For the first time after several months I used the Orbi app to check if there was any firmware upgrade to my router and satellites. The app told me there is a firmware upgrade to version 2.5.1.16. I forgot to note down the version that was running before. I went ahead with firmware upgrade and after 3 or 4 minutes Orbi app said the upgrade was successfull and I waited for my router to reboot. I waited for several minutes and my Orbi never recovered again. I went upstairs to check on my router and I didn't see any kind of activity. The power led was solid green and there were no other light color or patterns on the top of the router. Tried restarting several times and nothing worked. I thought reset button would fix everything and it is not responding either. It looks like 2.5.1.16 bricked my router. I bought this at Costco just 13 months ago. How can I get this fixed? If I cannot fix it, can I still return this at Costco?
I recommend NOT using Orbi app to do any FW updates. Either check the RBRs web page with a PC for updates, or manually download FW files and apply with with a PC or laptop directly.
Thanks again for your suggestion @FURRYe38. I spent my entire day on this and tried all the solutions posted in various forums. No luck. I went to Costco to return it and they took it even though I used it for 13 or 14 months. They asked why I was returning and I just said firmware upgrade via app bricked my router. I bought the Google Nest router with 3 satellites. Costco has newer version of Orbi for $499 but I was not willing to take any chance because of this experience.
I understand that you dont need to do this procedure anymore but this might help others.
To set the rbr50 in tftp mode, you need to press and hold the reset button while powering on the router. The LED will go through:
solid green -> solid amber -> blinking amber -> blinking green
you can release the reset button when it is blinking green.
But for this to succeed you also need to connect a computer (the one you will use to send the firmware through tftp) to the router with an ethernet cable. Otherwise the router wont enter tftp mode and the led will go back to solid green.
Anyway my orbi got bricked weeks ago after I restarted it from the web UI. It happened before and flashing the latest firmware with the tftp method helped recover but not this last time. My orbi remains unusable since. So it's probably better that you were able to return it and I should have done the same the first time it happened, while it was still under warranty...
I guess I'm rather lucky. I've managed to get many stubborn stuck Orbi devices to factory reset, by using the following method. I can't say it will fix your problem, but it's worth a try:
Turn off the Orbi, unplug the power supply from the wall, keeping it plugged into the Orbi device, with the power button pressed in. Leave it that way, for 5 to 10 minutes or longer.
Then hold the reset button in and plug the power supply into the wall, still holding the reset button in. Do not let go of the reset button, until you see solid green power light. If successful, you will be able to configure the Orbi as if it is new out of the box.
