Re: New - RBR850 / RBS850 Firmware Version v4.6.3.9 Released

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-13

Security Fixes:

Fixes security vulnerabilities.
For more information about security vulnerabilities, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/security.

New Features and Enhancements:

Supports Smart Parental Controls (SPC)
Removes the remote management feature from the router web interface (if disabled at time of update) to improve router security.

For Smart Parent Controls support, help and information, please post in the following forum:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/NETGEAR-Smart-Home-Parental/bd-p/en-home-smart-parental-controls

https://kb.netgear.com/000062852/How-do-I-upgrade-from-Circle-to-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls
https://www.netgear.com/home/services/smart-parental-controls/

Bug Fixes:

Fixes the DNS timeout issue
Fixes the issue where a phantom satellite appears in device list
Various other bug fixes

Download Link:

RBR850: https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK852/RBR850-V4.6.3.9.zip

RBS850: https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/RBK852/RBS850-V4.6.3.9.zip

This article applies to:
RBK852
RBK853
RBK854
RBR850
RBS850

NOTE: NG has stated that downgrading firmware from v4 back to v3 is NOT supported. So I recommend you consider weather or not upgrading is needed for your system. If it works, don't fix it.

Let us know how it works for you...

Richie_Rico · ‎2021-08-13

I think i'll wait for more feedback on this firmware before I update since you're not able to downgrade.

ekhalil · ‎2021-08-13

I upgraded to this firmware. Wired Satellites will be shown as disconnected after the Router's upgrade.

The problem is in the Router that can't recognize the wired satellites. Wired satellites can be added, but after restart they get permanently disconnected.

Factory resetting the satellites did not help.

dtay · ‎2021-08-13

@Richie_Rico wrote:
I think i'll wait for more feedback on this firmware before I update since you're not able to downgrade.

So this is the long awaited parental controls feature (to replace Circle) for the Orbi AX? What is unclear is is this a FREE feature on the router or do we have to pay a subscription to use it?

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-13

@dtay

Might check on this to see if it offers any additional information.

https://www.netgear.com/home/services/smart-parental-controls/

More than likely this service maybe fee based. Ask about this over in the Smart parental control forum:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/NETGEAR-Smart-Home-Parental/bd-p/en-home-smart-parental-controls

Good Luck.

Richie_Rico · ‎2021-08-13

After updating I don’t see any spc controls.

Am I missing anything?

Richie_Rico · ‎2021-08-13

Never mind. Just realized that spc is only available for US and not Canada

dtay · ‎2021-08-13

While I haven't updated yet (using Circle Plus standalone with it), does the GUI/interface of this new v4 firmware looks the same as v3 or is different?

Any new features that you can tell?

ekhalil · ‎2021-08-13

I didn’t see anything new, but I have Orbi in AP mode so I wouldn’t see if SPC is there or not.

rr20552 · ‎2021-08-13

Excited to see the new firmware with parental controls.

Upgraded both satellite and router manually and all was well until I enabled parental controls.

Wi-Fi was constantly dropping / reconnecting on all devices.

Had to do a factory reset on both units to restore connectivity.

Tried enabling parental controls again but had same issue so had to do another factory reset.

So disappointed ☹️

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-13

Something to let NG know about...

@rr20552 wrote:
Excited to see the new firmware with parental controls.

Upgraded both satellite and router manually and all was well until I enabled parental controls.

Wi-Fi was constantly dropping / reconnecting on all devices.

Had to do a factory reset on both units to restore connectivity.

Tried enabling parental controls again but had same issue so had to do another factory reset.

So disappointed ☹️

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-13

Ok so I took the plunge today.
Downloaded v4 FW files.

Orbi RBK853 system in AP Mode. 50% power. Channel 1 and 40.

Will be testing router mode this weekend at 100% power.

Manually updated the RBS first then RBR lastly using MS Edge on wired Windows 10x64.

Powered OFF the RBS then RBR for 30seconds or longer.

Powered ON the RBR and let it come back to ready. I noticed that the front LED seem to blink longer than expected though I had internet services already after my wired PC connected to the RBR. Logging in to the RBRs web page showed Internet was GOOD. Front LED turned OFF.

Powered on 1 RBS at a time. RBS seems to take a bit long to get synced up Wirelessly.

I noticed that a Out Of Sync message was seen on the RBRs web page:

So I gave the RBS a few more minutes and eventually that status changed to GOOD on the RBRs web page.

Orbi app:

I turned OFF the RBS and went to dinner and came back.

Powered ON the RBS again one at a time and let them wirelessy sync succesfully.

Plug in the ethernet cable into both and connected the other end to the RBR, one at a time.

