NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
OrbiOS 2.1.1
The Orbi team at NETGEAR is aware that some users are experiencing higher than expected Orbi Router reboots, special characters in WiFi Passwords and WiFi / Internet disconnects. We believe these issues are related to the OrbiOS 2.1.1 firmware. We are actively working to address these issues, and expect to fix them with a firmware upgrade soon. In the meantime, we’re temporarily suspending auto-upgrading users to OrbiOS 2.1.1.
While we work through some of the issues, we’re releasing a new Beta firmware (2.1.2), which contains:
- Support for LED control & scheduling for Orbi Outdoor Satellite (RBS50Y)
- Fixes high CPU utilization on Orbi Router, which could be causing other issues
- Fixes the Attached Devices UI showing all devices connecting to the Orbi Router
The Beta firmware 2.1.2 files can be obtained from here:
RBR50: http://files.netgear-support.com/go/?a=d&i=n2X2ARvI7o
RBS50: http://files.netgear-support.com/go/?a=d&i=yBsnhHaBiw
RBR40: http://files.netgear-support.com/go/?a=d&i=8xFS1yg8fn
RBS40: http://files.netgear-support.com/go/?a=d&i=Hu3hbx814i
RBW30: http://files.netgear-support.com/go/?a=d&i=PRpkMfJynw
RBS20: http://files.netgear-support.com/go/?a=d&i=OGhLlDB9mQ
Instructions for performing a Manual Upgrade: https://kb.netgear.com/000037217/How-do-I-check-and-manually-upgrade-the-firmware-on-my-Orbi-satellite
If you are having issues with 2.1.1, having higher than normal disconnects or if you have purchased an Outdoor Orbi Satellite (RBS50Y) please upgrade to the new Beta firmware through the manual upgrade process. Feel free contact NETGEAR Support if you’re having issues with MR 2.1.1 (even if you’re outside of the 90 day window).
We apologize for these issues.
Orbi Product Team
Let me give you a quick update on where NETGEAR is with the OrbiOS.
Just before Christmas break, we paused the distribution of OrbiOS 2.1. Very soon, we're about to restart the distribution of a slightly updated version of the beta (2.1.2). In addition to the major new features introduced in 2.1 (e.g. Circle, Ethernet Backhaul), this firmware is expected to address the high CPU issue, as well as the special character in PSK issue as well as support for the Outdoor Orbi. Check Release Notes for complete list.
We are continuing to work on the issues with Google devices that have been documented in the press (several users have provided links here).
My recommendation is that you should either use the Orbi Mobile App (if you haven't seen it recently, check it out, we've made some major improvements) or the Web UI to check for new firmware or wait until your system gets auto-upgraded.
To answer your question, Stars_fan. When Orbi are connected over Ethernet backhaul, the 5GHz band becomes hot standby.
Orbi Product Management
371 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
- Been on this beta for a week now and my system, router + 2 sats, is working much better.
I will not say all is fixed but it looks promising... There probably is some truth to the Google device/Android issue. I haven't had a reboot in about 7 hours on the beta firmware.
I was forced to downgrade my firmware to .74 because I was getting constant reboots. Even on .74 I would still get reboots. After reading newbeb's post, I upgraded to 2.1.2.10 and disconnected my Google Home and minis and other Chromecast devices from my network. I haven't had a reboot since and we have been intentionally unlocking our phones throughout the day trying to trigger a reboot. Normally, the phone unlocking would have caused a reboot multiple times so 7 hours without a reboot is amazing.
Hopefully, someone else with the reboot issue can try it and see if they have similar results.
Does anyone have working download links for the latest 2.1.2 beta (or newer) for the RBR50, RBS50, and the RBW30?
The links at the beginning of this thread result in corrupted disc images whether I download them from Windows or Mac browsers.I have been a happy user, of Netgear products, for many years now. At least until this product. Having spent over 40 years dealing with enterprise level security systems software I also understand patches and firmware updates to the Nth degree. The Orbi product firmware problems to date are a clear indicator of poor product testing overall. Does Netgear not have emulation stress testing equipment, and procedures, to properly evaluate product before release? This is an extrodinary contrast to your other product quality. People or procedures? In any case I will not update firmware any further until I see reliable indicators that it works properly! In fact I am seriously considering getting rid of it.
I'm going on 23 hours without a router reboot on the 2.1.2.10 beta firmware!
It seems my problem was being caused by the Android/Google casting issue described in an earlier post. Other router vendors mitigated the issue with a firmware update to their router. I'm hoping Netgear can do the same. Google needs to find a permanent fix too.
