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Forum Discussion
kbonin
Jun 16, 2024Aspirant
RBS850: I updated my RBR850 firmware before my RBS850 satellite and now can’t detect my satellite
I can’t detect my RBS850 after updating the firmware on my RBR850. I realize I was supposed to update the RBS850 first. What do I do to detect it again? Thanks
CrimpOn
Jun 16, 2024Guru - Experienced User
Download the previous firmware from the support web site.
Manually load the previous firmware to the router.
Then reboot.
kbonin
Jun 17, 2024Aspirant
Thank you. I'll give it a try this evening when I'm done working.
I should have mentioned that I also pressed the factory reset button on the satellite (using a paperclip). Do you think this could impact your suggested solution?
- CrimpOnJun 17, 2024Guru - Experienced User
The key is to get the router and satellite to link up again on the same firmware version. If they do not, then it may be necessary to perform the "Add Orbi Satellite" process and then manually update the satellite firmware before updating the router firmware.
- kboninJun 17, 2024AspirantThanks. I tried “add Orbi satellite” multiple times but it didn’t work. The light never turns solid white in the beginning and either goes to solid blue or magenta at the end.
- CrimpOnJun 17, 2024Guru - Experienced User
If the root of the problem is that the router is on a different firmware release than the satellite, then restoring the ability to connect requires having them both on the same firmware version.
This may be why Netgear's advice is to update the satellite firmware first. The logic seems to be:
- When they are both on the same firmware, they can communicate so the router can push new firmware to the satellite.
- When the satellite reboots after updating firmware, it can no longer communicate.
- Updating the router firmware means that after it reboots they are both on the same firmware release again and can communicate.
Please note that people on the forum are not Netgear employees and certainly not Netgear software engineers. If I had been the person implementing this system, I would not have wanted it to be so easy to create a situation where the customer can no longer access the satellite at all, for example to learn which firmware was actually on the satellite. I have no idea if the Netgear engineer intended it to work this way, or if our understanding is even accurate.