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pL86's avatar
pL86
Tutor
Jan 11, 2025

RS700 - new firmware version 1.0.7.96 released

Almost 9 months since the prior 1.0.7.86 firmware was released, Netgear issued 1.0.7.96 yesterday.  However, all the release notes says is "enhanced stability" so no mention if it adds MLO, fixes the slow transfer speeds with Verizon FIOS or adds the ability to turn off individual wifi radios.  Link to the 1.0.7.96 firmware below:

 

https://kb.netgear.com/000066519/RS700S-Firmware-Version-1-0-7-96

51 Replies

  •  Great to hear, update went pretty smoothly. Hope that the are able to add more to the release notes on what they have changed.

  • pL86 I agree... would love to see more details of what the "enhanced stability" addressed!!!

     

    I got a new Rs700 on 12/20/24, it automatically updated to v1.0.7.86 during my initial setup.  Things worked great for around 7 days, then all kinds of odd things started happening (duplicate IP's, corrupted Reservation Tables, Ignored Reservations, inaccessible Client Devices).  Did a Factory Reset and tested Trial v1.0.7.93, but it didn't help. Dropped my old R6900v2 back into service:  All other things being the same (ISP; Modem; AP's; Etc.), the R6900v2 has been rock-solid as before, so the variable is the Rs700.

     

    I read some other threads with users having issues on v1.0.7.86, and didn't catch that v.1.0.7.96 came out, so I "just" wiped it clean this morning and went to v1.0.7.82.  It's been up for 4 hours so far... fingers crossed ðŸ¤ž

     

    I'm subscribing to this thread in hopes of hearing other user's experiences here on v.1.0.7.96 going forward.

     

    Would be curious to know how many Client Devices others have connected. We have around 80+- Devices, so not sure if that impacted my initial v1.0.7.86 experience.

     

    Also, are Users seeing Beamforming Option at the bottom of Advanced > Advanced Settings > Wireless Settings???:  I'm seeing it now in v1.0.7.82, but for the life of me, can't recall if it was in v1.0.7.86 ðŸ¤”

     

     

     

    • Viperion's avatar
      Viperion
      Guide

      I tried the new 1.0.7.96 and it fails. my Rs700 won't accept it. 

      • gjblajian's avatar
        gjblajian
        Star

        Same issue. Fails one of the updates and reverts (after several minutes updating and rebooting). VERY irritating. Not super fond of the fact that NETGEAR pushes you to the community forum when the issue is on their side either. If any company pushes out an update that fails, you should not need a support contract to report or track that failure. I get that you cannot just ask them to help you, but the only way the issue gets fixed is for them to do something to the firmware code to fix it and for that they need to be aware of the issue and tracking it.

    • JohnNadeau's avatar
      JohnNadeau
      Apprentice

      Quote: I read some other threads with users having issues on v1.0.7.86, and didn't catch that v.1.0.7.96 came out, so I "just" wiped it clean this morning and went to v1.0.7.82. It's been up for 4 hours so far... fingers crossed 🤞

       

      Well... that v1.0.7.82 test didn't take very long ðŸ¤•  One of my Access Points went offline within 5 hours ðŸ˜ž

       

      Hoping to see positive reports here on the new v1.0.7.96 ðŸ™‚

  • I’m still waiting on this. It says no new update available through the app. Is it only available by download?

     

    thank you!

    • Viperion's avatar
      Viperion
      Guide

      yes it also does not see it on my router so I downloaded it, and it fails and the router reverts back to .86. this new firmware is no good

      • jay_w's avatar
        jay_w
        Apprentice
        But it says enhanced stability!

        I love their hardware but I hate their software!
  • Could I know how can I contact the official netgear support as the 90-days complimentary support period was ended?

     

    I have a bug was fixed in V1.0.7.87 (private fw), but it appears again in latest V1.0.7.96.

    May I confirm the hotfix patch code is merged?

     

    Thank you.

    • JohnNadeau's avatar
      JohnNadeau
      Apprentice

      What happened to Beamforming ?

       

      Beamforming Option at the bottom of Advanced > Advanced Settings > Wireless Settings:  

       

      It  was v1.0.7.82:

       

       

      But I'm not seeing it in v1.0.7.96_2.0.96:

       

      Did Netgear eliminate the option, or move it to a different menu?

      • FURRYe38's avatar
        FURRYe38
        Guru

        Possible was removed and is all automatic with the FW system. 

  • I'm having the same issue as Viperion.
    Running V1.0.7.86. The router doesn't see the new firmware for almost 2 weeks, even after countless time of clicking "Check".

    Manually uploading the firmware starts the process. After the restart, it still shows V1.0.7.86.

    After a year of no firmware upgrades, no update on MLO support, now this.

    • FURRYe38's avatar
      FURRYe38
      Guru

      How are you manually updating the router? 

      What browser are you using? Try MS Edge or Firefox? 

      Are you unpacking the .zip file to reveal the actual FW file to be sent to the routers web page using the web browser? 

      What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too? 


      DrunkKittie wrote:

      I'm having the same issue as Viperion.
      Running V1.0.7.86. The router doesn't see the new firmware for almost 2 weeks, even after countless time of clicking "Check".

      Manually uploading the firmware starts the process. After the restart, it still shows V1.0.7.86.

      After a year of no firmware upgrades, no update on MLO support, now this.


       

      • DrunkKittie's avatar
        DrunkKittie
        Guide

        Administration -> Router Update -> Manual

        Using Edge browser.

        Obviously, I unzip the package and upload the chk file

        It's on quantum fiber, connected to Q1000K.

    • Viperion's avatar
      Viperion
      Guide

      My router got worse as Netgear support had me do a factory reset and once I did that it would not hold any settings, or upgrade still.

