Jan 01, 2018

After a bit of struggle, I was able to update my RBR50 and two RBS50 units to the latest firmware V2.1.1.16.

(Serious Netgear, if my RBR50/RBS50 units appears to be working well, why do I need to reboot the RBR50 in order for the updates to work properly? And why do I need to manually update all the units? This isn't junior league.)

Anyway, the packet drops are still happening with the latest firmware V2.1.1.16. Things look OK, then packet time will increase, then there is a loss of packets. And as before, when I run the test at the same time from a hardwired system, I am not losing packets.

The below ping tests were run at the same time:

Test from Orbi system

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=252

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=252

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=160ms TTL=252

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=252

Request timed out.

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=252

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=252

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=252

Test from hardwired system

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=23 ttl=253 time=28.9 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=24 ttl=253 time=28.8 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=25 ttl=253 time=29.3 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=26 ttl=253 time=30.2 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=27 ttl=253 time=30.3 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=28 ttl=253 time=28.7 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=29 ttl=253 time=29.6 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=30 ttl=253 time=33.6 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=31 ttl=253 time=30.7 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=32 ttl=253 time=28.7 ms

64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=33 ttl=253 time=29.3 ms

So something is definitely wrong with the Orbi system where it is losing packets.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this? Thanks in advance.

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Orbi losing packets