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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. ...
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.
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.
CrimpOn wrote:
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.
email or app prompt...it doesn't matter....at the point of install...that was their decision.
Then once it fouls up, then they end up in here.
Flashed Voxel firmware on and RBR50 and it was running fine. It experienced a power cycle (I knocked the power cube out with my knee :-) ) and it now beboots (fast LED flash) and then goes into a white LED pulsing varing brightness up an down). Ethernet ports are dead and I can't do TFTP, but I see that plugging in a USB drive get some activity on the drive. Any chance there is a UBS recovery trick or a way to "autorun" a firmware update to reflash this? Doesn't pulsing white mean trying to do factory reset? Thanks.
Scott
ps. this is a test RBR50 so I am not SOL but would like to unbrick this.
