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Forum Discussion
presidentskroob
Mar 31, 2020Tutor
RBR50 providing poor (<5mbps) download speeds to entire network (both wired and wireless)
I've had an Orbi RBR50 for about two years. For some reason, it has started to provide incredibly slow speeds to the devices on the network. My service package is for 200mbps download, and if I plug ...
NaterGator
Apr 01, 2020Initiate
I promise you this is an issue with firmware. I have similar problems. I have an RBR50 with 3 satellites (4000 sq ft home). I have fiber with 1 GB service. PC is hardwired to router. When I first set up network, I was clocking speeds on PC that were equal to speeds clocked when hooked up directly to ONT; anywhere from 866-940ish MBPS everytime. Over wireless I would get speeds of 380-550 MBPS depending on location within the home. Following firmware updates (i'm currently running V2.5.1.8) my PC now clocks no higher than 200-240 MBPS and my wireless speeds are no better than 40-90 MBPS.
I have been round and round with Netgear. I've changed channel settings to 11 for 2.4 GHz and 40 and/or 48 for 5 Ghz. I have reflashed router with both current firmware as well as previous versions and done multiple factory resets. All to no avail. Netgear is sending a new router, but I doubt that will solve anything because I hooked up a previous RBR50 (I initially bought 1 router and 1 satellite bundle and needed more coverage so I bought 1 router 2 satellite bundle from Costco and added additonal satellite from previous system). On a whim, I went ahead and hooked up previous router and was clocking speeds hardwired to router with PC as I did with initial setup. Here's the kicker, in order to for firmware updated satellites to sync with old router, the router has to be upgraded to latest firmware. And that's where it all goes to hell. Once I did that, same awful throttling of speed as stated above. And when I reflash firmware back to old and do factory reset, the speeds don't improve. Has to be something lingering from firmware upgrade causing the issue. At any rate, if I can't get a solution soon, I'll be moving on to a different network....Orbi has been a tremendous headache and waste of time. System is trash with current firmware no matter what settings you use.
FURRYe38
Apr 01, 2020Guru - Experienced User
You have the option and choice to go back to FW that had been working for you.
You can also try Voxels FW as well:
Working for others as well:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-is-not-supporting-900Mb-on-the-WAN-to-LAN-test/m-p/1827295/highlight/true#M76372
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/New-RBR50-Satellite-setup-some-thoughts-and-questions/m-p/1695161/highlight/true#M50762
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Download-speed-cut-in-half-on-wired-connection/m-p/1695372/highlight/true#M50815
If downgrading doesn't work then you have the option to contact NG support and ask for there help and see if a RMA is an option for you.
Good Luck.
NaterGator wrote:I promise you this is an issue with firmware. I have similar problems. I have an RBR50 with 3 satellites (4000 sq ft home). I have fiber with 1 GB service. PC is hardwired to router. When I first set up network, I was clocking speeds on PC that were equal to speeds clocked when hooked up directly to ONT; anywhere from 866-940ish MBPS everytime. Over wireless I would get speeds of 380-550 MBPS depending on location within the home. Following firmware updates (i'm currently running V2.5.1.8) my PC now clocks no higher than 200-240 MBPS and my wireless speeds are no better than 40-90 MBPS.
I have been round and round with Netgear. I've changed channel settings to 11 for 2.4 GHz and 40 and/or 48 for 5 Ghz. I have reflashed router with both current firmware as well as previous versions and done multiple factory resets. All to no avail. Netgear is sending a new router, but I doubt that will solve anything because I hooked up a previous RBR50 (I initially bought 1 router and 1 satellite bundle and needed more coverage so I bought 1 router 2 satellite bundle from Costco and added additonal satellite from previous system). On a whim, I went ahead and hooked up previous router and was clocking speeds hardwired to router with PC as I did with initial setup. Here's the kicker, in order to for firmware updated satellites to sync with old router, the router has to be upgraded to latest firmware. And that's where it all goes to hell. Once I did that, same awful throttling of speed as stated above. And when I reflash firmware back to old and do factory reset, the speeds don't improve. Has to be something lingering from firmware upgrade causing the issue. At any rate, if I can't get a solution soon, I'll be moving on to a different network....Orbi has been a tremendous headache and waste of time. System is trash with current firmware no matter what settings you use.
