RBR50 Problems updating firmware

Thanks.  Chalk one up for Netgear.

On the Manual Update page, the section above the line applies to the router.

The section below the line applies to satellites.

The router is rejecting trying to upload a satellite image to the router.

Notice that there is another "Update" button below the line.  When that "Update" is checked, the web session switches to the satellite web interface and the "Browse" prompt appears. When doing satellites, selecting the firmware file happens after changing to the satellite.  Not exactly intuitive.

I am updating the satellite and not the router. When I check the box next to the satellite name and click on Update it takes me to a new log in window. I log in and it takes me to this window where I can browse for the file and Upload (see where it says Orbi Satellite at the top)

(egg on my face for sure.  This is indeed the satellite update.)

212 is the firmware version you need.  How about trying that one?

What device is being used? (Windows, Mac, Linux, Tablet?)

This would be the reason. Your Orbi is a Verizon Orbi. They have there own FW for it. NG made the HW however Verizon did there own FW development for Orbi and handed them out to there Verizon customers. If this system does not belong to Verizon, you could TFTP NG Stock FW on to the system I believe...

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jcmacdesigns2 wrote:

I am updating the satellite and not the router. When I check the box next to the satellite name and click on Update it takes me to a new log in window. I log in and it takes me to this window where I can browse for the file and Upload (see where it says Orbi Satellite at the top)

 

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Thanks FURRYe38 .  Sort of in BIG PRINT.  I just HATE that Verizon did this and then simply lost interest in the product (that THEY sold) and quit supporting it.

Ya, Why I don't recommend equipment from ISPs. Short term use and development. 
If the user can get NG stock FW loaded, it should work from there:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Upgrading-ISP-branded-Verizon-Orbi-RBR50-and-Orbi-RBS50-to-new/m-p/1978380/highlight/true#M103180
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBK50-upgrade-ISP-branded-old-firmware-to-latest-firmware/m-p/1920034/highlight/false#M93253
https://www.reddit.com/r/orbi/comments/vsr548/finally_i_can_use_latest_stock_firmware_on_rbk50/

Yes.  It has been so long (years?) since anyone posted about a Verizon branded RBR50 that I cannot remember if it was possible to flash Netgear stock firmware.

Think TFTP worked...

Thanks for your response. I am unsure where my friend got the Orbi but it could have been through Verizon. If I understand correctly, you are saying that if the Orbi router and satellite came from Verizon I can only update it with the Verizon version of the FW. If there are not Verizon Orbis I would be able to update the FW. Is that correct? I don't know what "TFTP" means.

I am on a Mac.

Yes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivial_File_Transfer_Protocol

https://kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP
Need to press the reset button for 30 seconds then release, then it send to PUT the command and upload the FW. 
Make sure you enable tftp: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/enable-tftp-windows-10
Video walk through using a tftp client. Use the built in one for windows 10 though. the video is more of an example of how its done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXhMgQS5k1o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9DLrLQrpaw
I had a problem on a Windows 10 PC where this didn't work to use TFTP, so I switched to a Windows 7 PC and the TFTP worked.
Mac TFTP: https://www.petenetlive.com/KB/Article/0001247

Try nmrpflash:
https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash

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jcmacdesigns2 wrote:

Thanks for your response. I am unsure where my friend got the Orbi but it could have been through Verizon. If I understand correctly, you are saying that if the Orbi router and satellite came from Verizon I can only update it with the Verizon version of the FW. If there are not Verizon Orbis I would be able to update the FW. Is that correct? I don't know what "TFTP" means.

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This is indeed a classic "Catch 22" (from the novel by Joseph Heller)

• When Netgear created this version for Verizon to sell, they put code into it that said, "accept only new firmware that has been issued directly by Verizon".  i.e. not by anyone else, including Netgear.
• Verizon has never issued updated firmware for the product.

So, trying to install firmware from Netgear results in that error message.  You are stuck in a "Catch 22".

Since the screen clearly says, "Verizon", that's where it came from.  No doubt about that.

When Netgear routers boot up, there is a brief window of time during which they will accept a connection (using the Trivial File Transfer Protocol) to load a firmware image.  Here is a Netgear description of using TFTP on MacOS:

https://kb.netgear.com/000064624/How-do-I-upload-firmware-to-my-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-on-Apple-macOS 

(I should note that my personal experience does not match that article.  What I observed that when the router is powered up, the power LED does not flash orange. Maybe my memory is incorrect?  Anyway, TFTP failed for me five times in a row and I was ready to take a hammer to the router. Then thought, "what else do I have to do this afternoon?"  Try six worked!  My conclusion: TFTP is really touchy.  Start too soon and it fails.  Start too late, and it fails.)

TFTP is not a trivial process.  One might ask, "Is this thing working to suit me as it is?"  If so, maybe leaving it as it is could be alright.  If it isn't working right, or you want to pay for things like Armor and Parental Controls, then.....

Thanks for sharing your experience with this. Do you think leaving it as is would be safe? I worry about its vulnerability because it is not updated to the latest firmware. I don't need parental controls and am unsure what Armor is.

I also wonder if getting a new Netgear mesh router and satellite would be better although it would be nice to save the money.

Unless someone can gain physical access to your network or guess your WiFi password, almost every residential router is not particularly vulnerable.  There are "Security Alert!" messages in the news all the time, but the fine print usually indicates that the vulnerability is not exposed to the internet.

Updating to a new system is SO complicated!  There are great products from almost every major networking company.

For certain, it is about time to give serious consideration to at least WiFi6.