R7960P firmware not upgrading

You've not really been all that specific about your issue here.   Was your R7900 router working fine, and then stopped after an upgrade attempt.  What firmware version do you have now?   When you say that you've tried rolling back firmware, from which version, to which version.    You also didn't mention how you've been testing, e.g.  what devices you've been connecting via 2.4 versus 5G bands, do they both experience identical problems, are you right next to the router when testing, is it dropping the connect in certain areas of your house, is this a new router, or old?

This thread generally just describes a problem with ONE, single router firmware version:  V1.4.1.50_1.3.10
No one here has spoken of router problems with previous versions, in my case, I'm on V1.4.1.44_1.3.5.

So, I'll make a couple of blanket observations that may or may not help you.

1)  2.4 Ghz bands have a longer range, 5 Ghz, are better, closer to the router.  2.4 Ghz penetrate structures better than 5 Ghz, but 5 Ghz, will always be your faster connection, as long as you CAN connect.  Remember those facts as you test against these bands.
2)  In my experience with cable modems and routers, they last somewhere about 18 months, sometimes twice that, but they definitely degrade over time.  You can see the cable modem problems by reviewing "correctables" and "uncorrectables", as well as power levels on your Admin cable connection utility map.  There isn't an easy way to diagnose router problems, but they all lose range and the ability to hold connections in time, again, this is in my personal, 35 years of experience.  Firmware upgrades don't change that.  Mainly, they plug security holes or add a few new features.
3) I recently upgraded from an R7900 to R7960.   I was having trouble with all my phone and PC/laptop devices.  I didn't have problems with, say my cell phones on public networks, and I had several laptops with the same problem.  I guessed that the R7900 was going south.   So, I first tried a mesh router extender, with no real success, and then went to the R7960, again, with very little improvement.  At that point, I tried a "hail Mary" pass, and bought a new $15 wireless adapter for my laptop.  Well, shazam!   From 10-12 mbps, and an unstable connection, to 220 mbps, with a bulletproof connection.  Then I upgraded our several year old cell phones, and again, 220 mbps from anywhere in the (3000 sq ft, 3 story) house, and out on the street.  Turns out, it was my old devices that were aging out, and the original R7900 router, was doing just fine (though the R7960 is much better).

Moral(s) of the story:  
a) Test with multiple devices.  You can get phone apps, Netgear nighthawk has one, and there's I use called "WiFi Analyzer", that will show your router signal strength in relation to other routers nearby, including channel conflicts.  There's also some that will map your signal strength out all over your house, and help as you adjust the attenas to achive maximum broadcast effective range.  Test near and test far, from the router.

b) Obviously, if you're having problems with a PC/laptop connection, the first test is to eliminate the wireless AND the router.  Connect direclty to the your cable modem, reboot, and verify that you have a good signal (high mbps) to your cable modem.  Second, test by wire from your router to PC; there should be almost no dropoff in MBPS.  (If you do see significant drop off, try swapping your Cat5/6 cable between router and cable modem with a new, CAT6 wire.)

c)  Upgrade to the lastest available firmware before the buggy 1.4.1.50 version.  (You can locate and download a file with that earlier firmware to your PC, then connect to the router via CAT6 wire to your PC, and in the R7900 admin dialogue, under router update, use the "browse" feature to locate, and upload the file (unzip it first)).

d)  If ALL your network devices are old (as mine apparently were), try getting a friend or neighbor with a new phone to test against your router.   PC adapters have firmware updates as well, and you should ensure that you're on the latest version.   If you're using an older laptop, try my $15 solution, i.e. a new USB adapter.   You may ultimately need to upgrade your devices.  Network routers and adapters DEFINITELY have a limited life expectancy.  If if they "work" after years of use, they are probably working degraded, i.e. producing FM waves that are no longer in spec.

If all else fails, pick up a new router, save the receipt, install and test.   If it doesn't fix the problem, return it, and call a professional/cable company for help.  Most cable companies will now send you a combo modem/router, and no longer charge monthly fees (least mine doesn't; they'd prefer to have everyone on their equipment - fewer service calls).

Good luck.  Hope some of this helps you.


Juice_22 wrote:

I'm having the same issue. I opened a support case 2 weeks ago and support was initially responsive, since last Thursday they have ignored me. I've tried rolling back firmware without luck.  And my 2 5GHz bands will randomly lose the connection.  It's usually the second one that causes me more issues, but it will periodically lose the first 5 GHz band, but I have seen issues with the 2.4GHz band, but that's been very infrequent. I can't believe that their support teams are not helping us.

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