RBR20/RBS20 Firmware Confusion

[fmalloy]

New RBR20/RBS20. Brand new, set up ok. Now want to update the firmware (it's offering). Two areas of confusion:

1. Current firmware level on Netgear website for RBR20 (2.5.1.16) does not match the level on what my new router wants to update to (2.3.5.30), which seems to be for RBR50, not RBR20. Which is correct? What's the difference between the two routers?

2. I've read that you must update the satellites first, or else you lose connection to the router. Orbi web access shows three devices (router and two satellites), and a button "Update All". Will that correctly update the satellites first?

Thank you!

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

---

@fmalloy wrote:

New RBR20/RBS20. Brand new, set up ok. Now want to update the firmware (it's offering). Two areas of confusion:

1. Current firmware level on Netgear website for RBR20 (2.5.1.16) does not match the level on what my new router wants to update to (2.3.5.30), which seems to be for RBR50, not RBR20. Which is correct? What's the difference between the two routers?

v16 is for both:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-2-5-1-16-Update/m-p/1897955/highlight/tru...

Differences:

https://kb.netgear.com/000038220/What-are-the-hardware-specifications-of-the-available-Orbi-WiFi-Sys...

2. I've read that you must update the satellites first, or else you lose connection to the router. Orbi web access shows three devices (router and two satellites), and a button "Update All". Will that correctly update the satellites first?

It should however you might want to manaully download the RBS and RBR FW files from the link above and manually install them to help ensure the RBS get updated first, then update the RBR lastly. Use a wired PC and IE11, Firefox or Opera browser. You can go to each RBS's web page and upload the FW files there. I recommend doing a factory reset on the entire system and setting it up from scratch if you encounter any problems after grading the system. 

---

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

---

@fmalloy wrote:

New RBR20/RBS20. Brand new, set up ok. Now want to update the firmware (it's offering). Two areas of confusion:

1. Current firmware level on Netgear website for RBR20 (2.5.1.16) does not match the level on what my new router wants to update to (2.3.5.30), which seems to be for RBR50, not RBR20. Which is correct? What's the difference between the two routers?

v16 is for both:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/RBR50-RBS50-Firmware-2-5-1-16-Update/m-p/1897955/highlight/tru...

Differences:

https://kb.netgear.com/000038220/What-are-the-hardware-specifications-of-the-available-Orbi-WiFi-Sys...

2. I've read that you must update the satellites first, or else you lose connection to the router. Orbi web access shows three devices (router and two satellites), and a button "Update All". Will that correctly update the satellites first?

It should however you might want to manaully download the RBS and RBR FW files from the link above and manually install them to help ensure the RBS get updated first, then update the RBR lastly. Use a wired PC and IE11, Firefox or Opera browser. You can go to each RBS's web page and upload the FW files there. I recommend doing a factory reset on the entire system and setting it up from scratch if you encounter any problems after grading the system. 

---