Orbi Satellite RBS50v2 - Blinking White Light - Can't Re-Sync or Reset

[iScream]

"Your complimentary technical support expired on 2020-04-15"

How fitting, that exactly after one year my Orbi RBS50v2 Satellite just died.

Symptoms are: 

- Continuous blinking white light

- The power button is solid green

- When plugged into a computer with a cable the ethernet connection seems to fade in and out. (Windows identifies the ethernet connection then loses it)

I tried:

- Resetting the device (Clicking the reset button until the power light blinked orange)

- Long 60 second press on the reset button

- 30-30-30 Reset method

Before I throw the satellite away -- Is there any option left?

Please help!

[CrimpOn]

 @iScream wrote:

Before I throw the satellite away -- Is there any option left?

---

A last resort is to attempt to flash firmware to the satellite using the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (tftp).

https://kb.netgear.com/000059633/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-TFTP-client 

https://kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP 

This is not for the technically shy.  The computer being used to tftp has to be changed to a static IP address for this task and then changed back before reconnecting to the network.  Wiindows has a tftp program in the "Widows Features" which can be activated.  I used the one recommended in one of those articles.

I have done this successfully a couple of times.  Download firmware for the RBS50v2 satellite from the Netgear support site:

https://www.netgear.com/support/product/RBS50v2.aspx#download 

Choose the firmware version that matches the router firmware. (The "+" sign displays all versions of firmware that are available.)

Unpack the zip file to extract the *.img file for the satellite.

I have found that tftp is touchy.  There is a brief window of time after a unit is powered up when it looks for a tftp connection.  After that, it has moved on to regular startup and no longer accepts tftp.  It has taken me 6-8 attempts to get the magic "file transferring" notice.

Also, I am not entirely clear which IP address the satellite will be at during this brief time.  Cannot remember if it was 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.254 or......

[FURRYe38]

Need to press the reset button for 30 seconds then release, then use PUT on the TFTP app to upload the FW file. 

[iScream]

UPDATE: Netgears's tech support team granted me a complimentary one-time grace.

Thanks @CrimpOn , I actually tried that with the help of their support team and the satellite could not maintain a stable connection to the PC, and kept resetting.

You could see that the network is being identified/discovered by windows and then continuously discinnected.

As a last resort I have purchased a serial-to-USB cable, disassembled the satellite and will try to hard wire the damn thing and force the firmware through the USB cable. 

This is the video that inspired me: https://youtu.be/V-ltOlzC0Hw

This is the cable I've purchased:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QT7LQ88?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

I'll keep you posted if it works 🙂

[DLynch]

What do you change in the TFTP instructions in terms of static IP, subnet mask, etc to use with a satellite vs a router?