Re: New - RBE970 / RBE971 Firmware Version 9.12.4.16 Released (for NA Region Only)!

Mooose · ‎2024-12-10

I have not noticed different Orbi firmware versions for different regions before. Is this common? If so, is it known what the differences between NA and EU versions typically are?

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-10

Ya. Kinda first seen with the 960 series. Seems to be a bit more common these days. Seems like a Wi-Fi issue in differences between NA and EU region since each region handles Wi-Fi policies differently. Probably a hassle for NG and other Wi-Fi router mfrs.

CrimpOn · ‎2024-12-10

This is the sort of things that manufacturers seem to feel no obligation to document. There are different regulations for radio use, including WiFi, around the globe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

(One might infer that this is the reason WiFi routers have a Region Code parameter.)

My guess is that at the time Netgear was ready to release support for some new feature, only regulators in North America had completed "writing the rules". Sort of hard to write programming code unique to each region if it is not clear what the requirement is.

prowl2000 · ‎2024-12-10

I updated my firmware a couple days ago via the iPhone app. Yesterday and today I'm seeing that my two Macs are no longer able to connect via WIFI. I can connect via ethernet no problem. I look in the logs on the router and I do not see any issues.
Is this a case where I should perform a factory reset?

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-10

First try a power OFF of the system for 1 minute then back ON.

What channels are you using on the RBR?

What two Macs do you have? OSX versions?

What region are you located?

prowl2000 · ‎2024-12-10

Thanks for the quick reply. I've powered down all systems and restarted. Still nothing.
2.4 is on auto, 5GHz set to 40.
Mac 1 is a MacMini 2014 running OS 12.7.6
Mac 2 is a MacBook intel 2020 running OS 15.1.1

Region is US, so NA.

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-11

And you don't have any Access Controls or Armor or SPC enabled?

I have a Mac Book Pro 2018 and it connects to mine fine. OSX 12 and 15.

I do need to check my Mac Mini 2012.

@prowl2000 wrote:

Thanks for the quick reply. I've powered down all systems and restarted. Still nothing.
2.4 is on auto, 5GHz set to 40.
Mac 1 is a MacMini 2014 running OS 12.7.6
Mac 2 is a MacBook intel 2020 running OS 15.1.1

Region is US, so NA.

Mooose · ‎2024-12-11

@CrimpOn wrote:
This is the sort of things that manufacturers seem to feel no obligation to document. There are different regulations for radio use, including WiFi, around the globe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels
(One might infer that this is the reason WiFi routers have a Region Code parameter.)

My guess is that at the time Netgear was ready to release support for some new feature, only regulators in North America had completed "writing the rules". Sort of hard to write programming code unique to each region if it is not clear what the requirement is.

You'd think if ($region=="EU"){$power--;} would be simpler than maintaining and managing distribution of multiple variants of the firmware, especially considering it seems you can load whichever you want regardless of your region settings. (Unless the differences are so great that the code wouldn't fit in available memory, but that seems highly unlikely.)

Anyhow, my network just went down and then up again, the first log entry is:

[Initialized, firmware version: V9.12.3.3_1.2.20] Wednesday, Dec 11,2024 15:28:51

What's the point of having a log if it doesn't tell you what was happening before or during a failure? Can I find more detailed information somewhere? (I just "upgraded" from RBK852 yesterday, not super impressed so far.)

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-11

@Mooose

Lets start a new post thread for your issues your seeing with your system so we can help troubleshoot and narrow down what the problem maybe.

Thank you.

prowl2000 · ‎2024-12-11

Nothing is installed on either Mac. What is strange is appears to be working today on the laptop, I haven't tried the mini yet. I wonder if there was an ip address contention or something. I'll keep monitoring it.

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-11

Might check the logging on the RBR to see if those computers are appearing in it's log for DHCP IP address.

@prowl2000 wrote:

Nothing is installed on either Mac. What is strange is appears to be working today on the laptop, I haven't tried the mini yet. I wonder if there was an ip address contention or something. I'll keep monitoring it.

FURRYe38 · ‎2024-12-27

New FW available for the 970 series:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WiFi-7-BE-Mesh-Systems/New-RBE970-RBE971-Firmware-Version-9-12...