Firmware V1.12.0.18 Discussion

I agree the latest firmware is a step back in a way, options have been removed such as not being able to adjust or disable radios.  now I have a 2.4GHz radio blasting away and polluting and contributing to interference to all my neighbours and I don't even use 2.4GHz and I can't do anything about it can't even reduce power let alone disable it, this to me means regression not smart Engineering and forcing people not to have options based on their needs and environment, surely Engineering knows this fact a basic networking concept one size shoe does not fit all! A very basic fact and it is being ignored!

Captain,

I have posted a review of Lyra on Amazon and started a fair, and unbiased, discussion.

I have fully disclosed that Lyra is much slower than Orbi.

However, I have used Lyra for 5 days now and it wins the stability argument without question.

You are correct with your comments, except you are wrong with the auto-updating. Lyra will not auto-update, but notify you with the option to execute the update. It will not update unless you click or tap update. And, as of the latest firmware it does allow manual updating.

As you have written, Netgear is unstable and they are now stripping features, rather than adding features. If an automaker did this to you, I am sure there would be a lawsuit.

Netgear does not feel they need to respond to any of you with any real response of value.

Guess what. ASUS just replied to my Amazon post, and are ready to work with me to make Lyra great. It’s only been on market for 1 week. My Amazon post in only 24 hours old. How long has Orbi been on market, and how many meaningful responses have you seen from Netgear?

Like you, I spent my hard-earned cash on Orbi. Like you, and many others, I am beyond belief that Netgear could operate so poorly.

And, like you, and many others, I have given up. I want my life back. I am only trying to help others by sharing my experience as we try to solve the “Orbi Issues”. And maybe that resolve includes looking at, and discussing, other products such as Velop. Have you seen Linksys Velop’s forum. Linksys engineers are very active and very responsive with REAL results. They actually have a daily/weekly dialog with the Velop users to fix problems and add new features and they do it quickly. From what I have read, Velop is actually faster than Orbi and covers more space. Plus is has more advance controls when compared to Orbi. Lyra offering even more advanced control.

How many months have we asked Netgear to disable auto-update. Have they? Everyone else has that option.

I am not telling anyone that Lyra is better than Orbi. You must each make that choice yourself. What is best, is always an individual choice, based on your needs. I need stable WIFI, and Orbi cannot do that, and Netgear doesn’t seem to care. If I must sacrifice some speed, or a USB port (that I never use), and this sacrifice leads to less time playing technical support and hearing my family complain and being able to do my job (work from home)…Yeah…Sign me up!

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DarrellRiffe wrote:

perhaps we should be looking at what is different among our systems. 

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Yes... I've wondered the same thing, My setup is working. And, it's a simple one, One RBK50 and one RBS50 with an Arris cable modem feeding the router. A dozen devices connecting, including 2 iPhones, 3 iPads, 2 MacBooks and a handful of slower devices like printers and an audio receiver. Only problems I've had have been the first day I got these two Orbis and the first day after the last fw update. System running with default settings except for DNS pointing to Google Public DNS.

Dear Lord,

Wish that I could edit the previous post.  Sorry for the grammatical and spelling errors.  Geeze.

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DarrellRiffe wrote:

Obviously, something strange is going on, whereas many are posting problems with the update while some (including me) are finding everything working very well.  I agree that the lack of response by Netgear is irritating - I expect better from a company this size selling a product at a premium price.  But the fact remains that it works for some users and causes severe problems for others.  Without going into the things that were eliminated (i.e., disabling individual bands, adjusting power levels, shutting off each band via schedule and the auto-update issues), perhaps we should be looking at what is different among our systems.

 

While we may have somewhat different Orbi units, I would think that they're pretty close in their architecture. Similarly, we all have the same firmware (1.12.0.18).  Yet it works for some and not for others.  This tells me that the only variable left is the environment in which the other two factors (i.e., the hardware and the firmware) are being used.  There is always the possibility that a device within our own network is affecting things.  Understanding the plethora of networks and their affect is a major undertaking, if not impossible.  But if Netgear cannot figure it out, then perhaps we can collectively identify what is different among us.

 

So, what is different among those for which it works and those for which it does not?  As for me, I have the RBK50 bought from Costco - One RBR50 router and two RBS50 satellites.  I also have two Negear Prosafe GS108Ev3 Switches (downstream of the RBR50 for Ethernet-wired devices).  I have several assorted clients, including various Apple computers, Lutron Hub, Smarthings Hub, two Rokus, two AppleTV's, Acurite Weather Hub, connected TV's and DVR's, a WD NAS, Chamberlain SmartQ's, Rachio Irrigation and most importantly, a home security system and cameras (Nope – I’m not disclosing info on the last two items).  I'm connected to a cable modem (Arris).

 

So again, my question to the users that are having issues is: What is different from what you have?  Anything that could cause the rest of the system to go askew?

