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Forum Discussion
Ulairi
Mar 17, 2018Luminary
Orbi Throttling Wired Ethernet connections?
Has anyone experienced the Orbi system apparently throttling otherwise good connections? I have a plan with 200 Mbps down and 20Mbps up. My connection speeds were consistent on this plan until I...
- Apr 15, 2018
FURRYe38 wrote:Glad it's working well now. This is what I have been saying all along. Glad someone believes now.
Thanks for your advice and help.
The advice for performing a full factory reset has only, to my knowledge, been previously discussed on this forum in the context of stability, dropped connections and upgrading firmware. I hadn't seen any discussion about doing a factory restet in the context of the speed throttling issue.
There are a small number of threads on the forum where speed throttling is reported and queried. It seems to be an uncommon fault. Most advice focuses on the test environment (test PC, cables and whether in AP or router mode). I don't recall anyone suggesting a 'factory reset' for this internal bottleneck. Indeed - up until now - no one appeared to acknowledge that the Orbi could have an internal software bottleneck.
I think that my experience clearly shows that an internal bottleneck has occured in the software within the Orbi router. Back-to-back testing against two other routers - keeping the test environment the same - clearly showed that the Orbi was the culprit. This was supported by the Ookla results on the Orbi's QoS page showing that the Orbi was, indeed, getting the full speed in to it (before Ookla took this feature down on the Orbi last week). The problem persisteted, despite re-flashing the router with three different firmware loads. Once I did the factory reset, I immediately got the full download speed from my ISP.
Also, since the reset, I've also noted that I'm now getting very good speeds over WiFi connections as well. The Orbi was throttling all connections - not just Ethernet.
If anyone has speed bottlenecks then a 'factory reset' is the way to go. I think that this is new information - because previous advice focused on cables, the test PC and the mode of the router.
TreborNewob5
Apr 22, 2018Guide
Hi, I had almost the same.
Virgin Media 200 meg on Lan network and about 70 to 80 meg on WiFi with no lag or signal breakup.
Then fitted Orbi Lan no change but WiFi 200plus :)
Then had my Viggin Boxes upgraded to the new V6 Tivo and the engineer conected both boxes via cat 7 cables and all was fine but now had to go back to WiFi as the Lan connection to Orbi and the Satelite started breaking only for a few seconds stopping any recordings of TV programs. But on WiFi all is well.
And before you say contact Netgear Support don't go there , they are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.
And no doubt like the failing speed test App issue all will be fixed but they will never post the problems to their customers.
That would mean giving Support!
- FURRYe38Apr 22, 2018Guru - Experienced User
The speed test app was fixed. This was a NG speed service issue:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Connection-Failure-on-Speed-Test/m-p/1556751#M28966
TreborNewob5 wrote:Hi, I had almost the same.
Virgin Media 200 meg on Lan network and about 70 to 80 meg on WiFi with no lag or signal breakup.
Then fitted Orbi Lan no change but WiFi 200plus :)
Then had my Viggin Boxes upgraded to the new V6 Tivo and the engineer conected both boxes via cat 7 cables and all was fine but now had to go back to WiFi as the Lan connection to Orbi and the Satelite started breaking only for a few seconds stopping any recordings of TV programs. But on WiFi all is well.
And before you say contact Netgear Support don't go there , they are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.
And no doubt like the failing speed test App issue all will be fixed but they will never post the problems to their customers.
That would mean giving Support!
- UlairiApr 23, 2018Luminary
TreborNewob5 wrote:Then had my Viggin Boxes upgraded to the new V6 Tivo and the engineer conected both boxes via cat 7 cables and all was fine but now had to go back to WiFi as the Lan connection to Orbi and the Satelite started breaking only for a few seconds stopping any recordings of TV programs. But on WiFi all is well.
Are you on the latest (Beta) frimware and, if so, have you done a factory reset with the change to latest (beta) firmaware? If not, and acknowledging that its a right royal PITA, I'd recommend a factory reset.
- TreborNewob5Apr 24, 2018Guide
Why would I want to use Beta Firmware?
Netgear can't get the normal firmware right so why compound the issue with Beta?
Do you work for Netgear?
If you do why cant we get support for the great new Orbi costing £400.00 plus in some cases and with 2 years warranty but only 3 months support?
They do not tell you this in any of the Adds or when you buy!