FWIW I've been running on 2.1.1.16 since whenever it auto updated last without any issues. CPU Usage is < 10% and uptime is currently 24 days. I am looking forward to the attached devices page showing the correct connection bug getting fixed though. We have very few android devices on out network (an older Acer tablet, and an Acer chromebook). Everything else is Windows, Apple, or an IOT device. Have had a some freqent random disconnects with only 2 (my wife's iphone 6 and ipad 2) of the half dozen Apple devices. Other than that have not noticed any other issues with the current FW version.
Have yet to see an accurate representation of what is actually connected to the RBKS on the latest firmware release.
Since I don't have any immediate issues to address for now I'm going to wait until 2.1.2 is finalized an officially released to install.
I have two Satllite Orbi devises connected to this router. I had no issues for several months purchased in early March 2017 up until October 2017 everything worked great. Now I have Internet disconnects almost every hour through out the day 24/7. Started out as once or twice per day and has continued to get worse. I opened a trouble ticket over a month ago have gone to support directly three times. We have made several changes to setup and done Firmware updates.Current Firmware version is 2.1.1.16. I read there is a Beta software out that is Supposed to fix this issue Can anyone confirm?
I know how to do Firmware updates manually please send me the Firmware update link for this Beta version if it is correcting the issues. Extrmely frustrating issues. Very expensive devises to have issues like this is frustrating. Everything else about the product is fantastic and I loved it for several months. I even purchased for one of our sons at his home so far he is fine. But I am affrad that will change after a few more months. Please advise.
- I had issues even with the beta. I've rolled back to 1.x acted having issues with .74. Admittedly I did not fully power cycle my whole system when I rolled back to .74 although I don't think that was the cause of the reboots. However I was having issues where my device would show connected no internet.
Anyhow there is now peace in my family with the following changes I made. Should not have to do this with orbi though.
I'm not sure if only one of these was an issue or cumulative effect.
Telnet disable auto update
Rollback router and satellite to 1.11.0 .20
Reset nvram
Reset router and satellite to default with Paperclip then turn off and unplug
Turn off cable modem and switch and unplug
Wait a minute or two
Turn modem and switch back on
Turn satellite and router back on
Setup as new system
I used my original network name and password so my devices would reconnect without reconfiguring. This was a big deal because I have bows and ring doorbell and those are a process to entered WiFi username and passwords
My system has been up over 24 hours with 0 reboots. Additionally I can tell that the Wi-Fi connections to my devices have not been dropped.
For the time being I will stick with this firmware. It meets my needs. I reckon I'm slightly vulnerable to the krack exploit
I will monitor this forum to see when a working firmware update comes outFWIW I have Android 8.1 (Pixel XL2), 2 google home and a chromecast on 1.11.0 .20 with no current issues. My perception is if Android OS and home devices are causing issues it's still related to 2.x firmware
A bit of irony here on my side maybe karma came and got me after my earlier post. My satellite went an locked up this evening (purple ring). Power cycled it and it came back up and all is good again. Orbi router was and still is fine though. Probably not related to FW issues since symptoms are completely different but who knows...
- And oddly enough after 8+ days running, my router spontaneously rebooted when I apparently roamed my Android 7.0 S7 from Satelitte to Router.
Another unhappy user:
- Tested with latest realease and with latest beta, same results
- Router does not reboot very often but wifi stops working ever few hours for few seconds to minutes (even on windows laptops)
- Wired backhaul seems to make it worse - more frequent disconects
- Router will lockup and reboot as soon as satalite is connected to wired network
- Have to turn of the Satalite, let router come up and then power on the satalite
- Have a large number of Android devices, including Google home and Chromecast
- Same defivices worked fine on Cisco router + Netgear Nighthawks in AP mode
2.1.2.10 seems to be fine in my setup with 1 Pixel2, 2 Google Homes and 2 Chromecasts but only when running without the satellite. As soon as I turn the satellite on, the router reboots as soon as I wake my phone. I've noticed that when actually casting content to anything (Homes or Chromecasts) there are periodic wifi drops when I wake the phone, but the router at least stays up.
As an aside, the Cisco AIR-CAP1700's I run at work in an 8 point mesh with a Cisco WLC2100 central controller also have issues when there are several of our Pixel/Pixel 2 devices in the office. I have also received alerts from our IPS that there is a potential DoS attack coming from the devices after long sleep times. Google really needs to address this instead of passing it over to the other hardware manufacturers.
Well google does have an issue with there devices, but so does Netgear.
For example:
- connecting the Satalite via wired ethernet cause the Router to reboot (thats a pure Netgear problem).
- Windows laptop wifi connection losses access to external (internet sites). Can ping the router, the router can ping internet sites but laptop cannot ping internet sites. This is happens on Windows and Mac Laptops. Disconnecting and reconnecting the Wifi fixes the problem. This is clearly a routing issue with the router (not the satalite).
Have tried doing a factory reset on the router and the satalites (have 2 of them). Lets see if there is a firmware update to fix this in a week otherwise will have to abadon Netgear for good.
