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Forum Discussion
OrbiOS MR 2.1 issues
I wanted to reach out to provide a quick update on OrbiOS 2.1 software. We believe that these issues are affecting some users. Rest assured that we've been following this issue and working hard behind the scenes to address it. In the meantime, to those that are affected, I understand the frustration that you've been feeling. In response, we're taking the following actions:
1. We've paused the auto-firmware upgrade to MR2.1 and are re-posting MR 2.0 as the "latest" software for Orbi. What that means is that new customers will, upon first install, get upgraded to OrbiOS 2.0. They will not be able to use features introduced in OrbiOS 2.1 like Ethernet Backhaul or Circle. This will happen in the next 24 hours. Existing customers, can do a manual software upgrade back to MR 2.0 and it will stick until further notice.
For those interested in OrbiOS 2.1 features, We will post OrbiOS 2.1 available on the web server for customers who want to manual upgrade.
2. Customers who are having connectivity issues on MR 2.1 are encouraged to contact Support. We will try to help everyone. Bonus points if you're willing to work with us. We have some debug software available.
3. As more information is available, we'll keep you updated through the Community.
As an FYI, if you're having issues, a couple of quick & easy ways to self serve
1. Ensure that your Router & Satellite(s) are running the same (to the 3rd digit) of software. Best way to find this is on the Web UI (orbilogin.com. Advanced -> Admin -> Firmware Update).
2. Rebooting the system. Do this manually by unplugging & replugging in the Router & Satellites.
3. If you're having slowness when connected to the Satellite, moving it closer to the Router or to a different location
Orbi Product Management Team
140 Replies
Updated to V2.1.4.10 and so far so good. No issues at all.
Hi there just to confirm, since I have updated my firmware to 2.1.4.10 I am having constant drop outs. I can’t watch Netflix with out it buffering or not starting again.
I have the rbr50 I have the satellite and a plug satellite so I am covered. I updated the router firmware about a week ago and noting but trouble.
is there a preferred version to roll back to or can we even roll back?
Any ideas?
W3cks wrote:
Hi there just to confirm, since I have updated my firmware to 2.1.4.10 I am having constant drop outs. I can’t watch Netflix with out it buffering or not starting again.
I have the rbr50 I have the satellite and a plug satellite so I am covered. I updated the router firmware about a week ago and noting but trouble.
is there a preferred version to roll back to or can we even roll back?
Any ideas?
Have you tried to turn the router and Sat off and on? - not a reboot
I posted this a few days ago: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-MR-2-1-Update-3-23-18/m-p/1563089/highlight/true#M30803
turning them off/on did the trick for me
Since the 2.1.4.10 update my ethernet backhaul has been working fine. Everything is pretty much rock solid at this point. Factory reset wasn't required in my case.
I just wish I could configure the Orbi to pass along the manually configured DNS server(s) to the LAN side during DHCP instead of the Orbi insisting on being the LAN's DNS server proxy. The Orbi's latency in handling DNS requests isn't great. But, manually setting DNS overrides in each critical PC is the workaround. No big deal.
Today I disabled the satellites and retested my WiFi coverage with ONLY the RBR50 router WiFi active. And I'm still getting close to my WAN ISP data rate (100/100) throughout most of the house and backyard. Some fringe areas are down to -64dBm but still register nearly 75% signal strength or better.
Given that, I'll probably go back to a single WiFi access point with beamforming, MU-MIMO and 4 stream radios. In my case, I believe a less complicated setup outweighs having multiple satellites and 100% radio strength at every corner of the home. For one thing, I can completely eliminate "roaming" issues on some devices. (For example, Skype video sessions will ALWAYS drop when roaming to a new AP, on both iPhone7 and Google Pixel XL phones). Plus, the smaller WiFi coverage radius marginally improves my security and frees up some of the spectrum. Although, my Orbi system would always put the backhaul radio on the same channel as the fronthaul radio for some reason.
Now - which router? It's probably a choice between Asus and Netgear for me.
Was a factory reset performed on BOTH router and satellites after updating to v2.1.3.4? This needs to be done.
How are you setting up the Satellites?
I recommend setting up the satellites to sync via wifi first. Then after they are set up via wireless, connect the ethernet cable to one satellite first. Give it 5 minutes for the system to reconfigure itself. Once it's done, check someting connected to the satellite, wired PC or wireless device. Should have connection here. Satellite should have displayed BLUE led.
Then connect next Satellite and wait 5 minutes.
Remove the switches as a test to see if they connect directly to the router.
Swap out LAN cabling as well. CAT6 recommended.
Others are getting theres set up:
How I got mine working. Two non managed switches in between.
You should try the Beta. Looks to be even better than current FW.
- The first wave to be released are only for the RBR50 and RBS50, which is used in the RBK50 and RBK53 (Costco) kits.New beta FW avaialble. Get it while its hot of the press:
- I’ve had the 2.1.3 Beta running for a few days now. 1 base, 2 satellites, 21 devices, no dropped connections, everything talking fine now. Yeah. Thx.
