Orbi Wifi 6 AX6000 Is a Disaster, Do NOT Buy!

EchostormFury
Apprentice
Nov 15, 2019
So I've had some people criticize my intial thoughts and review on my video stating that this is a new hardware generation and that we should expect less from Netgear. Here's my issue about that point though:

The issue with the original Orbi was it was new tech at the time, the Orbi Wi-Fi 6 has had years of development time as it is based on the same backhaul as the previous generations, even if it needed more time for software and hardware engineering then they should have taken it. It was vaguely pitched and not transparent of Netgear of what we were even getting. Many like me were hopeful that it was at least as developed as the prior generation which Netgear should have realized that we were going to compare it against, not just other random Wi-Fi 6 routers. If it sold it as an Orbi it should live up to the Orbi feature set. You wouldn’t expect the next Xbox or PS5 to do less than the previous generation without explicitly telling you so. Likewise I bet most people who preordered like me were expecting Orbi to perform at least where the previous generation did if not more so with Wi-Fi 6. This is the review cautioning that it does not currently. I agree, once it has all the features implemented I will probably buy it again.
GrumpyandDopey
Aspirant
Nov 15, 2019
Some additional information:

I have 2 AX6000 Orbi routers:

RBR850 (65L19979A13FB)
RBR850 (65L1997BA1408)

With the first one
Powered down my network. Started the CM1100 then plugged the RBR850 in and went through the setup steps. 30 seconds in while trying to download the new software release, my cable modem power cycled. This happened 4 times with the same result.

With the second one. Powered down my network. Started the CM1100 then plugged the RBR850 in and went through the setup steps. It said I had internet connectivity and the modem stayed up. While trying to download the new software release, it said I did not have internet access. This happened 4 times with the same result.

I’ve been asked by support to reset the RBR850s and try again which I will do. Netgear support is totally clueless.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Nov 15, 2019
  Can you manually install the FW files for the RBS and RBR after downloading them to a wired PC. After loading the RBS first then RBR, factory reset the RBS and RBR and setup from scratch.
  
  I'll check this out this evening or this weekend with mine. I just put my CM1100 online the other night. Will be putting my RBK852 back online this evening or weekend. Depending on when I can get some time.
  GrumpyandDopey wrote:
  Some additional information:
  
  I have 2 AX6000 Orbi routers:
  
  RBR850 (65L19979A13FB)
  RBR850 (65L1997BA1408)
  
  With the first one
  Powered down my network. Started the CM1100 then plugged the RBR850 in and went through the setup steps. 30 seconds in while trying to download the new software release, my cable modem power cycled. This happened 4 times with the same result.
  
  With the second one. Powered down my network. Started the CM1100 then plugged the RBR850 in and went through the setup steps. It said I had internet connectivity and the modem stayed up. While trying to download the new software release, it said I did not have internet access. This happened 4 times with the same result.
  
  I’ve been asked by support to reset the RBR850s and try again which I will do. Netgear support is totally clueless.
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Nov 16, 2019
  OK, RBK852 went online about an hour ago behing my CM1100 modem. Speeds wired with a PC are 900/50. WIll see if I notice anything odd with the modem. I have rebooted the RBR a couple of times aready. I haven't seen anything as of yet.
  GrumpyandDopey wrote:
  Some additional information:
  
  I have 2 AX6000 Orbi routers:
  
  RBR850 (65L19979A13FB)
  RBR850 (65L1997BA1408)
  
  With the first one
  Powered down my network. Started the CM1100 then plugged the RBR850 in and went through the setup steps. 30 seconds in while trying to download the new software release, my cable modem power cycled. This happened 4 times with the same result.
  
  With the second one. Powered down my network. Started the CM1100 then plugged the RBR850 in and went through the setup steps. It said I had internet connectivity and the modem stayed up. While trying to download the new software release, it said I did not have internet access. This happened 4 times with the same result.
  
  I’ve been asked by support to reset the RBR850s and try again which I will do. Netgear support is totally clueless.
- GrumpyandDopey
  Aspirant
  Nov 16, 2019
  OK so I finally was able to get the router and a satellite up. First I took the router I had and manually updated the software, with the cable modem down. Once I got it updated, I started the modem and was able to get internet access with one of the routers (but not the other one). I then paired the satelite and had them going, until they rebooted themselves after 40 minutes. I did this three times and have decided to give up, they are not ready for prime time.
  
  While I had the new solution up I did a speedtest and I'm not getting the performance I was getting out of the old system
  
  There are features I need that aren't there yet in the product, like not advertising my ssid, although they are in the prior version of the product. I've decided I'm tired of fixing Netgear's problems.
  
  've worked at Cisco in networking, Polycom and Dell on their SDN product. If I released software and hardware like this, I would have ben fired.
  
  Good luck and see you in a few months when the basic bugs in functionality have been worked out.
  - EchostormFury
    Apprentice
    Nov 16, 2019
    Yep I think it will get there eventually, but right now it is unfit for launch.

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Orbi Wifi 6 AX6000 Is a Disaster, Do NOT Buy!