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Forum Discussion
Nighthawk MR60 Mesh Router Bricked by Firmware Update
This is a report that I apparently posted in the wrong Netgear Community forum earlier this morning.
Currently I have a mesh WiFi system in my house, based on the Nighthawk MR60 router, with two satellites (one upstairs and one downstairs). We are using this hub with Cox broadband service off of a Netgear modem. I need both 2.4 and 5 GHz wifi for the various devices in my household.
Last night I was trying to set up a Google Chromecast 3 on a television in our basement. The Chromecast was able to 'see' wifi but the setup failed multiple times. The Nighthawk app management app on my iPhone reported that the MR60 was able to 'see' the Chromecast, but that it had a weak connection. It was then, that I noticed that our MR60 had a firmware update awaiting installation. Foolishly, I used the iPhone app to begin this update. The update ran and reported that it had failed. I tried this process again two or three times on the iPhone app with the same results. I then decided that this update simply wasn't going to work, so I elected to 'Skip' it on the iPhone app. By now, our household wifi had gone offline. I went upstairs and the router showed a blinking white LED on its front. I cycled the power, but the blinking white LED indicator returned. I recycled the power with a router factory default reset, but we still have a blinking white LED. According to the Netgear website, this blinking LED indicates that the router has corrupted firmware.
After looking on the Netgear website, I found out about TFTP direct upload of firmware to the router through an ethernet connection. The TFTP client recommended by Netgear wouldn't run on my newly updated MacBook Pro / Monterey, so I pulled an older MacBook Pro running High Sierra out and I am using this old system to connect to the MR60 router with an ethernet cable. I started an upload of the latest firmware (1.1.6.122) and the TFTP Client indicated that 'blocks' of this firmware were being transfered to the MR60, but after about 60% of the upload was transferred the TFTP Client stops its upload and indicates that the MR60 is 'Not responding'. I cycled the MR60 power, performed a factory reset, and restarted this 1.1.6.122 upload three or four times with identical results. Each time, the TFTP Client indicates that there is a connection, firmware is being transfered to the MR60, and the process stops/crashes at about the 55 to 60% of transfer point. All the while, the MR60 LED is blinking to indicate corrupted firmware! I have tried this process with earlier versions of the MR60 firmware, with identical results. So, it seems that Netgear has bricked my working router, all in the interests of updating its security.
Just now, I learned of the nmrpflash approach to reloading firmware onto this router. I have downloaded the appropriate version of nmrpflash from GitHub and tried run it from a command line prompt, but High Sierra indicates that it is an unreconnized command. Curiously, when I double-click the nmrpflash file in Finder, it will open a terminal window and display a help screen indicating syntax for using this file. When I try to invoke this command from the terminal prompt, MacOS acts like the command doesn't exist. I am using nmrpflash 0.9.16. I could use some help with how to properly invoke this command. I have tried running it with sudo and root-level access, but no luck so far.
My wife and I need this mesh system to run our 'smart' house devices and to do our jobs for work. Netgear's attitude that I should hand them another $1000.00 for a new Orbi system doesn't sit well with me, since they are offering zero tech support on this system that their update bricked!! If I can't get this problem sorted out within the next hour or so, I will be heading to my local Best Buy to try out an Eero system, as I have had it with Netgear!!!
10 Replies
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
I recommend you try using a Windows PC platform to see if you can get TFTP or nmrpflash to work properly since these are Windows based platform applications.
I would ask NG support about RMA options that maybe available.
Please refer to this FW update method to install FW manually on the MS first the MR lastly.
I am having an identical problem to that of poison_6022. I have taken the same approach to resolution without success. Now attempting a manual firmware update. Still figuring out how to do that. I have verified a good ISP connection (Verizon FIOS) by connecting my pc to the Verizon router by cable. I have also disconnected the Satellites from the MR60 and only have a Samsung TV attempting to connect thru the MR60. Nighthawk app is showing continued failure to install the update. Any assistance is very welcome.
What is the Mfr and model# of the Internet Service Providers modem/ONT the NG router is connected too?
Please refer to this FW update method to install FW manually on the MS first the MR lastly.
8086_64 wrote:
I am having an identical problem to that of poison_6022. I have taken the same approach to resolution without success. Now attempting a manual firmware update. Still figuring out how to do that. I have verified a good ISP connection (Verizon FIOS) by connecting my pc to the Verizon router by cable. I have also disconnected the Satellites from the MR60 and only have a Samsung TV attempting to connect thru the MR60. Nighthawk app is showing continued failure to install the update. Any assistance is very welcome.
Problem solved by taking everything back to the beginning. I cleared all caches in my brower, uninstalled the Nighthawk app on my phone, downloaded the MR60 update, and reset the MR60. Then I manually reinstalled following the instructions in the Nighthawk app which included name and password changes to the MR60 defaults.
More background. I was gone from my residence for 6 days. Everything was functioning well when I left. The MR60 was using firmware version .116. Two days ago on Jan 10, I noticed that my Nest thermostat was offline. (With 20F temps, that concerned me but research showed that the Nest would function without an internet connection.) When I returned home on Jan 11, my network seemed intact but there was no connection by the MR60 to the internet. I went through all the troubleshooting that poison_6022 did with no success. After sleeping overnight I did what I described in the first paragraph and everything is now working well under firmware version .122.
Cheers
Keep us posted on this. Hopefully you sould be ok.
You might try setting up the MR and MS using a PC and web browser next time if you run into any odd ball problems after doing a factory reset.
Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/24231/How-do-I-back-up-the-router-configuration-settings-on-my-Nighthawk-router
8086_64 wrote:
Problem solved by taking everything back to the beginning. I cleared all caches in my brower, uninstalled the Nighthawk app on my phone, downloaded the MR60 update, and reset the MR60. Then I manually reinstalled following the instructions in the Nighthawk app which included name and password changes to the MR60 defaults.
