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Forum Discussion
Orbi Firmware issue
Just got off the telephone with Spectrum technical support. Last night they found the latest firmware release for Orbi is preventing live streaming from working on their Roku app. They said the issue is not limited to Spectrum app. Other cable providers are seeing the same issue. They suggest rolling back to previous Orbi firmware version. How do I do this? I have been unable use Spectrum Roku app for the past several days.
32 Replies
To manually install firmware, go to the support web page for the model of Orbi that you have, click on "Downloads", then on the "plus sign" for "Previous Firmware. Select the version you want to install and download the files for router and satellite. Unpack them ("unzip"). Then go to the web page of the satellite and select "Firmware Update". Then to the web page of the router, Advanced Tab->Administration->Firmware Update, and select "Manual Update".
So, you updated firmware in your Orbi at the time this issue came up?
Not that I doubt the tech support folks at Spectrum, but I struggle to grasp how a change in Orbi firmware will cause a Spectrum application to quit working. Have you activated Disney Circle or Armor on the Orbi?
Thought it would be fun to Google "Spectrum Orbi Roku". First thing that popped up was this:
https://community.roku.com/t5/Channel-Issues-Questions/Spectrum-Channel-Freezes/td-p/537140/page/2
What FW version do you have loaded?
What is the Mfr and model # of your ISP modem?
I am using an Orbi RBR50 with Firmware version 2.3.5.30. I am running Armor on the Orb. The Spectrm cable modem is a E31U2V1. The H/W version is 2.72.3.
Add me to the list of angry customers. How can I not have the ability to disable the Armor/Bitfinder protection?! Just opens up a browser to renew subscription. All of my TV viewing is done through the Spectrum app.
I will never buy Netgear equipment in the future.
Factory reset your RBR and setup from scratch. Then don't enable Armor when presented with the enable or not.
Good Luck.
Dslo wrote:Add me to the list of angry customers. How can I not have the ability to disable the Armor/Bitfinder protection?! Just opens up a browser to renew subscription. All of my TV viewing is done through the Spectrum app.
I will never buy Netgear equipment in the future.
Factory reset fixed the issue. However, I still believe that Spectrum changed something as I hadn't done a firmware update or made any changes on the Orbi in months and the Armor trial had been expired for months as well.
I reset my Orbi to factory settings then reinstalled it via the Orbi app just as I did the day I received it. It offered a free trial of Armor and I declined. Spectrum app has been working for almost an hour without freezing. Had to be the Armor security causing it. Just so happened the Spectrum app started freezing around the time the original "free trial" expired.
Joey
Glad the reset and not enabling Armor fixed it for you. Yes we have been seeing issues with Armor and people using it. Thankfully a reset and not enabling Armor seems to be the fix for most.
Enjoy. :smileywink:
jkandcrew wrote:I reset my Orbi to factory settings then reinstalled it via the Orbi app just as I did the day I received it. It offered a free trial of Armor and I declined. Spectrum app has been working for almost an hour without freezing. Had to be the Armor security causing it. Just so happened the Spectrum app started freezing around the time the original "free trial" expired.
Joey
Over the weekend, I updated my firmware to v2.5.0.38. I thought it would be a good thing to do and unfortunately, didn't do the normal amount of research that usually do, but got a REAL education.
After making the update, it became clear that it was nothing short of a disaster! I operate most everything on an iOS platform, with the exception of a couple of windows work computers, and a pool automation system.
The first clue came when after doing a restart of the router and satellite, my HomePod showed as 'Not Responding'. Then, my pool automation system (Hayward) lost the link from my hardwired router to the system box. Next, after checking what was going on through the app, it showed the satellite as 'online' but the router as 'disconnected - no internet'. This was strange since every device had internet access, but the router said something different.
All of this is in addition to the fact that most everything was moving at just slightly greater than dial-up regardless of the fact that I have AT&T Giganet Fiber service.
After a very frustrating weekend, I determined that the ONLY fix was to downgrade both the router and satellite to the previous version of firmware that I knew worked well, v2.3.5.30. I downloaded the update files from the support website for both the router and satellite, made the downgrade by using the web interface and a LAN cable connection directly to the internal IP address for each unit, and changed my SSID just to clear out any issues with re-connecting all of my devices (which there are plenty, including smart lights and switches).
It was quite the ordeal and it took me many hours to 'start over' again from scratch, but EVERYTHING is working just like it did before venturing into this fiasco.
From what I have read on this board, as well as other independent forums, the greatest amount of pain of this 'upgrade' is suffered by APPLE or iOs users, in general.
My STRONG suggestion is that anyone that has suffered this fate, take the time to roll back to v2.3.5.30, or whatever firmware version you know worked, and wait for the developers to figure out what, and why, there seems to be so many issues with this update.
I am a HUGE supporter of the ORBI product, and have purchased numerous mesh systems for my daughters and sons-in-laws since none of then are tech savy in any way. I did immediately call them and let them know of the issues that I experienced. I will continue to be a huge supporter of the product, but will add the caveat that they do NOT upgrade, or if they do and experience similar issues, manually downgrade (which I suspect I will have to do for them) to the above older version.
You should upgrade to v2.5.1.8, not v2.5.0.38. NG retracted v2.5.0.x after the numerous issues it had, you should not have been able to download it any more from their web site.
Chuck-ORL wrote:Over the weekend, I updated my firmware to v2.5.0.38. I thought it would be a good thing to do and unfortunately, didn't do the normal amount of research that usually do, but got a REAL education.
