Hello, the latest firmware version V1.0.2.154 for the R8500 router appears to have broken DNS! I have to refresh pages multiple times to get them to load. Attached is the most common error. DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAINThis is happening with nearly every other website. The DNS is not resolving and requires multiple page refreshes. Happens in all browsers and other applications such as VPN/VDI software. I have tried multiple different DNS servers, including my ISP's (Spectrum) no change. This started happening IMMEDIATELY after applying firmware version V1.0.2.154. Please fix this!

Well, let me repeat, I've had nothing but trouble with Netgear for the past 2 years, zero support, lots of similar complaints on this forum and they advertise features they don't have. I've used Netgear for more than 10 years, but apparently they have now reached a level of complexity that they simply do not master. You can always find negative reviews (especially with generic remarks like "it doesn't work" about any product from any supplier, but so far my 4 node Asus XT8 mesh network far far far exceeds my expectations. And trust me, I have over 30 years of IT experience, so I'm quite used to bugs and workarounds. But Netgear has definitely lost a customer - first and foremost because they *never* respond to support requests with anything beyond beginner level questions and answers.

Hi all,I upgraded my Netgear firmware of the R8500 also to V1.0.2.154 some weeks ago and noticed the DNS problems of the R8500 not right away, because they are not present on my wireless connected devices and also not on my Windows 7 wired and wirless connected devices. However, on my Windows 10 wired connected devices they are very present (one DNS resolving failure every two minutes surfing) and really annoying.As all other devices do not have this problem I did not expect a infrastructur problem like from being the router and thought it must be a Win10 problem. Also because of the randomness of the error occurring, I spent hours in searching and even reinstalled Windows on one computer...Today I spent another couple of hours till I noticed it has to be a router problem and figured out the R8500 firmware is the problem thanks to this thread! So thank you very much for writing this problem in this forum and shame on you, Netgear, that you did not fix this problem in over two months!As a workaround I now configured on my two Win 10 clients the DNS manually, which solved this problem. However, this is still a workaround. I hope the fix for this problem is comming soon, as I am currently not sure, if my next network devices will be from Netgear, although I bought all network devices in the past 15 years (or even longer) from Netgear and that is a double-digit amount. A bug in a firmware can happen (but should not, as this problem should have been detected if the firmware would have been properly tested before release), but over two months waiting for a bugfix is a really long time.Also that no official communication form the Mods/Admins of this forum is present in this thread is also not satisfying, despite an ETA of a fw release that fixes this bug.Kind regards from a guy who wasted about two days in investigation of the error because of this firmware bug,Daniel

You can downgrade the firmware to the prior version. Simply download the older version, extract it, then follow the manual firmware update process and use the older firmware. then just disable auto-updates

tdebug wrote: I would not be so sure about that. This model is old, well out of warranty and listed as "end of life" product. Even EOL devices, some of them, get firmware updates. If Netgear produced a recent update that broke something, then it is likely to come up with a fix. But who knows when? Then again, I see no sign that rthe R8500 is EOL. This bug seems to have hit several different models. If you want to keep ahead of developments, you could watch the support pages for your router. Support | NETGEAR Fill in your model number.That page will have any firmware for your device, including previous releases which some people have used as a temporary fix for this bug. I suggest watching that because new firmware can arrive there before it lands on the update server. There may even be a hotfix which is sometimes an early release of new firmware that has yet to go through all the stages needed to prepare it for official release.

Glad I found this... Looks like V1.0.2.156 still has the messed up DNS problem. I been debugging all day and it appears that it is a problem with the router after I did the firmware update.Looking to roll back now to V1.0.2.144

R8500 Latest Firmware Version V1.0.2.154 Broke DNS!

92 Replies

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SSP2020
Guide
Jan 06, 2022
Still Netgear pushing for Upgrade to R8500-V1.0.2.156_1.0.105.zip(01/06/2022). I will never do this upgrade. it was very hard time for me to upgrade and then DNS issue and Rollback again. Purposefully made this upgrade so that users must go for new Device I think
- DirtyWilly
  Star
  Jan 06, 2022
  I started this post and gave up waiting on Netgear.
  V1.0.2.144 was unstable and crashing the router a few times a week
  V1.0.2.154 has the DNS issue loading sites
  V1.0.2.156 has the DNS issue loading sites
  
  I ended up buying the newly released ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000. So far so good.
  - weblee
    Guide
    Jan 07, 2022
    DirtyWilly wrote:
    I started this post and gave up waiting on Netgear.
    V1.0.2.144 was unstable and crashing the router a few times a week
    V1.0.2.154 has the DNS issue loading sites
    V1.0.2.156 has the DNS issue loading sites
    
    I ended up buying the newly released ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX6000. So far so good.
    
