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Forum Discussion
thebishop
Feb 01, 2017Apprentice
Orbi drops wifi for iPad Pro, iPhone 7 and Macbook Pro intermittently
Running 1.4.0.34 on both main Orbi and sattelite (main and sattelite are on different floors with wall between, perhaps 20-25 feet distance straight line). I generally have "5 bars" of Wifi on al...
- Jul 11, 2017
Hello Everyone
We have release firmware version 1.12.0.18 this firmware has fixes for disconnects and many more I posted the release notes below.
https://kb.netgear.com/000044171/RBR50-Firmware-Version-1-12-0-18
If you are still having issues after updating your Orbi unit you may want to factory reset the Orbi and test again. If you are still having disconnect issues or other issues with this firmware please create a new thread or contact our support team.
http://www.netgear.com/support/contact.aspx
Thanks
DarrenM
MachineLearner
Jun 03, 2017Apprentice
Dr. Cal,
We are running latest version of OS X Sierra (10.12.5) on our Macs, and aren't having any problems with the Orbi. I have read that OS X 10.10. x versions have had lots of wifi issues with non-Apple routers. Not sure about El Capitan, which I believe is 10.11.x. We had an Airport Extreme router until 2 weeks ago, which of course worked well with all versions of OS X, and we've been on OS X 10.12.5 since before we got the Orbi. I also installed the Orbi with all default settings, and applied the latest Orbi firmware update right away. We have had terrific performance from the Orbi so far.
js
DrCal
Jun 03, 2017Star
Thanks MachineLearner. I'll try to get X Sierra and see what happens.
I was able to make MBP work for 30 min last night before the WiFi connection dropped again. I just followed recommendations from this thread, e.g. set 2.4GH to channel 11, reduce power to 50%, 5.0GH to 48, 100%, DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, MU-MIMO disabled, etc.
- ikjadoonJun 03, 2017Star
Out of curiosity, when this happens to your Apple devices, does it also happen to other non-Apple dvices?
I mean, is this same as the general Orbi WiFi flakiness / disconnections? Or this issue on this thread is specific to only Apple devices?
We've got iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows all dropping: the WiFi just drops dead every few hours. It comes back within a minute, but it's frustrating. And we're on V1.10.1.2, which seems quite newer than what this thread's OP started with. MIMO and beamforming were disabled by default; I enabled it back because Netgear writes this and that sounds like fixing the exact problem we're having. If this doesn't fix it, I'll reset it back. Hoping/praying this new beta update actually fixes this.
Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING - Boosts WiFi speed, reliability, & range for all mobile devices
- DrCalJun 03, 2017Star
I was told today by Tech Support that the new beta FW discussed in this forum is only for RBR50, not for my RBR40 running FW V1.10.1.2. They also told me my case had been escalated to next level, they would get back to me within 24-48 hours.
- ikjadoonJun 04, 2017Star
Well, the issue persists even after enabling Implicit Beamforming/MU-MIMO.
Netgear needs to change their poor writing there: it's confusing if an option that "increases speed, reliability, and range" is disabled by default, especially when that option purports to fix the very issue affecting hundreds (or ostensibly thousands) of your users.
If this next FW update doesn't fix all the disconnection issues, I'm returning this Orbi and making sure to alert various review sites of this prevalent problem. No point in giving something a glowing review and not mentioning that a large number of users are having difficulties.
No point in being held hostage by Netgear's firmware developers who, like almost all software developers have very little incentive to fix something in a consumer device, after the device had been sold. If initial reviews had mentioned this issue, I'm sure Netgear would've developed a fix faster.
- DrCalJun 04, 2017Star
ikjadoon,
Agreed. I for one bought Orbi after reading rave reviews from BestBuy and other sites, only to find out the system has problematic WiFi connection especially with many Apple devices. We can't blame Apple since other brand routers seem to work just fine. I didn't return my purchase right away because I did see the potential, e.g. devices connected to Orbi satellites do show more stable and faster internet than before, wireless coverage is good (for iDevices as well except intermittent access to internet). Netgear apparently knows the problem, but why it took so long to develop a fix? Following is the message I got this morning from their level 2 support.
"Please be informed that our engineers are still working on this case.
By the way, is it possible to update your computer to Sierra? Because we have similar cases wherein it worked after the upgrade.
Regards,
Expert ID: 8316
NETGEAR L2 Support Expert" - DrCalJun 04, 2017Star
Clarification. By " devices connected to Orbi satellites do show more stable and faster internet than before..." I meant devices hard wired to Orbi satellites...