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
Once you update to v2.5.1.8 and factory reset the system and setup from scratch, you'll be fine. v2.5.1.8 works well.
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).Above suggestions working:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Throttling-Devices-RBK53/m-p/1858561/highlight/true#M81925
Chuck-ORL wrote:Over the weekend, I updated my firmware to v2.5.0.38. I thought it would be a good thing to do and unfortunately, didn't do the normal amount of research that usually do, but got a REAL education.
After making the update, it became clear that it was nothing short of a disaster! I operate most everything on an iOS platform, with the exception of a couple of windows work computers, and a pool automation system.
The first clue came when after doing a restart of the router and satellite, my HomePod showed as 'Not Responding'. Then, my pool automation system (Hayward) lost the link from my hardwired router to the system box. Next, after checking what was going on through the app, it showed the satellite as 'online' but the router as 'disconnected - no internet'. This was strange since every device had internet access, but the router said something different.
All of this is in addition to the fact that most everything was moving at just slightly greater than dial-up regardless of the fact that I have AT&T Giganet Fiber service.
After a very frustrating weekend, I determined that the ONLY fix was to downgrade both the router and satellite to the previous version of firmware that I knew worked well, v2.3.5.30. I downloaded the update files from the support website for both the router and satellite, made the downgrade by using the web interface and a LAN cable connection directly to the internal IP address for each unit, and changed my SSID just to clear out any issues with re-connecting all of my devices (which there are plenty, including smart lights and switches).
It was quite the ordeal and it took me many hours to 'start over' again from scratch, but EVERYTHING is working just like it did before venturing into this fiasco.
From what I have read on this board, as well as other independent forums, the greatest amount of pain of this 'upgrade' is suffered by APPLE or iOs users, in general.
My STRONG suggestion is that anyone that has suffered this fate, take the time to roll back to v2.3.5.30, or whatever firmware version you know worked, and wait for the developers to figure out what, and why, there seems to be so many issues with this update.
I am a HUGE supporter of the ORBI product, and have purchased numerous mesh systems for my daughters and sons-in-laws since none of then are tech savy in any way. I did immediately call them and let them know of the issues that I experienced. I will continue to be a huge supporter of the product, but will add the caveat that they do NOT upgrade, or if they do and experience similar issues, manually downgrade (which I suspect I will have to do for them) to the above older version.
I have the Orbi Mini Router RBR40 (not in the list) and RBS40 with firmware version V2.3.5.34. I could not watch any channel on the Spectrum up. All other streaming services like NETFLIX and etc. worked okay. I called Spectrum and all three different help desk people I spoke to over the course of four days blamed the firmware version of the Orbi system. But they did not know what version was affected and they all told me to contact either NETGEAR or Roku for support. The last Spectrum help desk person said they have a meeting each morning to go over issues and he said they are putting out that Orbi firmware is the issue.
After I reset my router and did not opt in for the NETGEAR Armor protection and I can now watch by streaming over the Spectrum App on Roku. (BTW, none of my 3 tvs would work which are all using Roku with the Spectrum App installed). I still see a freezing screen every now and then but it lasts for about 1-2 seconds. Before, it would freeze for long periods, then say "Buffering" for a few seconds and then would repeat over and over which means we could not watch any channel on the Spectrum App on any of the 3 TVs.
Thanks for letting us know that not using Armor helped your system. IT's not the FW issue persae, it's the Armor app support with in the FW that seems to be the problem. Once users factory reset the RBR and setup from scratch and don't enable Armor, users have reported that the Spectrum and Roku apps being to work correctly.
RBMahan wrote:I have the Orbi Mini Router RBR40 (not in the list) and RBS40 with firmware version V2.3.5.34. I could not watch any channel on the Spectrum up. All other streaming services like NETFLIX and etc. worked okay. I called Spectrum and all three different help desk people I spoke to over the course of four days blamed the firmware version of the Orbi system. But they did not know what version was affected and they all told me to contact either NETGEAR or Roku for support. The last Spectrum help desk person said they have a meeting each morning to go over issues and he said they are putting out that Orbi firmware is the issue.
After I reset my router and did not opt in for the NETGEAR Armor protection and I can now watch by streaming over the Spectrum App on Roku. (BTW, none of my 3 tvs would work which are all using Roku with the Spectrum App installed). I still see a freezing screen every now and then but it lasts for about 1-2 seconds. Before, it would freeze for long periods, then say "Buffering" for a few seconds and then would repeat over and over which means we could not watch any channel on the Spectrum App on any of the 3 TVs.
I just read this thread as I have been having the same issue for the past few weeks, freezing on the Spectrum app shortly after launching. Disabling Armor/Bitdefender worked! I don't like having to have it off but hopefully there will be update that fixes this issue.... Thanks to all, this ia great website.
I had this issue using Roku app on Spectrum internet with Orbi. After hours with support and no resolution I saw this post. I went into the Orbi app, on left hand upper corner home, settings, security, there is an enable netgear armor which I turned off. My TVs now work great. Not sure when they plan to fix this.
Thanks for letting us know. Enjoy. :smileywink:
scain145 wrote:I had this issue using Roku app on Spectrum internet with Orbi. After hours with support and no resolution I saw this post. I went into the Orbi app, on left hand upper corner home, settings, security, there is an enable netgear armor which I turned off. My TVs now work great. Not sure when they plan to fix this.