As FURRYe38 and Orbi2018-3-3 have stated, many people have had good luck with it, myself included :-)
Am happy to hear that new firmware 2.1.3 is available. However, since it is a beta and I'm not having issues with 2.0.1.4, I'm waiting til it is deemed ready for auto update.
BTW, I haven't turned off auto update in the firmware.
Hoping the beta helps those of you with crashes & other issues.
Netgear Team,
I've been meaning to post this for several weeks now. Having read everything pertaining to the Orbi issues thus far, I'm a little shocked to report that I have not experienced ANY isssues with my Orbi system thus far. None at all.
For what it's worth:
- I'm using CenturyLink's Fiber Optic service. Rather than plugging-in my Orbi into the CenturyLink's Fiber Modem, instead I ended up getting rid of the CenturyLink's Internet modem entirely. Following a wildly popular guide that's been floating around on the internet, I have a CAT6 Ethernet Cable coming from the CenturyLink's Fiber ONT box DIRECTLY into my Orbi's WAN port. Once I enabled PPoE with the correct credentials and configured the correct VLAN Tagging ID within the Orbi, all was up and running in less than 5 minutes.
- I've also read about not doing any sort of customizing within the Orbi or only using certain characters in the SSID name or even passwords. I have violated these rules in so many ways. I've completely customized my Orbi in all sorts of ways.
- I also have a great mix of hard-wired ethernet devices, and tons of WiFi-connected devices from iPhones, Tablets to Smart Devices and etc. I've had no issues at all, whatsoever. Whatever devices support 5GHZ seem to be connected to the 5GHZ accordingly and the rest connect to 2.4GHZ.
- The one set of rules that I did follow was that I first connected my Laptop directly to the Orbi Router to first set it up. Then I manually installed Firmware version V2.1.2.18. Then I setup each of the Satellites and also manually upgraded each of them to Firmware version V2.1.2.18. Also, as a rule of thumb, if I ever end up rebooting / restarting the Orbi Router...then once it's back up and running I manually reboot the Satellites.
- The only thing that I'm not doing right now is using the Ethernet Back-haul. Which ironically enough, is one of the reasons that I purchased this system. I'm waiting to do a few more changes within my internal cable infrastructure inside my home, then I will totally be using Ethernet Back-haul. However for now, I only have one of the two Satellites up and running and that SAT is connected to the Orbi via the 5 GHZ dedicated Band.
If there is anything that I can do, perhaps exporting my config file or something...anything to help you guys troubleshoot and try to get to the bottom of the issues that everyone else is having, please let me know.
Thank you,
BJ.
Not sure if this will help the Netgear team or not, but my network is performing normally again with 2.1.2.18 after replacing a plug-in satellite (RBW30) with a small tower (RBS40). No more drops. I don’t think that the plug-in unit ever had the same firmware as the others and so perhaps was causing a conflict?
- Over the past 6 months, I have spent 9 useless hours on the phone with support about this connectivity problem. Almost everyone is having the same problems. Look on eBay at all of the Orbis up for sale. They are trying to blame it on Google phones, and other connected devices, buttons activated, and buttons not activated. I have Roku, Fire TV boxes, Apple devices, Android phones, and they ALL experience the constant internet dropping of these high priced lemons. They can't fix it with a firmware upgrade, OR downgrade, because it's not software related. They know it's a hardware issue, but they keep you on the phone for 3 hours at a time trying to get you to try the same ole crap, over and over again, and never offer to do any more than send you the another replacement lemon. Why do they do that?
Because they're stalling you, long enough, for your 90 day return policy to end, at the store in which you bought this piece of junk. If it's not too late, please return this product. Trust me, even if it is working for you, at the moment, it will start going downhill fast. Worst purchase that I ever made. Netgear got over $400 of my hard-earned cash, and by the time I realized that Netgear wasn't helping me, and were only stalling me, so I wouldn't be able to return the Orbi, it was too late. Don't let this happen to you. I have excepted that I was ripped off. I had, finally had enough of watching television, with freezing and buffering, trying to watch a movie and the app couldn't even load the film, and trying to surf the net, on my phone, and having to turn off the WiFi, so I could do it. A week ago, after 6 months of running, up and down my stairs, constantly resetting these stress-causing Orbis, I unhooked them for good. Every techie, that I know, kept telling me to buy the Google system. They said that it was the only bug-free system, out there. They told me that it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles, of the other systems, but it works great. I boxed up the Orbi, threw it in the corner and bought the Google system. For the past 10 days, since I installed it, I have not had a single problem. My WiFi is back to being super fast, and it STAYS connected! If you've put up with this Orbi crap, as long as I have, then please, take my advice and except the loss, and go buy the Google system. I had forgotten how nice reliable WiFi felt. Being a cord-cutter, it was essential. Now I have it back. Netgear, I trusted your product, for the past 20 years, but, not any more. I will never buy another Netgear product, ever again. You know this product is bad, and you chose to do nothing about it, except to string everyone along. Only time that I have ever felt like suing a company for ripping me off.