The status one the RBRs web page soon turned from 5G to Wired:

Orbi app:

This was about 30 minutes ago

I connected a Mac Book Pro via ethernet to each RBS and ran a speed test successfully.

Typed this post while leaving the RBS online and connected via Ethernet and there still working on Ethernet backhaul in AP Mode.

I'll change this over tomorrow to router mode and see what happens.

raven_au · ‎2021-08-13

@Richie_Rico wrote:
Never mind. Just realized that spc is only available for US and not Canada

Are you sure?

That has been the case for quite a while with the RBR50 series but the firmware was clearly noted as US Only.

And recently a firware that supports SPC for all regions has been released for them.

AFAICS this is not noted as a US Only firmware ...

ekhalil · ‎2021-08-14

In the announcement for SPC: “ …… It is available in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Swedend, Denmark, Norway and Finland.”
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/RBK750-Series-Firmware-Update-v4-6-3-7/td-p/2117202

rr20552 · ‎2021-08-14

It doesn’t appear in the Orbi web interface.

It’s configured and controlled via the Orbi APP.

Note that when I enabled it on mine it caused constant Wi-Fi disconnects / reconnects requiring a factory reset to restore service.

Interested if anybody else else is experiencing the same issue?

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-14

So changed over to router mode today.

Preliminary speeds are as follows: MS EDGE and CAX80 in modem only mode.

Seems to be the same inaccurate speed results seen on the RBRs speed test app which 7 series users are seeing. NG is aware of this.

Turned ON both RBS850s and let them wirelessly sync.

Ethernet connected both RBS850s directly to back of RBR850 one at a time.

I noticed a 30 second ARP storm occurring when I connected the 1st RBS. Then it stopped and the status on the RBRs web page changed from 5G to Wired:

Connected the 2nd RBS, noticed a shorter 10 second ARP storm then it stopped and the status changed to wired on the RBRs web page.

Both RBS are currently ethernet connected and not seeing any problems here.

Synced correctly and Security Type is set correctly.

I'll be putting this into place as the main home system soon to see how it does.

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-14

What happens if you disable AX mode on the RBR?

@rr20552 wrote:
It doesn’t appear in the Orbi web interface.

It’s configured and controlled via the Orbi APP.

Note that when I enabled it on mine it caused constant Wi-Fi disconnects / reconnects requiring a factory reset to restore service.

Interested if anybody else else is experiencing the same issue?

LadySapphy · ‎2021-08-14

So Updated yesterday Still dont see parental controls in the web or the app.

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-14

Neither do I.

https://kb.netgear.com/000062109/How-do-I-set-up-and-install-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls

Though I have not done a factory reset as of yet.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/NETGEAR-Smart-Home-Parental/Orbi-RBR850-firmware-4-6-3-9-No-SPC-til...

Richie_Rico · ‎2021-08-14

Can anyone confirm you need to pay for SPC ? Is any spc free to use ?

Linksys velop parental controls are all free

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-14

From this page:

https://www.netgear.com/home/services/smart-parental-controls/

"*These features require Premium Subscription. Get a 30-day free trial; no credit card required. $7.99/month or $69.99/year after end of trial."

@Richie_Rico wrote:
Can anyone confirm you need to pay for SPC ? Is any spc free to use ?

Linksys velop parental controls are all free

ekhalil · ‎2021-08-14

From the description of the service it looks similar to how it was with Circle. Restricting sites and monitoring internet access is free, while setting access schedules for children and giving rewards requires premium subscription. This is how I understood the description here:
https://kb.netgear.com/000062109/How-do-I-set-up-and-install-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-14

Do you see the Parental Controls on your Orbi app at all?

@ekhalil wrote:
From the description of the service it looks similar to how it was with Circle. Restricting sites and monitoring internet access is free, while setting access schedules for children and giving rewards requires premium subscription. This is how I understood the description here:
https://kb.netgear.com/000062109/How-do-I-set-up-and-install-NETGEAR-Smart-Parental-Controls

ekhalil · ‎2021-08-14

@FURRYe38 wrote:
..........

I'll be putting this into place as the main home system soon to see how it does.

@FURRYe38 In the web GUI, under Home can you please provide us with a snapshot of the number of Satellites when connected wired.

Like this one:

I have 2 satellites, but the wired satellite don't show here. It appears in the Orbi app though.

This is -probably- what makes the wired satellite to disappear after restarting the router.

FURRYe38 · ‎2021-08-14

I posted this picture here reporting connected RBS:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-AX/New-RBR850-RBS850-Firmware-Version-v4-6-3-9-Released/m-p/21...

And the Basic/Tab reports 2 for Number of Satellites.