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C6300 firmware update
I discovered that my R6300 Modem/Router is in need of a firmware update. By all accounts I can not do this myself in the usual fashion and everything I am reading says that my ISP must do the update....
@Belcantor Looks like the issue you have is a minor bug that has been fixed and will be available in next FW release once Comcast has approved it and pushes it out. In the meantime there is a work around you can use to address. So in order to avoid issues with DNS you need to make sure all 3 DNS fields are filled out.
Workaround for C6300 Minor DNS Bug:
1. Log into your C6300
2. Go to Advanced > Setup > Internet Setup
3. On Internet Setup page select Use these DNS Servers.
4. Fill in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary DNS server boxes.
5. For Primary and Secondary DNS use Comcast DNS and for Tertiary either copy the 2nd DNS server to it or use 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 or 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1. For best performance and security you probably want to use the Cloud Flare DNS 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1
6. Once all the DNS settings have been specified click apply and you should be good to go.
PS: If you need more info on 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 DNSs you can see it here https://1.1.1.1/
Looking around the cable forums there seems to be lot of questions complaints about firmware updates. Please note that the firmware update process for cable products is determined by the DOCSIS specification and in that specification regardless of what brand of cable modem you have the firmware update process is always the same the firmware has to be pushed out by the ISP. When it comes to ISP some ISPs are better than others some are not.
For Netgear when Netgear has new firmware for a cable product they provide it to ISPs some ISP like Comcast, Spectrum, Cox requires certification so Netgear will provide those ISP with firmware which they then test and certify. Once the firmware has been certified by ISP, the ISP will determine when and how they will push that firmware out to their customers.
Some ISPs will push the FW right away to all their users some will not, some ISPs will not. Some will push firmware to devices by region and etc. The point here is that once the firmware has been given to ISP and they certify it Netgear has no control of ISPs willingness to push that firmware to users or not.
Now let’s put ourselves in ISPs shoes hypothetically speaking let’s say I am an ISP who supports Netgear, Arris, Cisco and Motorola Cable Modems that users can buy in the retail space at the same time I have couple of modems I provide to customers at a monthly rental fee of $5 to $10 dollars a month and I have a batch of 100, 000 customers. If I rent the modems to all 100,000 users I am making re-occurring revenue of 500,000 to 1,000,000 dollars a month. If I let 50,000 of those users by their own modem and I fully support them no questions asked that’s a revenue loss of 250,000 a month.
Based on the hypothetical example above you can see why some ISPs are hesitant about pushing the firmware updates to your devices if they can convince you to rent a modem from them.
So let’s stop blaming Netgear, Cisco, Arris and other modem makers for lack of firmware updates from ISPs. Furthermore, if you are with a smaller ISP that does not have the latest fw for your product you can have their system engineer fill out the firmware request form found here http://www.netgear.com/service-providers/contact-us/CableMSO.aspx
Sorry for the long post for those of you that have issues with DNS on C6300 I would recommend to DM one of the moderators with your issue description and contact details so you can work with support to resolve the issue(s)
The problem isn't getting the firmware update. the problem is is that the firmware has been modified so that the DNS servers from Comcast are hardwired in and you can't change them. This is so even on customer-owned modems.
@Belcantor Looks like the issue you have is a minor bug that has been fixed and will be available in next FW release once Comcast has approved it and pushes it out. In the meantime there is a work around you can use to address. So in order to avoid issues with DNS you need to make sure all 3 DNS fields are filled out.
Workaround for C6300 Minor DNS Bug:
1. Log into your C6300
2. Go to Advanced > Setup > Internet Setup
3. On Internet Setup page select Use these DNS Servers.
4. Fill in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary DNS server boxes.
5. For Primary and Secondary DNS use Comcast DNS and for Tertiary either copy the 2nd DNS server to it or use 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 or 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1. For best performance and security you probably want to use the Cloud Flare DNS 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1
6. Once all the DNS settings have been specified click apply and you should be good to go.
PS: If you need more info on 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 DNSs you can see it here https://1.1.1.1/
- So this workaround will result in bypassing the Comcast DNS servers and use whatever is in the tertiary DNS field?
- Your suggestion to enter DNS ips in all three fields worked. Entered Comcast up 75.75.75.75 in first two fields and 1.0.0.1 in tertiary field and applied change. Then replaced the first two fields with Google's DNS and hit apply and it worked. Ipconfig then showed Google's DNS on all devices downstream from the router. Kudos. Unfortunate that Comcast couldn't explain this without me spending 3 or 4 hours on the phone over 3 days. A further update on Comcast tech support; not only is the business tech support willing to help non-business customers, but there is a group called high speed internet tech support you can speak with by asking for them. My advice? Avoid the consumer tech support and you will avoid major hassles.