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Forum Discussion
randellx
Oct 12, 2021Tutor
R7800 firmware question
Hi everyone... I have a firmware question. I have an r7800 with 1.0.2.46 that works fine, fast and stable, very basic setup... 4 devices 2.4 and 5 g and everything disabled not needed. But.. I know ....
Kitsap
Oct 13, 2021Master
Voxel is a polished and refined version of the Netgear stock firmware. Details can be found here: http://www.voxel-firmware.com/Downloads/Voxel/html/r7800.html
There is an active Voxel group over on Small Netbuilders Forums: https://www.snbforums.com/forums/netgear-ac-wireless.53/
Here is the thread on his most recent release: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/custom-firmware-build-for-r7800-v-1-0-2-88sf.74425/
Once you put his firmware on your R7800 you will not look back. However, it is possible to revert back to Netgear stock simply by flashing the stock firmware.
randellx wrote:Any thoughts on that or anything else on firmware updates would be very welcome.Thanks again... Randell
randellx
Oct 14, 2021Tutor
Thanks for the suggestion and the links! Much appreciated. I will most likely update my NG firmware first and then do some more checking on Voxel, sounds like an improvement on NG firmware from what I can tell and may very well be the way to go. Thanks again...Randell
Anyone have a recommendation for NG other than the latest .84? May not matter as much with Voxel available.
- KitsapOct 14, 2021Master
You have to look close to tell that Voxel is installed. See attached.
- randellxOct 14, 2021Tutor
You're right, it does look like the NG setup. I may have to rethink this thing. I had considered Voxel and sort of chickened out and decided to stick with NG, but it seems there have been quite a few problems with NG firmware for some time (basically why I stuck with .46 until it got ridiculous...never had any problems, fast and very stable for me). If Voxel is more stable and dependable than NG in general and I can install Voxel directly over .46 (by following the instructions)... that may be the best way to go for me. It will be awhile until I have the time for it, so I have a little time to consider. Thanks for your input and your time, I do appreciate it!... Randell
- michaelkenwardOct 14, 2021Guru - Experienced User
randellx wrote:
.... (basically why I stuck with .46 until it got ridiculous...never had any problems, fast and very stable for me).
Your firmware is four years old.
The R7800 seems to be one of the few devices that has not suffered from the firmware rot that has affected too many devices.
Early on in this discussion FURRYe38 linked to a chat about 1.0.2.84 just after it landed. The main issue was on anything but standard router mode, for example it doesn't like wireless bridge and access point modes.
The main "feature" of the R7800, still Netgear's most reliable router for many people, is that it doesn't have any fancy bells and whistles to get in the way, like Armor and Circle. The R7800 was the "chassis" for the first DumaOS gaming router, but you can't slap DumaOS on to the standard router.
Like other devices, Netgear has gradually whittled away at the router's features, ditching free parental controls for example, but that is partly down to the servers at its end rather than in the router's firmware.
Read the various release notes to see if they kill something important to you. For example:
Note that starting with this firmware release (V1.0.2.82), the following features are no longer supported: ReadySHARE Vault, OpenDNS (Live Parental Controls), remote GUI access, and WPS PIN function. If you want to continue using these features, do not update the firmware.
Contrary to some earlier claims, there have been times in the past – I've been around long long time – when Netgear has required upgrading to an intermediate version before going the whole hog. I don't think that has happened on the R7800, but anyone trying a huge leap will soon learn about it.