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Forum Discussion
XAV101 - problem after firmware update
I have two XAV101's. They were working fine when installed out of the box. But I wanted to set up the network security and I couldn't seem to get that to work with the buttons, so I installed the Configuration Utility from the CD with the product.
When installing, it said there was a newer version and did I want to install that - I said yes. It was version 2.x of the configuration utility (which I can't find on-line - I can only find 1.1 (1.0.0.7). In any case after installing the software advised me that there is a firmware update. So I installed the firmware update on both devices.
After installing the firmware updates, my units will no longer communicate with each other. The XAV101 that is plugged into my router (local unit) shows power light solid green and ethernet light solid green. Powerline light is off.
The remote unit has the power light blinking green. No other lights. I have left these plugged in much longer than 5 minutes to ensure they can link. They can't... So no longer working.
If I plug the remote unit into my router also I can see the configs for each XAV101 but they will not link via Powerline. Firware version in the Configuration Utility is INT6000-MAC-3-3-3348-00-2764-20080808-F-NA-02.
I have since tried installing the configuration utility 1.1 to see if I could flash the firmware to an older version - no firmware availalbe with 1.1. I can't find ANY firmware for the XAV101 on the Netgear site.
What can I do to resolve this? Is this firmware bad? Where do I get a previous firmware?
When installing, it said there was a newer version and did I want to install that - I said yes. It was version 2.x of the configuration utility (which I can't find on-line - I can only find 1.1 (1.0.0.7). In any case after installing the software advised me that there is a firmware update. So I installed the firmware update on both devices.
After installing the firmware updates, my units will no longer communicate with each other. The XAV101 that is plugged into my router (local unit) shows power light solid green and ethernet light solid green. Powerline light is off.
The remote unit has the power light blinking green. No other lights. I have left these plugged in much longer than 5 minutes to ensure they can link. They can't... So no longer working.
If I plug the remote unit into my router also I can see the configs for each XAV101 but they will not link via Powerline. Firware version in the Configuration Utility is INT6000-MAC-3-3-3348-00-2764-20080808-F-NA-02.
I have since tried installing the configuration utility 1.1 to see if I could flash the firmware to an older version - no firmware availalbe with 1.1. I can't find ANY firmware for the XAV101 on the Netgear site.
What can I do to resolve this? Is this firmware bad? Where do I get a previous firmware?
22 Replies
- Thank you jtrosky. I started off with both of my XAV101's having the blinking power light when they were the remote unit, but now have them both back working. The website and utility you suggested worked like a charm!
- Had exactly the same problem with firmware upgrade and found out, that the version of updated firmware was NOT identically to the one which is mentioned in the description of current Config Utility release (given on support page). Don´t know why, but probably the Config Utility forces and upgrade to an older, instable FW version. Nevertheless, Netgear support wasn´t able to help! They told me to perform the upgrade only if the powerline adapter is locally connected to the PC. Did it for both devices which I just have returned, but again with the same result! I returned the devices a second time and will now skip the prompt for FW upgrade. By the way: Who is responsible for the really bad german translation of the Config Utility and the upgrade tool? There´s no way to select the install-language, even after de-installation and re-installation it will bring back the ugly german version ..... Can´t believe all this!!!!!!! This is not worth the money and nerves it costs .......
tstumpe wrote: Had exactly the same problem with firmware upgrade and found out, that the version of updated firmware was NOT identically to the one which is mentioned in the description of current Config Utility release (given on support page). Don´t know why, but probably the Config Utility forces and upgrade to an older, instable FW version. Nevertheless, Netgear support wasn´t able to help! They told me to perform the upgrade only if the powerline adapter is locally connected to the PC. Did it for both devices which I just have returned, but again with the same result! I returned the devices a second time and will now skip the prompt for FW upgrade. By the way: Who is responsible for the really bad german translation of the Config Utility and the upgrade tool? There´s no way to select the install-language, even after de-installation and re-installation it will bring back the ugly german version ..... Can´t believe all this!!!!!!! This is not worth the money and nerves it costs .......
Do yourself a favor and go to the site mentioned above and use the Intellion tools and firmware and be done with it... Let's face it, the Netgear support is useless anyway, so why stick with their "version" of the firmware and utlities when you can get the stuff directly from the folks that REALLY make this product (Intellion)!- I notice that on the XAV101 release note
Firmware Version 3.3.4 Features
1.Support Firmware Upgrade Utility with firmware file v3.3.4
2.Support power save mode (sleep mode). Device will go into power saving mode if RJ45 port don’t connected.
3.Improve push to security function and change the security button behavior as below
Did anyone check on the issue with ethernet cable plug in or without? - Are any of you still experiencing issues after the firmware upgrade done by the utility?
- There is no issue with the firmware.
The new firmware includes a new power save feature, which puts the PowerLine units to sleep if there is no network activity from the RJ45 port.
- when a unit goes into the power saving, it would shutdown the powerline to save power, so it’s not connected through the powerline. The utility will not see the unit.
- all LED are off with the power LED blinking to indicate it’s in the power saving mode.
- with the active Ethernet link, the unit will wake up and resume the powerline connection automatically.
When you are using the Intellion utility you are effectively downgrading the XAV101 to an older firmware, so please go ahead and use the utility to update the units and see if the units work properly once you try to actually use the network connection. - Dooku you're absolutely right!
It works perfectly: as soon as a connection is estabilished the 3 leds start working again and the unit is seen by the netgear utility!
The awful thing is that I explained this problem to netgear support and they probably ignored this feature and therefore changed me two upgraded adapter :eek:
BTW Does anyone know ho to downgrade back to netgear 3.3.4 firmware from intellion, please?
Thanks - Try connecting to the adapters using the XAV utility and see if you can upgrade them using that. Make sure to use the new utility http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4006
- I'm already using 2.0.0.3 utill but unfortunately it lists all the devices, including the "Intellion" one, without asking me to upgrade it.
Thank you very much for your hints.
Any other ideas? Dooku wrote:
When you are using the Intellion utility you are effectively downgrading the XAV101 to an older firmware, so please go ahead and use the utility to update the units and see if the units work properly once you try to actually use the network connection.
Just because a firmware is newer, doesn't mean that it is better. I believe that all of the Netgear firmware comes from Intellion (you can probably get the same version or newer on the Intellion site).
All I know is that the Netgear firmware update failed and made my unit useless. Netgear support was completely useless. They would have had me RMA the unit which was not needed. The Intellion firmware allowed me to get my units operational very quickly and they have been more stable with the Intellion firmware. Like I said above - while I'm sure you can get the newer firmware from Intellion as well, just because it's newer doesn't mean it's better!
I would never go back to Netgear firmware now, since they are just a "middleman" between Intellion and the device. Plus, support is virtually non-existent if you have an issue with the Netgear firmware.
Just my opinion, of course!
