Nighthawk AC1900 - Attached devices do not display with latest two firmware update

[f-donald]

Hello,

I am currently running firmware version "R7000-V1.0.11.123_10.2.100_hotfix" and my attached devices are properly displayed. Attached devices do not display properly with firmware versions R7000-V1.0.11.126_10.2.112 and R7000-V1.0.11.128_10.2.112. Eight of 12 attached devices are missing from the list with the above two firmware versions.

The above noted, does firmware “R7000-V1.0.11.123_10.2.100_hotfix” address the Remote Code Execution security vulnerability (PSV-2021-0204) and/or the latest security vulnerabilities that are not communicated in the V1.0.11.128 release notes?

Is there a solution for the bug included in the latest firmware or will I need to wait for an eventual fix from netgear? Related, I will likely switch to another brand if I need to reset and spend 4-5 hours setting up the AC1900 from scratch.

Help with the above question and/or a fix for the firmware problem will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Portwey84]

@f-donald   I'm assuming you are aware that 'Hotfix v123 is no longer available on the Netgear downloads page? I'm also assuming that you also know v128 is the latest firmware release. I did upgrade from v126 to v128 but, for the first time in all of the updates I have done, v128 basically borked my 5ghz WiFi and so I reverted to v126 and my WiFi problem is no more. I won't be upgrading the firmware on my AC1900 again in the future. I will however soon be buying an AX router but not a Netgear one. I hope you resolve your issue.

[f-donald]

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, my attached devices do not display with v126 and v128. 

I am still hoping to determine if “R7000-V1.0.11.123_10.2.100_hotfix” is safe to use and if if there is a fix for the missing attached device bug introduced again in v126 and v128.

[Portwey84]

@f-donald  I appreciate your issue, but why are you still using a firmware update that has been withdrawn by Netgear? You're trying to get an answer as to whether a firmware that has been withdraw is 'safe to use'. Only Netgear will tell you that and my guess is, they'll tell you to update to v128, even though that also appears to have issues that weren't there in previous firmware updates.

Indeed, are any of Netgear's firmware updates 'safe to use'? I've had to revert from v128 to v126 because my 5g WiFi just doesn't work properly on v128. I wouldn't mind, but both of my Intel based computers have all of the latest WiFi driver updates and everything else seems to work ok.

Besides, I've just completely rebuilt my home desktop to allow me to update to Windows 11 and it now has WiFi 6 AX incorporated. I won't be sticking with my R7000 for much longer!