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Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

pumpichank
Luminary

Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

I just bought an Orbi RBK753 (RBR750 + two RBS750 satellites), along with a separate third RBS750.  It took several tries but I finally was able to connect the third satellite to the router.  At least, the Orbi app's network map says so.  The problem is that this third satellite cannot upgrade it's firmware.   Automatic online updates say "Downloading firmware" and then just "Update failed".  So then I click on Manual Update, select the appropriate satellite and Update.  But it always asks me to log in and it does not accept the router login.  So it is impossible to update the satellite.  I've tried to sync this third satellite several times, but the lights just blink white and never turn blue.  Yet the Orbi app still says they are connected.

 

I actually had this same problem with one of the satellites that came with the RBK753, but eventually I was able to manually update without it requiring me to log in.  I have no idea why this one started working, and no idea why the third satellite won't work.

 

The router and working satellites are all on firmware V4.6.5.14 while the non-working satellite is on V3.2.16.22.

 

How can I fix this?  The one time I tried to call Netgear support, it took about 20 minutes to talk to somebody and then they ended up hanging up on me after 5 minutes.

Message 1 of 5

Accepted Solutions
plemans
Guru

Re: Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

Have you tried using the default login info? 

login: admin

password: password

 

If that doesn't work, you can always use tftp/nmrpflash to try to force the update to it. 


are you on windows? if so, follow this guide
https://kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP
just make sure you enable tftp
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/enable-tftp-windows-10

and here's a video walk through using a tftp client. Use the built in one for windows 10 though. the video is more of an example of how its done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9DLrLQrpaw

and if that doesn't work, you can try using nmrpflash
https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash

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Message 4 of 5

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plemans
Guru

Re: Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

have you tried hardwiring the satellite in and updating it? 

Try factory resetting the satellite and then hardwire it into the router. Let it connect/try to sync for a few minutes.

You can try updating it through the auto-update process but if it doesn't work, then try the manual update using its ip address. 

It should get an IP address  from the router. Try using that  to access it and update it. 

If it sync'd, it should be the same login/password as the router.  

Message 2 of 5
pumpichank
Luminary

Re: Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

This didn't work.  I did connect the satellite with the router over ethernet and verified that the connection is 'wired'.  Then I did a factory reset by pushing in the recessed button on the satellite, and its light turned amber, then blinked white.  I pushed the sync button on both the router and the satellite and they both blinked white for a little while.  Then the satellite turned blue before the light went off.

 

After all that, the satellite still had the name I'd given it before the reset, and it still has the old firmware version.  Online update now just says "Please wait a moment..." and that never changes.  When I go to manual update, it keeps asking for the user name and password, and it does not accept the router's password.  So there is still no way to update it.

 

I've verified with the Orbi iOS app that it seems all three satellites, and that this one is still running the old firmware.  In the app, when I go to Router Settings and click on Check For Updates, it shows me the Checking For New Firmware page for over 5 minutes and then it says "There was a problem checking firmware update" with Skip and Try Again buttons.  Needless to say, Try Again never succeeds.


Message 3 of 5
plemans
Guru

Re: Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

Have you tried using the default login info? 

login: admin

password: password

 

If that doesn't work, you can always use tftp/nmrpflash to try to force the update to it. 


are you on windows? if so, follow this guide
https://kb.netgear.com/000059634/How-to-upload-firmware-to-a-NETGEAR-router-using-Windows-TFTP
just make sure you enable tftp
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/enable-tftp-windows-10

and here's a video walk through using a tftp client. Use the built in one for windows 10 though. the video is more of an example of how its done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9DLrLQrpaw

and if that doesn't work, you can try using nmrpflash
https://github.com/jclehner/nmrpflash

Message 4 of 5
pumpichank
Luminary

Re: Cannot update firmware on one Orbi sattelite

Logging in with admin:password did the trick.  That let me upgrade the firmware manually (online firmware upgrade still didn't work).  Then I did another factory reset on the misbehaving satellite, wired it to the router, and resync'd them.  It took a couple of tries, but it eventually did sync and now all satellites are on the latest firmware, properly sync'd, and router password shared.  So I think I'm all good!  Thanks for the help.

Message 5 of 5
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