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Obviously, something strange is going on, whereas many are posting problems with the update while some (including me) are finding everything working very well.  I agree that the lack of response by Netgear is irritating - I expect better from a company this size selling a product at a premium price.  But the fact remains that it works for some users and causes severe problems for others.  Without going into the things that were eliminated (i.e., disabling individual bands, adjusting power levels, shutting off each band via schedule and the auto-update issues), perhaps we should be looking at what is different among our systems.

While we may have somewhat different Orbi units, I would think that they're pretty close in their architecture. Similarly, we all have the same firmware (1.12.0.18).  Yet it works for some and not for others.  This tells me that the only variable left is the environment in which the other two factors (i.e., the hardware and the firmware) are being used.  There is always the possibility that a device within our own network is affecting things.  Understanding the plethora of networks and their affect is a major undertaking, if not impossible.  But if Netgear cannot figure it out, then perhaps we can collectively identify what is different among us.

So, what is different among those for which it works and those for which it does not?  As for me, I have the RBK50 bought from Costco - One RBR50 router and two RBS50 satellites.  I also have two Negear Prosafe GS108Ev3 Switches (downstream of the RBR50 for Ethernet-wired devices).  I have several assorted clients, including various Apple computers, Lutron Hub, Smarthings Hub, two Rokus, two AppleTV's, Acurite Weather Hub, connected TV's and DVR's, a WD NAS, Chamberlain SmartQ's, Rachio Irrigation and most importantly, a home security system and cameras (Nope – I’m not disclosing info on the last two items).  I'm connected to a cable modem (Arris).

So again, my question to the users that are having issues is: What is different from what you have?  Anything that could cause the rest of the system to go askew?

Flash008 The Asus Lyra appears to be a much less powerful device than the Orbi. From their FAQ I read that there's no separate SSID's (same as Orbi), no manual updating, no power level adjustments (currently removed from Orbi), no USB ports, and it even said you can't change the wireless channels. I find that a little odd, but if that's the case I would never consider the Lyra.

I am absolutely shocked that this thread has gone on for so long with complaints appearing everyday and still no acknowledgement from Netgear. The single moderator of the Orbi forum has been replying to minor questions everyday, but has yet to make a statement in this thread. The Orbi has been out for 11 months but the current state of these forums is indicative of a beta product full of bugs. 

The latest firmware update was released 2 weeks ago, and not only has it caused severe issues for many users, but it also removed valuable features such as disabling individual bands, adjusting power levels, and shutting off each band via schedule. No reason has yet to be given for this removal. As others have posted, I am now seriously considering returning the Orbi and looking into another product. This is not the kind of support I expected from a $400-$500 high end product 1 year after release. I still believe the Orbi is the most powerful "whole home wifi" product on the market, but its capabilities are crippled by unstable firmware.

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Flash008 wrote:

For those of you who want your life back, and have better things to do than wait for Netgear to solve your problems (never going to happen). Take a look at Linksys Velop and Lyra. Velop seems to be the winner for speed and features. Most sites say its slightly faster and better than Orbi. Lyra is new, so it may take a few weeks to see reviews and for ASUS to release some updates. But still, Lyra is looking better than Orbi on its first day.

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Lol.  You're missing the point there pal.  You think i'm going to go drop another $600 on a Velop or Lyra system??  Not a chance.  There has to be some accountability here on Netgear's part.  Sure if they want to reimburse me my $600 then I'll maybe try a Velop or Lyra system (or Eeero, Google Wifi, TP-L Deco M5, etc, etc) but until then, this is their issue to address and all they're doing by ignoring us is damaging their brand image.  

For those of you who want your life back, and have better things to do than wait for Netgear to solve your problems (never going to happen). Take a look at Linksys Velop and Lyra. Velop seems to be the winner for speed and features. Most sites say its slightly faster and better than Orbi. Lyra is new, so it may take a few weeks to see reviews and for ASUS to release some updates. But still, Lyra is looking better than Orbi on its first day.

Did you receive this thru the United States Postal Service it doesn't matter where it was purchased ?

How did you get a refund? I asked Orbi support for a refund almost 2 weeks ago and haven't gotten a response back. 

Move on people. Like many of you, I spent 3-4 months waiting, hoping, praying that Netgear would do better. I was beginning to fit within the description of insanity.

Urban Dictionary: Insane - "The definition of insanity, is, doing the exact same ****'ing thing over and over again, expecting **** (stuff) to change. That. Is. Crazy.

Move on. I already updated my case asking Netgear for a refund or a different product to compensate. I will not be holding my breathe of course. 

I have my life back. Now, go get your life back. Accept your loss. You will make more money to replace the money lost to Orbi. But you will not make "MORE TIME". 

I have updated my nvram to not upgrade.  I am going to be monitoring it closely.  If it upgrades, I am going to call Netgear and ask for a refund on the product.  I agree the quality is horrible and the silence is deafening from Netgear.

George