ORBI RBR50 experiencing "[Internet disconnected]" just in the last 1-2 weeks. Maybe recent firmware

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ValleyDad wrote:

Regarding date of FW update, I usually only admin from my App and I don't see where the date of applocation is listed. 

Do I need to logon to the router from a browser?  If so, must I do so from a LAN connection or can I do it over home WiFi?  Which was is preferred?

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As far as I know, the only way to learn when the firmware was last updated is to telnet into the Orbi router and display one of the parameters.  This requires a couple of steps:

• From any web browser, connect to the Orbi router "debug" page and enable Telnet.
  This is usually http://orbilogin.net/debug.htm
  On the web page, toward the bottom, check the box labelled "Enable Telnet"
• Open any telnet program and connect to the Orbi router.
  Wiindows has a built-in Telnet client that can be enabled from the Control Panel, Programs and Features, Turn Windows Features on or off.
  There are other telnet clients (My favorite is called PuTTY.)
  On my Android devices, I use JuiceSSH (and set the connection to telnet).
• Once connected to the Orbi router:
  Enter the user name: admin
  Enter the administrative password:
  Type this command:  nvram show | grep update_time
  (What this means is "Show all of the Orbi parameters and process them through the "grep" program to find all with a string that matches "update_time".)
• On my Orbi, this results in:
  root@RBR50:/# nvram show | grep update_time
  update_time=2020_2.29_23:0:2
  Which I believe stands for year 2020, month 2 (Feb), day 29, and time 23:0:2 (late at night).

I really appreciate your interest in doing this, even though it may not result in any benefit to you.  There are very strong opinions on the forum about the most recent Orbi firmware (2.5.1.8).  A number of frequent posters have been using 2.5.1.8 for months (in my cases since Feb 29) with no apparent ill effects.  Others report ghastly situations, with frequent drops in WiFi or internet, programs unable to connect to web sites, (there are l-o-n-g posts).

What I seek to do is learn if there is a direct link between installing this firmware and problems appearing.  i.e. install 2.5.1.8 and within days the Orbi goes all to hell.  If that is not the case, then "what's different" between the circumstances of those without problems and those with problems?

Many people cannot devote any time & effort to this effort because their "work at home with sequestered family" requires constant WiFi use.  In that case, a number of people have reported that downloading 2.3.5.30 from the Netgear support site and manually loading it on the Orbi have made their Orbi's usable.

Sorry to drone on and on.  The cat says, "enough already"