A quick update. We're about to release an updated version of OrbiOS 2.1.4 in the next few days through our auto-update mechanism for all Orbi models. When it goes live, you should see a prompt in the Orbi Mobile App (or the WebUI) to upgrade your firmware. In addition to the connectivity fixes in 2.1.3, has a few additional bug fixes from the last release (2.1.3). Orbi Product Mangement

How about you give us the option to turn OFF AUTOUPDATE. Or STOP automatic updates all together! When you guys roll out the updates FORCED Orbi resets and looses all my settings and takes down my internet and home security system as I’m not home. That’s a fantastic feature! SO sick of this POS not working reliability.

So I have done some testing with this new version. Just as I have done with every past version since the packet loss issue began. Here is my testing setup for this occasion. There were a total of five devices on my network arranged as such: A simple router providing DHCP with no internet connection. (10.0.0.1) RBR50 Orbi Router in AP mode. (10.0.0.2) RBS50 Orbi Satellite. (10.0.0.3) Testing laptop. (10.0.0.40) Synology NAS (10.0.0.42) All my testing was done via the testing laptop and always connected to the Orbi Sattelite. The Orbi units where running on wireless backhaul with line of sight of each other. I ran packetloss tests on three targets: simple router, Orbi Router (AP mode) and Synology NAS. Keep in mind there was no internet access during this time and no other devices where on the network. As usual, I did a full factory reset on the Orbi units. Here are my results: First up is the simple router on 10.0.0.1 as we can see there is heavy packet loss, as has been with the latest firmware versions on this particular models. A notable difference is that the packet loss pattern is now concentraded in larger chunks. Previos versions would generate a more scattered pattern with thinner lines. Next is the Orbi router on 10.0.0.2 this is an interesting result because we see no packetloss at all. Keep in mind for this probe all my traffic went from the testing laptop, to the Satellite unit, through wireless backhaul and into the Orbi Router. This clears up any suspicion of the wireless backhaul being the reason of the packet loss. Could it be that my humble router (10.0.0.1), providing DHCP to the network is to blame? This is the result of the same test and same network but this time the target was the Synology NAS. Surprisingly the packetloss is back with the same pattern as we observed on the router (10.0.0.1). This seems to confirm the wireless backhaul is definetly not the cause for this issue. This points to the ethernet ports of the Orbi Router as the failure point. The same devices on the same network arrangement rendered no packet loss on all the same tests when running firmware V2.0.0.74. This strongly suggests the issue is due to some factor in the newer firmware. Here is a short Q&A of other variants I tried before typing this post: Did you tested with any other devices apart from that silly router (10.0.0.1) and the Synology NAS (10.0.0.42)? Yes, practically with anything that had an ethernet port in my home. TVs, game consoles, STB, bluray player, printers, etc...The results where always the same. Could it be that some of the ethernet ports of your Orbi units are defective? This was one of my first concerns. So I repeted the tests by trying differnet ethernet ports for each device, each time! The only thing that actually made a difference was... firmware version! Maybe your testing laptop has a faulty network connection? I thought this too and repeated the same tests with two other laptops and iOS devices. The results where the same. Did you do a full factory reset on the Orbi units? / Configured from scratch? / Updated the Satellite first and Router second? Yep Tried changing the position of the Orbi Router and Satellite? I don't see how this affects anything considering the results. But, yes I did tried several locations on my house. Maybe your ethernet cables are bad? Incredibly, my frustration is so big at this point that I actually took the time to test CAT5, CAT5e and CAT6 cable for all tests and devices. What is the brand and model of your _______ device? At this point it doesn't matter since I tried with so many devices and still the only fix was rolling back to V2.0.0.74 Maybe the Orbi units are fine and the other devices are running some weird network configuration? This is the main reason I repeated (painstakingly) the test with all kinds of devices, managed and unmanaged, old and new, etc..(see above). The results remained the same. More importantly, all packetloss patterns went away, from all tests, as soon as I reverted back to firmware 2.0.0.74 on the Orbi units. I hope this post is of some use to someone out there on my same situation. Online gaming, VoiP calling, FaceTime Video and that kind of thing are greatly degraded when packet loss is present (specially at the massive rates I'm seeing on my Orbis). Sadly, packet loss is not so noticiable when one is accustomed to a bad ISP service. I'm lucky to be in an area with excelent providers to choose from that provide amazing service. So it is an important matter for me since I work from home.