- Retired_MemberApr 01, 2020
FURRYe38 wrote:You have the option and choice to go back to FW that had been working for you.
You can also try Voxels FW as well:
Working for others as well:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-RBR50-is-not-supporting-900Mb-on-the-WAN-to-LAN-test/m-p/1827295/highlight/true#M76372
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/New-RBR50-Satellite-setup-some-thoughts-and-questions/m-p/1695161/highlight/true#M50762
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Download-speed-cut-in-half-on-wired-connection/m-p/1695372/highlight/true#M50815If downgrading doesn't work then you have the option to contact NG support and ask for there help and see if a RMA is an option for you.
Good Luck.
NaterGator wrote:I promise you this is an issue with firmware. I have similar problems. I have an RBR50 with 3 satellites (4000 sq ft home). I have fiber with 1 GB service. PC is hardwired to router. When I first set up network, I was clocking speeds on PC that were equal to speeds clocked when hooked up directly to ONT; anywhere from 866-940ish MBPS everytime. Over wireless I would get speeds of 380-550 MBPS depending on location within the home. Following firmware updates (i'm currently running V2.5.1.8) my PC now clocks no higher than 200-240 MBPS and my wireless speeds are no better than 40-90 MBPS.
I have been round and round with Netgear. I've changed channel settings to 11 for 2.4 GHz and 40 and/or 48 for 5 Ghz. I have reflashed router with both current firmware as well as previous versions and done multiple factory resets. All to no avail. Netgear is sending a new router, but I doubt that will solve anything because I hooked up a previous RBR50 (I initially bought 1 router and 1 satellite bundle and needed more coverage so I bought 1 router 2 satellite bundle from Costco and added additonal satellite from previous system). On a whim, I went ahead and hooked up previous router and was clocking speeds hardwired to router with PC as I did with initial setup. Here's the kicker, in order to for firmware updated satellites to sync with old router, the router has to be upgraded to latest firmware. And that's where it all goes to hell. Once I did that, same awful throttling of speed as stated above. And when I reflash firmware back to old and do factory reset, the speeds don't improve. Has to be something lingering from firmware upgrade causing the issue. At any rate, if I can't get a solution soon, I'll be moving on to a different network....Orbi has been a tremendous headache and waste of time. System is trash with current firmware no matter what settings you use.
Still in denial?
- NaterGatorApr 01, 2020Initiate
Really wish you all would read my entire post before responding with suggestions I already outlined as attempted and failed. As far as attempting FW reversion, let me be more specific. If I revert to firmware version 2.3.5.30, there is no change in performance. Any FW version prior to that, and I can't get satellites to sync so though I may see improved throughput with wired connection to PC, my wireless network coverage is then insufficient....and wireless is what serves 98% of my devices.
As for an RMA, I have already had one issued and new a router is on the way. I'm highly skeptical it will work, however, because the hardware is clearly not the issue as demosntrated by my use of a completely separate RBR50 router with same results. And newer router will likely come with the newer FW.
Add up the countless hours of troubleshooting coupled with the higher than average cost I paid for this mesh network given reviews and netgear's claims of industry leading throughput and design.....all to be foiled by software engineers who can't competently roll out functional FW....yeah, VAJim, I'm still in denial.
So in summary, pay $700 for router and satellites, set up, works great, Netgear releases FW update, and performance is now no better than DSL with an old N protocol wireless router. Bottom line: system of this cost and hype, shouldn't require so much troubleshooting and workarounds....especially as a result of simple FW update. And phone tech support is the typical laundry list of setting changes to try with no results. Had hoped to come across something more meaningful within the community....instead, just more of the same.
- mactwistzApr 01, 2020Aspiranthi , i just investigate my slow internet speed and i have the same problem as the OP.
here the proof , 4-5 mbit download via wifi , modem tested , i have a 1.5gbit plan.
ive reset both modem and mesh system , still have slow speed , dont know where to start for fix, thanks