More background. I was gone from my residence for 6 days. Everything was functioning well when I left. The MR60 was using firmware version .116. Two days ago on Jan 10, I noticed that my Nest thermostat was offline. (With 20F temps, that concerned me but research showed that the Nest would function without an internet connection.) When I returned home on Jan 11, my network seemed intact but there was no connection by the MR60 to the internet. I went through all the troubleshooting that poison_6022 did with no success. After sleeping overnight I did what I described in the first paragraph and everything is now working well under firmware version .122.
Cheers
To everyone viewing this post,
Thankyou all for taking the time to post suggestions for helping me to resolve this dilema with my Nighthawk MR60 mesh system router.
Unfortunately, sixteen hours of attempting to upload firmware into my router by ethernet ultimately did not work. Generally, I would be able to establish communications with the router and begin the uploads (tried >12 times) and the transfer would begin without issue. I could follow the progress of the upload via the number of 'blocks' transferred in real time. At approximately 50 to 60% of the transfer, the router would stop responding and the upload would cease. I tried using earlier versions of the router firmware and performing hardware resets of the router. Nothing helped. I was under a time pressure to re-establish wifi in my household, so late in the day I resigned myself to the necessity to scrap the Nighthawk system and purchase a newer replacement system.
My prior Nighthawk mesh router system (with two satellites) was only one year old and out of warranty. I was initially miffed that a firmware update that Netgear was urging me to apply to the system caused this problem and essentially destroyed my system. Initially I resolved to never buy anything ever again from Netgear. However, late in the process of attempting to re-upload the firmware I reached out to Netgear Tech Support for advice on getting this router to resuccitate. I expected to be told that there was nothing that they could or would do for me, given that the 90-day warrenty had expired. However, I was pleasantly suprised to find that one of their support specialists patiently worked with me through many of the later slow firmware upload attempts. This gentleman (I don't remember his name) really went the extra mile to try to help me, even though we ultimately didn't succeed in reviving the Nighthawk router. Interestingly, the story didn't end there.
I purchased a Netgear Orbi router packaged with two satellites. Right after I set up this new system and I was starting to set up the new passwords, the same Netgear tech support called me back without any prompting on my part. Once again, this support specialist walked me through setup and registration of the new mesh system, even though I didn't need any help at that point. For well over another hour this specialist patiently worked with me, again 'going the extra mile'.
Ultimately, I got my new system running just in time. The cynic in me suggests that the extrodinary level of Tech Support assistance might have been partly motivated by an interest by Netgear to permanently estrange customers and avoid negative press in social media and other locales of the internet. We will likely never know. Perhaps I should have tried Eero routers as an alternative, but both Netgear and Eero were getting similar reviews for their wifi products in the media, so I went with 'Better the devil that you know'. Too often, 'tech' companies seem to be ruthlessly making their products go obsolite on very short product cycles, all in the apparent interests of forcing their customers onto a perpetual treadmill of hardware/software upgrades for little more than forced purchasing with little real gain in functionality. A famous, multi-trillion dollar computer company named after a common variety of fruit comes to mind. However, my wife and my own needs of the moment dictate that we cannot move sideways to roll-your-own solutions like Linux computing and hard-wired netorking in our house. Sigh.
Edit:
I meant to say 'motivated by an interest by Netgear to avoid permanently estranging customers' at the end of this post. I should have more carefully proofed my typing before I clicked 'POST'.
I recommend you contact NG support and ask for additional help and information and RMA options:
As of two days ago, my wifi speeds dropped by half. Also noticed that on the app, I could no longer see devices hooked up to my router or satellite on the network map, and it I tried to test my router speed on the app it would show all zeros, and say my internet speed was moderate. Finally, on the router login page, it wouldn't let me run a speedtest, so had to go to a seperate page. Called "customer service" and they manually walked me through the .122 update, and for some reason they weren't pushing this out automatically. Now my router speed is back to normal, but my satellite is showing connected and good, but is not providing any wifi upstairs. If I do a speed test with my laptop in the office with the satellite, I get the same speeds regardles if the satellite is plugged in or not. Spoke with Level 1 tech and Level 2 tech support two days ago, and had to upload 15 screenshots and programs and debug logs, and being told they will get back to me in 2-3 days. Called again today and the Level 1 guy couldn't tell me if my case has been elevated to level 3 yet, and neither could the supervisor. I could request an update from level 2 and they would call me in 24-48 hours. So, now I wait with a satellite that doesn't work, an app that works partially, and a house with half of my normal internet......
So please make a new post in the MK MESH forum and we'll help you out. Your problem differs from what was posted here.
Thank you.
Heloyeti wrote:
As of two days ago, my wifi speeds dropped by half. Also noticed that on the app, I could no longer see devices hooked up to my router or satellite on the network map, and it I tried to test my router speed on the app it would show all zeros, and say my internet speed was moderate. Finally, on the router login page, it wouldn't let me run a speedtest, so had to go to a seperate page. Called "customer service" and they manually walked me through the .122 update, and for some reason they weren't pushing this out automatically. Now my router speed is back to normal, but my satellite is showing connected and good, but is not providing any wifi upstairs. If I do a speed test with my laptop in the office with the satellite, I get the same speeds regardles if the satellite is plugged in or not. Spoke with Level 1 tech and Level 2 tech support two days ago, and had to upload 15 screenshots and programs and debug logs, and being told they will get back to me in 2-3 days. Called again today and the Level 1 guy couldn't tell me if my case has been elevated to level 3 yet, and neither could the supervisor. I could request an update from level 2 and they would call me in 24-48 hours. So, now I wait with a satellite that doesn't work, an app that works partially, and a house with half of my normal internet......
