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I have a running support case with the latest v15 firmware not reliably working
I have a running support case with the latest v15 firmware not reliably working for some Ethernet connected devices to the RBR860 router. These devices include an LG TV and MacBook Pro. They work fine on WiFi or on Ethernet on a satellite but not the RBR860. LG is unable to stream on any services like Netflix and Speedtest on MacBook is awful and won't even support a remote support session from NETGEAR. Reverting to the previous firmware and it's fine!
It's an odd one but very reproducible and NETGEAR has acknowledged the issue specific to my environment. I'm not sure if others on the RBR860 have issue with Ethernet connected MacBook and LG TV.
21 Replies
No but I've upgraded and then downgraded numerous times for each callback from Netgear for their troubleshooting. I'm sceptical of a factory reset but I could try this to prove a point either way.
Ideally, a factory reset and setup from scratch via the RBR web GUI should be done after upgrades if issues are seen, especially for significant updates with many changes. v15 is quite a significant update, so a reset should be done if you are having issues.
Also I would try first disabling IPv6 if it's enabled.
Using ISP detected DNS or custom DNS?
Is IPv6 enabled on the RBR?
What brand and model# ISP modem or ONT is the RBR connected too?
If you updated and haven't done a reset and setup from scratch, should be done to check this.
Hi Furrye38
I've tried both ISP DNS and custom (8.8.8.8 etc) and I'm now using pihole for DNS and DHCP. None of my DNS or DHCP changes impact the issue on v15.
IPv6 is disabled.
Nokia Hyperfibre 2000, model: XS-2500WX-A that my fibre telco (Chrous) refers to as an ONT-110. Details here: https://www.chorus.co.nz/help/ont/hyperfibre-type-110. I have 2000up/2000down and for the most part its reliably at these speeds from the speedtests on the Orbi app and Web, which is remarkable in itself.
MTU is 1500 as per ISP/telco requirements for Hyperfibre. VLAN tag group ID 10 as per their reqs.
BTW the speedtests pass fine from the Orbi App and WebUI on v15 and also when the MackBook is connected to a satellite running v15. It's only an issue on router ethernet ports on v15, which is most odd. Sadly I can't wire my LG 4k TV to a satellite ethernet and it's not great on WiFi otherwise I would have lived with v15. I'm not bothered about the MacBook not working on the router ethernet on v15 and this was purely to prove a point - I mostly use the MacBook off a satellite in the study or roam on WiFi. I am using Cat6e patches and structured cabling.
I have a load of ethernet connected Pis into a switch on the router (some direct to router ports) and these don't seem to show any issues on v15 but they are just ticking over running stuff like pihole, HASS, Docker stuff, so I've not been able to confirm if Pi ethernet on v15 is unreliable as I haven't got an ookla Speedtest app on them to run up to the limits, but I will see if this is available and see how a Pi Speedtest behaves the next time I try v15.
Was this issue seen with v.21 FW loaded?
This is still an ongoing saga with Netgear support (since they released v7.2.7.15 early last year). I have upgraded the firmware from v7.2.6.31 to v7.2.7.15 around 20 separate times to reproduce the issue and to try numerous things and debug captures for Netgear. Each time I revert back in order to be able to stream on my TV, which needs to be ethernet connected as it's a 4K. This issue is only with the RBR860 Router's ethernet ports not the satellites. I suspect it's an introduced auto-negotiate or QoS bug in the firmware.
I noticed that v7.2.8.5 was released recently, so I tried updating to this, but unfortunately the issue comes back. So the latest firmware also exhibits the issue and this release must just resolve some security vulnerability.
I'm now researching alternative brands as my ISP will no longer honour the warranty on their supplied RBR860. I purchased my own satellites, so I cannot accept their alternative product they are offering to see if this resolves the issue, which of course it would, but would leave me without compatible satellites and their router would not provide sufficient coverage on its own. So my next potential step if this drags on for more months is to buy my own replacement high performance router and matching satellites and migrate away from Netgear, not using the ISP's current model which is a low performance model with not satellites.
I see.
Had the ISP had there own FW for the RBR860 or they accepted use of NGs Stock FW?
Was this issue seen with v.21 FW loaded?
FURRYe38​ It originally came with their own firmware but when I purchased my own satellites I standardised them all on a Netgear version and had no issues with that. The rationale for this was the guidance that the sat should be on the same firmware as the router and I was unable to source the ISP's firmware for the sats.
Which specific version are you referring to re v.21 and is it still available - I could try it out of curiosity?
Retired_Member​ yes one of the many troubleshooting sessions was a factory reset and minimal config to get Internet then upgrading to the 7.2.7.15 version. This eliminated any config corruption impacting the newer firmware.
I tried the latest 7.2.8.8 and this also gives the same result - the LG TV wired to the router cannot stream any of the streaming apps (Netflix, Apple TV, prime etc) and a wired MacBook speedtest drops to near zero. As soon as I revert to 7.2.6.31 full performance is restored on these wired endpoints. I've tried factory resetting and using the minimum configuration to get ISP connectivity and proved the issue is with wired connections to the router on all firmware since 7.2.6.31. Netgear Support even sent me a replacement RBR860 and this gave the same issue but worked fine once flashed back to 7.2.6.31.
Has anyone else got an LG TV G4 OLED or MacBook M1 and tried it wired back to their RBR860 and tried to stream or run the speedtest app?
I've created the attached graphic to show all the troubleshooting and connectivity modes I have tried - it should now include v7.2.8.8 as also failing.
I believe my case has been closed as the suggested work around was to wirelessly connect the TV, which works but its not as seamless when streaming 4K as wired at peak times. My guess is there's a code change to the way the ethernet hardware is managed since 7.2.6.31 that shows on router wired endpoints when streaming - QoS, bridging, auto-negotiate or flow control, but sadly Orbi doesn't have any configuration parameters for the ethernet interfaces to tweak like QoS.
BTW contrary to community guidance, I've been running the satellites on the newer firmware and now they are on 7.2.8.8 while the router is back on 7.2.6.31. All has been fine over the last 18 months with the satellites on newer firmware. I have tested with them all on the same firmware above 7.2.6.31 to prove this is not a factor.
FYI, I loaded my 850 series up last month. I found everything working accept for IPv6. IPv6 for ethernet devices does work however for wireless devices, they fail to get a IPv6 gateway address, thus wireless IPv6 is failing.
The AX series seems to be EoL and NG probably won't fix IPv6. So either use the newer FW as is and disable IPv6, revert FW back to a working version for IPv6, or keep most currentFW version on your Orbi system and configure it for AP Mode and connect it to a different host router that has fully working IPv6.
Good Luck.
