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Forum Discussion
steve_77
Oct 17, 2022Aspirant
ORBI RBR50, RBS50 and other satellites (RBS20 & [RBR40 -> RBS40 hack])
So I have ORBI RBK50 (1xRBR50, 2xRBS50 ) [Orbi AC3000 ?] And recently one of my RBS50 is no longer functioning. I have my whole place wired cat6a, and use the ORBIs only for : phones, tablets/guest...
CrimpOn
Oct 17, 2022Guru
There are several steps that can be taken to attempt to revive the satellite:
- Get out a paperclip and do a factory reset on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMw4ePACgc4 - Download the satellite firmware from the Netgear support site
https://www.netgear.com/support/product/RBS50.aspx#download
and attempt to "flash" the firmware directly to the satellite using TFTP or nmrpflash:
https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client
https://kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP
https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash
This requires a computer (desktop/laptop) with an Ethernet connection, which is becomming a problem in many households and consumers move to smartphone and tablets (sigh).
To connect those separately purchased RBS20 satellites, I would:
- Factory reset them (because they may have been previously sync'd to a different router, and
- Use the Orbi web browser interface menu item "Add Orbi Satellite".
- steve_77Oct 18, 2022Aspirant
i finally got 2 of the older rbs20 satellites to work.
Sadly cant seem to get my other rbs50 working -- it powers up - the power led is green and the halo is flashing white.
Did numerous resets with paperclip - tried TFTP
PS S:\MY_DOWNLOADS\nmrpflash-0.9.18.2-win32> tftp -i 192.168.1.1 put RBS50-V2.7.4.24.img
Connect request failedtried nmrpflash also to no avail
PS S:\MY_DOWNLOADS\nmrpflash-0.9.18.2-win32> .\nmrpflash.exe -L
PS S:\MY_DOWNLOADS\nmrpflash-0.9.18.2-win32> .\nmrpflash.exe -i net26 -f RBS50-V2.7.4.24.imgđ might have to sell as parts .....is there a way to force the unit to upgrade itself using the USB2.0 slot on the RBS50 ?
- CrimpOnOct 18, 2022Guru
My TV can update software using a USB stick, but (sadly) not any of the Orbi units. Netgear removed the USB port completely after the first models came out.
TFTP was quite an adventure for me. There is this distinct window of time during the startup when the unit looks for a TFTP connection. Too early: no good. Too late: no good. I was so frustrated after failing five times in a row that I was eyeing the trash can (either that or a hammer) and thought, "try one more time." The sixth time I hit it just right, and the firmware took.
TFTP is also sort of an ordeal because the computer running TFTP has to be connected only to the Orbi unit and has to have a static IP (because it cannot get an IP address from the network). All that cabling and re-cabling....
As I recall, when doing TFTP, the router is supposed to be at 192.168.1.1 and the satellites at 192.168.1.250. (But, it has been a couple of year and my memory never was all that great.)