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Forum Discussion
Question regarding Voxel firmware
Hey everyone! Quick question regarding Voxel firmware. I have a RBK53 system (bought from Costco). I'm thinking about installing Voxel firmware only if it prevents Netgear from forcing an update. ...
nepalisherpa wrote:Hey everyone! Quick question regarding Voxel firmware. I have a RBK53 system (bought from Costco). I'm thinking about installing Voxel firmware only if it prevents Netgear from forcing an update. Could you guys confirm if installing Voxel firmware will disable auto-updating from Netgear?Nothing in life is 100% guaranteed, but Voxel has cleverly numbered his firmware to be so far in advance of Netgear's regular numbering scheme that any comparison will always show "this is greater". So, yes, my impression is that Voxel's firmware will prevent Netgear from forcing a firmware update. (100%? no. but, pretty sure.)
Also, if you are using Voxel firmware, how stable is it? I have run Voxel for a month and found it extremely stable. What it offers is increased efficiency. i.e. "faster". He has optimized the code and has included ways to eliminate things like Disney Circle and Armor.
I should add that I have a tendancy to focus on the question asked, rather than the "bigger picture". So, "yes. My impression is that Voxel's firmware numbering scheme will likely prevent Netgear from automatically updating the firmware unexpectedly."
The "bigger picture" may be that as far as I can tell, Netgear has abandoned the practice of silently performing updates without explicit permission. "Except" (drum roll) in case of a "serious need." So, I am not comfortable taking a position on whether one should fear Netgear firmware updates or not. There are far too many unknowns.
Trying to avoid a Netgear firmware update does not seem like a valid reason to dump the stock firmware for 3rd party versions. Increased efficiency - sure. Ability to use the Orbi as a VPN client for all attached devices - sure. Prefer to use SSH rather than telnet, or SCP for file transfer - sure. There are lots of reasons to be interested in Voxel's firmware. Being afraid of Netgear... I'm not so confident.
Sorry to ramble on. It's late.Questions about third party firmware are best dealt with over where they support it.
Netgear does not suppress discussion of alternative firmware, but it doesn't support it and will not comment here.
And while there are some people here who use different firmware, you may find that there is limited experience here. For example, there are few, if any, comments here from the people who cook up alternative firmware.
CrimpOn wrote:I should add that I have a tendancy to focus on the question asked, rather than the "bigger picture". So, "yes. My impression is that Voxel's firmware numbering scheme will likely prevent Netgear from automatically updating the firmware unexpectedly."
The "bigger picture" may be that as far as I can tell, Netgear has abandoned the practice of silently performing updates without explicit permission. "Except" (drum roll) in case of a "serious need." So, I am not comfortable taking a position on whether one should fear Netgear firmware updates or not. There are far too many unknowns.
Trying to avoid a Netgear firmware update does not seem like a valid reason to dump the stock firmware for 3rd party versions. Increased efficiency - sure. Ability to use the Orbi as a VPN client for all attached devices - sure. Prefer to use SSH rather than telnet, or SCP for file transfer - sure. There are lots of reasons to be interested in Voxel's firmware. Being afraid of Netgear... I'm not so confident.
Sorry to ramble on. It's late.Users shouldn't view firmware updates as something to avoid. What they should be doing is NOTHING. Stop this mind set that you must have the latest wiz bang update. Your're clicking yourself to wasted hours trying to figure what happened.
If your system works WHY in the world woukld you want to click and click? Leave it alone and enjoy the fact that it works.
Retired_Member wrote:
Users shouldn't view firmware updates as something to avoid. What they should be doing is NOTHING. Stop this mind set that you must have the latest wiz bang update. Your're clicking yourself to wasted hours trying to figure what happened.If your system works WHY in the world woukld you want to click and click? Leave it alone and enjoy the fact that it works.
My impression from many of the posts is that people were happily enjoying their Orbi until Netgear goaded them into updating. (a) by sending an email, "You should update firmware.", or (b) by flashing a notice on their Orbi App, "New Firmware Available." That's what brings them to this forum: Netgear. They would never have sought out the forum if Netgear had not prompted them to (do or be unable to do) a firmware update.