Dear Mr. Netgear: Orbi is supposed to be a consumer product. I'm a consumer not a IT professional. Telnet, Putty is not the solution for a consumer product. Orbi RBK50 is not listed on the netgear website under business prodcuts. Please give us a check box

I FIXED IT! I went out and bought Google Wi-Fi. Everything is working better than it has since prior to bringing the Orbi home. This whole ordeal has left a very bad taste in my mouth as far as Netgear is concerned. Also went to the store to buy a new switch and just couldn’t bring myself to buy a Netgear one. Anyone want to buy an Orbi mesh with faulty firmware?

tsigI have had Orbi for over a year and just switched to a google Wi-Fi and I have to agree, it crushes Orbi in many areas mostly in stability, ease of setup and Google integration (ability to configure the router away from home using the app). My WiFi speeds are almost the same as I got with Orbi except now my Wi-Fi no longer drops whenmy kids are in the middle of a game, as Orbi has done for the entire year I had it no matter what firmware rev I ran on them. Also, Google prompts and ASKS YOU if you would like to perform a firmware upgrade. I have never had a hardware manufacturer PUSH a firmware out without user input.I have been in IT for over 30 years and I am Cisco certified (CCNP). It is simply unacceptable to have a router that randomly stops routing internet traffic and drops your Wi-Fi connections no matter how fast your backhaul is (when it works). I have never been happy with orbi since the day I borought it home and now I have never been happier with a home WiFi as much as I am with Google WiFi. Even my kids commented on how much better the Wi-Fi has been this week.

OrbiOS 2.1.4 availability | NETGEAR Communities

257 Replies

4boys
Guide
Apr 26, 2018
Upgraded from 2.1.3.4 last night and everything has been more stable for me. Not really any issues before, but sometimes slow connections to Leviton Homekit switches. Since the upgrade everything has been much snappier.

I am sorry that there are so many problems for most of the posters.

My system in the Costco AC3000 set. 32 devices attached, all Apple except for one Amazon Button that someone snuck into the house. No ethernet backhaul, not a daisey chain because of locations used. 2 stories and 3700 sq. ft. All Wemo devices and a Lacrosse weather station show as connected on the 2.4 bandwidth (no seperation in SSID between bands) The router is in AP mode and all stationary devices have fixed ip's.
sohammistry95
Star
Apr 26, 2018
Netgear, I would like to inform you that beta version OrbiOS 2.1.3.6 is working flowlessly on my particular RBK30 system but sometimes it's acts up.

But After announcing the OrbiOS 2.1.4 will beta testers be able to upgrade automatically or able to manually upgrade to stable release???

Does OrbiOS 2.1.4 will include major fixes and improvement from Beta OrbiOS 2.1.3.6???

Netgear please release the final release notes of stable OrbiOS 2.1.4???
Acerun
Star
Apr 27, 2018
Recent firmware upgrade-no problem

RBR 50 and 3 satellites
yoot678
Aspirant
Apr 27, 2018
Hi, running RBR50 (with V2.1.4.10) & 2 RBS50 (V2.1.4.10) .

since last nights firmware update, my network is dead. rebooting the router & Satellites dont help . searching this forum i see there is some issue with wired backhauls on v2.1.4.10( which i use on both of my satilites) . ive allready tried resetting the router & Satellites back to default . then as soon as i bring 1 Satellite with the wired backhual up, it crashes evrything .

im going to try going wireless on the backhaul , but this does not give me the best performacnce . can someone tell me if im missing something ?

thanks
- WAP
  Apprentice
  Apr 27, 2018
  With 3 satellites (1 wifi, 2 ethernet) on 2.1.4 I wasn't able to keep the system up for more than 3 or 4 hours (even after a full reset from scratch). I've only been using 2 satellites (both wifi) for 14 hours and no issues. In my opinion 2.1.4 broke wired backhaul. Going to run on two satellites (wifi) thru the weekend. If it stays up for the weekend I will plug the 3rd satellite back in (with ethernet). Will give progress update after weekend.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Apr 27, 2018
    Disable Daisy Chain on the router?
    
    WAP wrote:
    
    With 3 satellites (1 wifi, 2 ethernet) on 2.1.4 I wasn't able to keep the system up for more than 3 or 4 hours (even after a full reset from scratch). I've only been using 2 satellites (both wifi) for 14 hours and no issues. In my opinion 2.1.4 broke wired backhaul. Going to run on two satellites (wifi) thru the weekend. If it stays up for the weekend I will plug the 3rd satellite back in (with ethernet). Will give progress update after weekend.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Apr 27, 2018
  After setting up one satellite via wireless backaul, then connecting the ethernet cable between the router and the satellite, how long are you waiting before checking the connection? 5 minutes in needed for the system to reconfigure the wired back haul. Are you seeing BLUE LED on the top of the satellite give time after the ethernet cable is connected?
  
  Any network switches in between the router and satellite?
  
  Connecting 1 Satellite at a time?
  