    Im looking at an ASUS model as well - got a new job and how you are configured to work from home is a big deal to them. You have a choice of several approved cablemodem/router combos (that surprised me), an approved router list and approved firewall/IDS if you keep your current legacy config.
    
    you just cant win
- weblee
  Guide
  Jan 06, 2022
  I agree!
  SSP2020 wrote:
  Still Netgear pushing for Upgrade to R8500-V1.0.2.156_1.0.105.zip(01/06/2022). I will never do this upgrade. it was very hard time for me to upgrade and then DNS issue and Rollback again. Purposefully made this upgrade so that users must go for new Device I think
  I spoke with tech support and after many promises that I would get support - was told since its end of life they could refer me to someone who can recommend a new router to fit my needs.
binkso
Aspirant
Mar 26, 2022
Hi,

I have had the same DNS issue. I have wondered if it's related to Netgear moving away from OpenDNS for LPC? Anyway, I rolled back firmware version and that worked for 6 months. However last week my wifi suddenly stopped working. Factory reset etc, no devices would stay connected to the internet for more than a few minutes. I updated to the ....158 firmware version. Wifi now works fine, but the DNS issues are back. Unfortunately the only solution for me is to buy a new router and recommend anybody in the future to not buy a Netgear router. Their lack of support is terrible and feels predatory. This was an expensive router and I should have no need to upgrade it unless the hardware itself fails. It's all well and good to only offer support for new products, but when your firmware updates clearly break products there needs to be a channel for people to report it and get a response from Netgear.

Anybody have any recommendations for something similar to the R8500 that isn't Netgear?
- SSP2020
  Guide
  Mar 26, 2022
  Hi Can you Please share your experiece if you have upgraded to V1.0.2.158?
  are you still facing the DNS Issue?
  https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/New-R8500-Firmware-Version-1-0-2-158-Released/m-p/2207270#M213158
binkso
Aspirant
Mar 27, 2022
For me,

V1.0.2.144 - DNS no errors, everything loads find. However now wifi stopped working

V1.0.2.156 - DNS errors, some pages partial or not loading

V1.0.2.158 - DNS errors, some pages partial or not loading

(DNS settings, tried ISP auto, changed to Cloudflare or Google. Tried on both router and PC, makes no difference.)
nnagreg
Apprentice
Apr 18, 2022
Yes, I had similar DNS problems, struggling for months.

My solve/resolve tied back into ENABLING IPv6 under the advance settings. See my thread below

Hope this helps you!

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/DNS-Hijacking-R8000P-presenting-errors-requires-fresh-frequently/m-p/2215313/highlight/false#M214645
SSP2020
Guide
Apr 18, 2022
Hi All,
When I enabled the IPv6 Setting to 6to4 Tunnel, The Speed is Incresed very fast and I'm not getting any DNS issue as well. I'm Still rolled backed to V1.0.2.144 and didn't tried the V1.0.2.150. I hope this will help to everyone
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Apr 18, 2022
  Subject: "Known DNS problems with solutions"
  
  Summary: Several people reported DNS issued related to PROBE or non-response from websites
  
  NG pending actions: NG engineer team is aware of the problem, they are working on it. It does take some time for development and testing. In meantime, users can try enabled IPv6 to see if this corrects the DNS problem or revert back FW to what was working.
  
  Please be patient.
  - DirtyWilly
    Star
    Apr 21, 2022
    FURRYe38 appreciate the reply. Just for reference here, this post was started 8 months ago with no response from Netgear so patience hasn't been the issue, but thank you for the update.
    
    Changing IPv6 settings sounds like a possible workaround, however I had another idea for those about to throw in the towel. You can try installing DD-WRT. I haven't done this myself yet, but I probably will to test it out before I sell it. Supposedly DD-WRT really enables a lot of features on this router. If you're confident in making backups and flashing the firmware this is another possible option to breathe some life into this device. Interested in knowing what some of the results are.

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R8500 Latest Firmware Version V1.0.2.154 Broke DNS!