       

      My router was RMA'd and they sent me a new one, the new one upgraded with the manual upgrade with no issues. working fine so far.

      • DrunkKittie's avatar
        DrunkKittie
        Guide

        Viperion something similar happened to me around 6 months ago. I did a factory reset, and everything went downhill. Wifi stopped working, router interface didn't login. I did another reset (with proper old school, keep device unpowered, keep resetting the reset button style), devices stopped seeing the router altogether. 

        After 1 hour, and maybe 5 factory resets, it started working back again. Since then, I'm scared to reset it.

    • captfidel's avatar
      captfidel
      Aspirant

      I also have FW .86 and the router will not update to .96 - either using the automatic option or the manual option. I was an early purchaser of this router - I wonder if there has been a HW change and early models have trouble with current FW?

       

      As my router is out of warranty now, Netgear won't even take my call. The HW is fine, my router works. In my view, FW updates are not a warranty issue. Is Netgear just screwing those of us that supported them by buying an expensive router when it first came out? Seems like it.

       

       

       

      • BH_C's avatar
        BH_C
        NETGEAR Expert

        As my router is out of warranty now, Netgear won't even take my call. The HW is fine, my router works. In my view, FW updates are not a warranty issue. Is Netgear just screwing those of us that supported them by buying an expensive router when it first came out? Seems like it.


        No, we will take care of this. Please PM me your S/N, name, and contact info (email or phone number), our support team will reach out to you. Thanks.

  • I'm trying to remain positive, but feel duped after over a year (and out-of-warranty / return policy) by believing that this $700 Flagship Nighthawk Router would have features/capabilities delivered through firmware updates as promised by Netgear Support team (and led to believe via responses on these forums). It definitely seems like this router has been neglected compared to the Orbi series which has received more updates and full feature implementation.
    MLO is a WiFi -7 Standard capability, which was in the spec and feature list that game with my router (paper manual documentation and on the box). However, once I received my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra phone, the first device I had that supports it, I find out Netgear essentially lied / false advertised and the capability did not exist as-delivered, and have continuously been told that it is "coming in a future firmware update, engineers are still working on it."
    Of course when I found that out I could not longer return my product for another, competitors have it implemented already, why not this top-line RS700?
    Additionally, the configuration interface leaves MUCH to be desired. The "logging" is laughable, of all of the logging option checkboxes, nothing of value is logged aside from the DHCP requests to assign IPs, it doesn't do any logging of when channels are re-assigned (i.e. DFS channel events) to help users to find which are affected, an important understanding when all other 5Ghz channels in my area are very congested due to living next to a hospital and apartment complex. This router runs into issues after a few days and requires 1-2 reboots every week. It does not handle congestion well, even after modifying the CTS/RTS settings and turning off SmartConnect. There should be more flexibility to channel settings vs "Auto" (all) and single channel selection, such as a "Do not include DFS", or a simple Custom Auto selection where problematic channels can be excluded and the router can pick from more than one that the user selects to pick from.
    Having to wait 20sec-2min between every single configuration change is frustratingly inefficient and time consuming. The reliability is not what I expected from this router, I wish I had returned it in the return period instead of having faith in Netgear support.
    If some attention to this can be made, it may turn my opinion, but at this point I don't want to invest in another Netgear Router when I decide to buy a new one.
    As a software developer, User Engagement should be important - both for interacting with users via these forums to actually consider user input for Discrepancy Reports / Enhancement Requests, and to communicate a release timeline for what to expect in an upcoming release!
    Instead, I have not received any further communication from my Support Request 2 months ago for an early engineering build availability as I'm willing to test any new enhancements and particularly the Multi-Link Operation feature which I'm still looking forward to! The responses that "Netgear does not provide insight into upcoming release dates / content" is just not acceptable IMO and could easily be changed to provide some assurance to your power users, as well as to foster a 2-way relationship for improving your products and increasing customers re-purchasing your new products rather than looking to a competitor. Please put more details in your release notes! We want to know what these enhancements to stability even mean. Where is the technical explanation?
    I want to love this router, when it works it works great, but the reliability just isn't there in a congested wifi environment, and features that would help that (MLO, DFS events logging) feel like they're never going to come after waiting for a considerable amount of time.
    • JohnNadeau's avatar
      JohnNadeau
      Apprentice

      Hi  mr_mdiaz87 

       

      I feel your pain!  Netgear had always been my preference/go-to. I've used many for decades with good overall performance.  I waited to buy the rs700 until December 2024... many months & firmware releases had passed, anticipating that (what I perceived as) their current Flagship would be stable by then.

       

       

      Per you:  "This router runs into issues after a few days and requires 1-2 reboots every week."

       

      Take a look at this post to see if yours might be suffering from the same issue:  https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-with-WiFi-7-BE/Re-Netgear-Nighthawk-RS300/m-p/2417297/highlight/true#M2814

       

      In my case, my first rs700 ran for 7 days solid, then started acting up.

       

      I was able to swap out two other (of my older) routers in the exact same place as the rs700 and they ran without issue.  As well, I have since replaced it with an Asus BQ16.   All three "replacement" routers work perfectly, so I feel I can rule out problems in my network setup/cabling/devices as the cause.

       

       

       

  • I can't update to latest firmware from mobile app, from web GUI, or manually. Now that I'm stuck on .86 FW I am also unable to change any settings within the GUI and I cannot even factory reset the router. I have never seen a router not be able to factory default in my whole lifetime. This is the oddest router activity I have ever seen. Opened a ticket with NG Support and am awaiting approval for RMA process. Pretty annoyed to say the least being this is supposed to be Netgears "Flagship" Wireless Router Model.