I was even told by Netgear support yesterday when my Orbi systems crashed that Netgear is considering uping the 3 months support to 6 months!
I said why not 2 years like it used to be many years ago with Netgear support was like your warranty, and if you phoned them you only got through to, USA, UK, France Germay and southern Ireland. Those were the days 24/7 365.
None of this calling india with poor quality phone lines and if they don't like you they hang up!
Try asking for a complaints dept according to support it does not exist, and I was even told they do not have a customer service dept!
That turned out to be true it's called customer care! Relly:(
And why if your three months support up do we have to go to the community?
I am just a pensioner who love his PC and gamming and who also loves Orbi when it works, trouble is it's down more than it's up.
So come on Netgear less bull **bleep** and more support would be nice?
- UlairiApr 24, 2018Luminary
TreborNewob5 wrote:Why would I want to use Beta Firmware?
Netgear can't get the normal firmware right so why compound the issue with Beta?
So come on Netgear less bull **bleep** and more support would be nice?
Can I suggest that you should only consider the Beta firmware if you're having disconnection problems. Otherwise stick with what you've got. Beta releases occur for many other complex software products (e.g. Microsoft's Windows Insider Program, Roku, Paragon, etc) and its a normal part of a software release cycle. It's rather unprecedented for a company to make Beta software available in this widespread manner, but at least Netgear are making this option available to help resolve the situation while they work on more elegant and longer term fixes.
I certainly don't work for Netgear and I'm just as frustrated as everyone with the continueing glitches (in particular I have a wall plug satellite that is currently completely unusable). However, although I have no affiliation with Netgear I have had professional involvment with software development ... and its certainly not easy nor certain at times. Consider all the variables that a home Router needs to contend with in the real world: different ISP arcitectures, different devices connecting to the network with an almost infinite array of interactions, different environmental factors, challenges of handoffs between satellites [trigger events], differing configuration of Orbi family products, etc. With all these variables, it is impossible to fully test this type of product before releasing to market. Indeed, one perspective is that software is never really finished - it could alwats be improved so it needs to be released when it is godd enough. I'm sure that a company of Netgear's pedigree is really stressed about this and are working furiously behind the scenes to resolve things.
However, it's worth taking a deep breath and reflecting on why most of us bought the Orbi in the first place. When it works, it works very well (NB - that's the reason for all the rave reviews that probably convinced us to buy it). It is rather unique in 'mesh' systems (albeit not true 'mesh') with having the dedicated backhaul capability and the router and satellites have many more ethernet ports that competing products. Independent benchmark tests (e.g. www.smallnetbuilder.com) declare it a winner for a number of reasons. In my own personal circumstances, previous problems that I had with a Linksys EA8500 (disconnects and flakey streaming to a Chromecast) have been fixed by moving to the Orbi.
Yes, I wish that my outlay on this premium product wasn't so problematic (I have trouble explaining the rationale for the switch to my non-tech wife - :mansad:). And I also ruefully reflect that I've spent more time on a Router's forum than I'd ever have though possible. But the reasons above are why I'll sit tight and trust Netgear to get this thing working well. Once they get the kinks out it's going to be really good - and worth the wait.
So only consider using this Beta if you're getting disconnects. If you do adopt it, then also do the factory reset (yes, its a hassle but many of us have demonstrated the benefit of doing a reset). You might be plesantly suprpised by the outcome. All the best.
- FURRYe38Apr 23, 2018Guru - Experienced User
Please give a factory reset if you updated to v2.1.3.4 and set up from scratch. It's advised to run the speedtest app from with in the router while ALL other devices are disconnected from the router accept for one wired PC. Let the test run the save the results. Then re-connect all the rest if your devcies. QoS is working for both wired and wireless devics.
TreborNewob5 wrote:Hi, I had almost the same.
Virgin Media 200 meg on Lan network and about 70 to 80 meg on WiFi with no lag or signal breakup.
Then fitted Orbi Lan no change but WiFi 200plus :)
Then had my Viggin Boxes upgraded to the new V6 Tivo and the engineer conected both boxes via cat 7 cables and all was fine but now had to go back to WiFi as the Lan connection to Orbi and the Satelite started breaking only for a few seconds stopping any recordings of TV programs. But on WiFi all is well.
And before you say contact Netgear Support don't go there , they are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.
And no doubt like the failing speed test App issue all will be fixed but they will never post the problems to their customers.
That would mean giving Support!