  Disable Daisy Chain on the router before connecting the ethernet cable?
  
  yoot678 wrote:
  
  Hi, running RBR50 (with V2.1.4.10) & 2 RBS50 (V2.1.4.10) .
  
  since last nights firmware update, my network is dead. rebooting the router & Satellites dont help . searching this forum i see there is some issue with wired backhauls on v2.1.4.10( which i use on both of my satilites) . ive allready tried resetting the router & Satellites back to default . then as soon as i bring 1 Satellite with the wired backhual up, it crashes evrything .
  
  im going to try going wireless on the backhaul , but this does not give me the best performacnce . can someone tell me if im missing something ?
  
  thanks
  - yoot678
    Aspirant
    Apr 27, 2018
    seems like wifi backhaul on both satlites did the trick . seems stable for now . ive been fighting with this all evenening , so ill wait a bit before trying the wired backhaul again . & now that i think about it, i do have an unmanged swith between 1 of the satilte (wasnt a problem before) .
DanimalC
Tutor
Apr 27, 2018
I FIXED IT! I went out and bought Google Wi-Fi. Everything is working better than it has since prior to bringing the Orbi home. This whole ordeal has left a very bad taste in my mouth as far as Netgear is concerned. Also went to the store to buy a new switch and just couldn’t bring myself to buy a Netgear one. Anyone want to buy an Orbi mesh with faulty firmware?
- drsg64
  Guide
  Apr 27, 2018
  I think I’ll be going with google also, for the money spent on Orbi I should not have to deal with all this to get my WiFi working after a problem solving update. Mine will go in the garbage and I will never recommend this to anyone. Nice job netgear! Have the paying public do your work and trouble shoot your faulty gear and solve the problems while you just sit back and laugh.
  - tsig
    Luminary
    Apr 27, 2018
    
    drsg64
    
    I'll gladely pay you to ship your system to me.
Roamabout
Luminary
Apr 27, 2018
I applied the 2.1.4.10 update yesterday morning. Two satellites and router. No issues with the update, no issues with the Orbi before or after the update. At the time I did the update the Orbi was showing 31 days of uptime, basically since I did the last update of the released 2.1.3. I have never done a reset on this system, I do reboot the router once all the systems have been updated.
Kolja
Initiate
Apr 27, 2018
Thanks for the update. My system seems to work great although I did not have major grievances to begin with. I am using my RBK50 system with one satellite wirelessly.
alphanu22
Aspirant
Apr 27, 2018
Updated via the app on Monday. All is great since.
darkstar939
Tutor
Apr 28, 2018
Thank god for Best Buys 2 year warranty. I am taking these pieces of crap back. I have had these Orbi RBR/S 50's for almost a year now and Netgear has yet to release a stable firmware. What a F'ing joke and waste of $450. Buying Meraki AP's, will never buy another piece of Netgear Sh1t again.
- budy
  Luminary
  Apr 28, 2018
  Just updated my RBK40 via the iOS app - it has been a no-thrills experience, as it had been with all other updates, my RBK40 has been through. I am seriuosly thinking, that there must be something going on on the networks, where these Orbis have issues.
  
  This is not to blame anyone of anything and I do think, that NG should be able to address that, but my take on this is… if you haven't experienced these issues with your Orbi, you likely won't, unless something on your network changes dramatically - e.g. getting onto an IPv6 network or where there are multicasts or spanning tree issues involved. Multicast seems to play havoc with mDNS and STP can mess with the mesh setup of your Orbis, resp. their bridges.
  - RJD
    Star
    Apr 28, 2018
    So after over a year of messing about and the past few months of reading all the forums and testing all the firmware releases i have had enough. I now had redundant RBK50 and 2 x RBW30’s costing well over £500 in total let alone the amont of time i have wasted. I pick up my reluctant purchase of Google Wifi today so will report back in a week to let you know my experiences.
    
    The RBR50 on its own works well but only if i split the 5G and 2.4G bands via telnet which used to be an option back on early firmware but for final testing i put it back to single SSID and then stability and connection issues rose again. Turning on any satellte then added more problems with stuff dropping even though showng as connected to a satellite all showing a good 5g backhaul.
    
    Such a shame and for those having good experiences then lucky you. I dont give up on much but after 16 months of hassle enough is enough. Netgear already have my money so it wont phase them as i have no return option.
    
    If Google Wifi causes me similar issues then will continue the pain with the Orbi but if not then a small bonfire may be lit to melt down the most annoying computer related hardware i have ever owned!!!!!!
JoeCymru
Virtuoso
Apr 28, 2018
Overnight auto update. One satillite did not connect. Synced and reconnected. One device dropped to 2.4GHz. Rebooted the device and reconnected at 5.0GHz. Speeds and signal strength so far read the same or a touch less. Need to continue to check during the day. I was running fine on 2.1.2.18. I hope this update helps those who were having issues, but I also hope that we can get a stable platform for all that is not being constantly tweaked and then necessitating effort on the part of Orbi customers to bring their systems back up to operating order after each update.

Forum Discussion

OrbiOS 2.1.4 availability