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Forum Discussion
Orbi losing packets
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...
So tried a few other things just to eliminate them - swap cables, change switch ports, etc. to no good. I noticed I was getting losses on connections to the router as well - so decided it wasn't just the satellite, and testing the ethernet backhaul was probably useless.
I downgraded shortly ago to 2.0.0.76 again. I do still get some wobbles in ping time up to 300ms occasionally, but as of yet haven't dropped a ping. So that does seem to make a difference.
I figure I'll swap back to the ASUS 88U after a while for comparison, see how that does. If I have to try to lock this at old firmware just to avoid losing packets, I'll just return it. I'm too old to keep treating this as some science experiment. Besides, I noticed this morning after the 2.1.2.10 update, my LG TV started failing to connect on power on. Just too many little things...
Anyone have an update for this? I just got my Orbi, one satellite failed during firmware upgrade and i'm waiting on the RMA now, but with just my router and wall satellite I'm seeing dropped packets all over the place. Not constant, but not limited to wifi either. Running firmware v. 2.1.2.18. From a wired device to another wired device in the house (goes through the Orbi Router, no backhaul involved on either side) and it just drops 1-2% of the packets over a long period of time. sampled at the right time, for a short interval (<1min) it'll drop 90% of the pings. At the same time, pings to 8.8.8.8 drop as well, so it's like the main router can't keep up with something... I've got a fairly large scale network for a single house, but still shouldn't be seeing this kind of drop, ESPECIALLY for wired systems. Previous router was a Turris Omnia, I just moved to the Orbi for the mesh, since the Omnia coudln't quite reach all the spaces I needed it to.
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 2.0.1.4
Release notes date: 2/14/2018
Img file date: 11/10/2017
"Prior" Version 2.1.2.18
Release notes date: 1/17/2018
Img file date: 1/5/2018
The Orbi firmware product manager needs to make sure their resume is up-to-date.