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

St3rMiN4ToR
Tutor
May 02, 2018
Hello,

I want to thanks NG for this awesome update. I have a RBR40 / RBS40 and I had the 2.0.0.56 firmware with lot of disconnects and issue on all devices. Now, with this new update, my system is finally STABLE and all is working well. No disconnects at all since the firmware’s release.

Regards.
- tsig
  Luminary
  May 02, 2018
  St3rMiN4ToR
  
  Blasphemy. You should know just by reading this forum that Orbi and its firmware are utter garbage and work for no one.
  
  Except for those of us who have never had an issue and it kicks butt.
mastervisa30
Luminary
May 02, 2018
Yes netgear please turn off autoupdate,and make this and option to turn off and on autoupdate.

so if there is problem in the future we can use older firmware thats working.
- Retired_Member
  May 02, 2018
  The problem with turning off the auto-update is you are now sitting on the sidelines. Then you have to figure when to jump back in and upgrade your FW and how will you determine that? By reading the posts in here...? Really?
  
  Many of the problems the Orbi has been having can be traced to product diversity. Trying to be all things to all consumers. If FW updates scare you, then perhaps you should try a lower cost basic wifi router.
  - RJD
    Star
    May 02, 2018
    I would gladly like a refund for this rubbish but alas I stuck with it for 16 months. If the firmware was stable and actually worked and didn’t end up making things worse or consistently require resetting everything to then find it still doesn’t work as it should then would be happy with the forced auto updates and the forced single SSID (early firmware allowed a split of 2.4/5G SSID) which was so much better but Netgear removes this and added forced firmware updates which are not stable and do not work (yes yes some people don’t have issues, lucky them). Still not a week yet with Google Wifi but not a single drop or issue with anything. After 2 days or less with Orbi after resets etc etc the issues start again. Just the RBR on its own works well (especially with split SSID’s) but add satellites and boom, total trash at a premium price.
tizmagik
Guide
May 03, 2018
This latest update is horrible. My Logitech Harmony remote constantly disconnects and reconnects. Speed test from my iPhone fluctuate as much as +/- 20Mbps where previously speeds were very consistent.

I’m extremely disappointed in this latest update.
carrrl
Initiate
May 03, 2018
Also jumping in to say that this situation is absurd. Spent nearly $500 on this system and it's been mediocre from day one. I should have returned it while I had the chance, but I was able to get it kind of working for a couple of weeks. Then more trash updates have been forced upon me, each one worse than the last. Here I am thinking it's my ISP throttling me or something (it's not.) I've had so much luck with other Netgear products. Orbi must be a crew of interns lead by B team leads who can't get their act together. Month after month.
kadmus11
Star
May 03, 2018
This release has totally messed up my connection. Slow speeds and constant disconnects.
Bostonbill7727
Tutor
May 04, 2018
You killed Apple HomeKit with this update! and you don't give me an option to turn off, auto firmware updates. What the hell Netgear! I am passed your dumb 90 days support policy so I can even open a ticket on something you broke!
- Nest68
  Aspirant
  May 04, 2018
  Is there a way to find out manufactured date of system?
Grunkey
Aspirant
May 04, 2018
Is the RBW30 getting a 2.1.4 firmware update? My RBR40 received the update but not the satalites. They are still on v2.1.3.6.
- JoeCymru
  Virtuoso
  May 04, 2018
  The firmware you mention for the 30's is the latest for them. The 30's firmware version is not the same as the 40's and 50's. Never was. Since 30's lack certain features (wired backhaul for one) they have somewhat different firmware.
jordi_c
Initiate
May 06, 2018
My Orbi RBK50 system running 2.1.4.10 has been inexplicably rock solid for 2+ days. This comes after a couple of weeks fighting random reboots, trying to revert to earlier firmware versions but failing due to auto updates (even when trying to block them by editing the config via telnet), and reverting to factory settings. The last automatic update occurred overnight while the router was running firmware version 2.1.2.18. This was not the first time such an update had occurred against my will. My Orbi had auto updated a few times previously but was never stable.

My Orbi is connected to a cable modem and is running in router mode. I have sixteen devices on my network, three of which are connecting to a bridged AP. Aside from customizing the WiFi SSIDs and changing the network subnet, I have made no changes to the default config. What could have changed?
tmrinhance
Aspirant
May 07, 2018
Can i load 2.1.4 on a Orbi Pro?
wildsubnet
Apprentice
May 08, 2018
Add me to the chorus of "this update stinks". Rebooting every 8-10 hours. I'd say like clockwork, but not quite. Looking back at my emailed log files, I can see they stopped on the same date the update rolled out, meaning they never had time to fill up. Due to travel I didn't really notice until now, but sure looks like it's been reboot-a-palooza. Found the commands to turn off auto-update and rolled back 2.1.3.4.

I'm a proponent of auto-updating consumer stuff, I think it is important and more secure, but these busted updates are much worse than a potentially insecure system. Netgear should disable auto-update until they get better regression testing in place. Also, while you're at it it'd be nice to be able to set SSID on 2.4g and 5g bands separately in the UI rather than having to telnet into the box (talk about NOT secure, enabling telnet to fully configure the box is about as NOT secure as it gets...)
- steve8411
  Apprentice
  May 08, 2018
  Add me to the list of continued failure with Apple products...
  
  RBR50 ... while the beta was actually improved, the production release is actually worse.
  
  My iPad almost never gets internet (even though its connected to Wifi) after waking up ....
  
  Another disappointment.
  - RocketSquirrel
    Luminary
    May 08, 2018
    
    steve8411 wrote:
    
    Add me to the list of continued failure with Apple products...
    
    RBR50 ... while the beta was actually improved, the production release is actually worse.
    
    My iPad almost never gets internet (even though its connected to Wifi) after waking up ....
    
    Another disappointment.
    
    That is so weird. We have 2 iPads & 2 iPhones in my household, and they all connect perfectly every time. Trust me, I'd be hearing about it from my wife if she couldn't get Internet. I'm running V2.1.4.10 with wired backhaul.
    
    It wasn't easy to get everything working. I did a very slow step-by-step, basically
    1. Shut down modem, router, and satellites.
    2. Power up modem, wait for it to settle to steady state seeing Internet.
    3. Power up router, wait for it to slowly settle to steady state. Verify it's working with wired & wifi devices.
    4. Power up 1 satellite, wait for it to slowly settle to steady state. Verify it's working with wired & wifi devices.
    5. Power up any remaining satellites 1 at a time.
    
    I don't know why, but the Orbi router seems to want the modem freshly booted before turning on the Orbi. The instructions imply that. Good luck.

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OrbiOS 2.1.4 availability