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OrbiOS 2.1.1
The Orbi team at NETGEAR is aware that some users are experiencing higher than expected Orbi Router reboots, special characters in WiFi Passwords and WiFi / Internet disconnects. We believe these is...
Let me give you a quick update on where NETGEAR is with the OrbiOS.
Just before Christmas break, we paused the distribution of OrbiOS 2.1. Very soon, we're about to restart the distribution of a slightly updated version of the beta (2.1.2). In addition to the major new features introduced in 2.1 (e.g. Circle, Ethernet Backhaul), this firmware is expected to address the high CPU issue, as well as the special character in PSK issue as well as support for the Outdoor Orbi. Check Release Notes for complete list.
We are continuing to work on the issues with Google devices that have been documented in the press (several users have provided links here).
My recommendation is that you should either use the Orbi Mobile App (if you haven't seen it recently, check it out, we've made some major improvements) or the Web UI to check for new firmware or wait until your system gets auto-upgraded.
To answer your question, Stars_fan. When Orbi are connected over Ethernet backhaul, the 5GHz band becomes hot standby.
Orbi Product Management
mumbles76 wrote:Darren,
Is there a phone number or email address of someone that we can reach out to regarding the issues we are experiencing with the Orbi's to try and place some pressure on dedicating more resources to the Orbi development/testing teams?
Are you kidding? This is the second major firmware screw-up for Orbi. It is ridiculous! I have never seen such a crap development process. "Hey, let's push out a major firmware upgrade right before the holidays and then set all the routers to auto-update while all of our engineers head out to vacation. I hope it works." What a joke.
I really do appreciate the concept of ORBI. If this worked well, it would be the best mesh system out there IMHO since it’s got multiple Ethernet ports per unit. One of the big downsides I see to Eero is that even with the full blown Pro units (vs 1 pro unit and beacons) there are only 2 Ethernet ports (and on the modem connected unit, only 1 free). If you use Ethernet backhaul, even the secondary Eero’s only have 1 open ethernet port (and you can’t ethernet backhaul with the beacons). That said, EVERY person I know with an Eero says it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread and they NEVER have to reboot... WEEKS at a time without even thinking about it - real plug and play....
I’m sure there are those who have Orbi systems and they work well, but the number of people who post here must only be a small portion of those having issues and then there is the 90 day support period. Netgear has kept us all down, and I’m “thisclose” to making the decision to return Orbi and just go back to my TP-Link router again for a while.
The support from the 2 people (I think it’s 2, AMIR and DARRENM?) is OK, but I just get the feeling that they are secretly frustrated as well, just like their jobs and can’t say anything. A modern wifi system, mesh or not, that has been out for over a year now should not still be having issues like this.