Netgear Orbi Firmware 1.12.0.18 issues

[sm00thpapa]

Just upgraded to this firmware and now the router and satellite can't find each other. I tried syncing them by pressing the sync buttons on the back and nothing. I set both to factory settings and nothing. I went back to the previous firmware and they found each other easy. Anyone else have this issue with this firmware?

 

[thiggins]

I think they pulled it back yesterday.

 

[NETGEAR Guy]

1.12.0.18 is still available on the Orbi site...but haven't heard any reports of sync issues following an update from v1.11.0.20.

Just ran through the steps myself using manual update and all went ok.

Was this auto or manual update?

 

[thiggins]

New firmware update detection in Orbi is flaky, then. The update appeared on Monday, then was gone Tuesday.

 

[NETGEAR Guy]

Will check the status as I hadn't noticed this yesterday..

 

[NETGEAR Guy]

A colleague noticed a similar issue earlier this week when updating from v1.11.0.20 to v1.12.0.18.
Orbi Router auto updated fine but the Satellite remained on v1.11.0.20, so wasn't shown as an attached device in the Orbi UI.

Needed to log into the Satellite UI via IP and update the FW manually.

Looking into this...

 

[sm00thpapa]

A colleague noticed a similar issue earlier this week when updating from v1.11.0.20 to v1.12.0.18.
Orbi Router auto updated fine but the Satellite remained on v1.11.0.20, so wasn't shown as an attached device in the Orbi UI.

Needed to log into the Satellite UI via IP and update the FW manually.

Looking into this...

That's what happened to me. I had to update the satellite first once it took and I then did the router and all went well. It seems that 1.11.0.20 wasn't compatible with 1.12.0.18. Once both were on the 1.11.0.20 or 1.12.018 all went well. Thank you and Tim for the input.

 

[NETGEAR Guy]

Tim's correct, v1.12.0.18 was temporarily removed to monitor upgrade status.

I have reported your issue and will try to replicate again today. If so, the debug logs can be captured from Router and Satellite for analysis.

Thanks for reporting and good to hear you're up and running now.

 

[thiggins]

Tim's correct, v1.12.0.18 was temporarily removed to monitor upgrade status.

Sorry, what does this mean?

 

[NETGEAR Guy]

Understand it was associated with the issue reported by sm00thpapa...waiting for engineering to provide any further info..

Sorry for confusion..

 

[sm00thpapa]

I think you have to Login Satellite UI via IP and update the FW manually.

Already solved. Thanks.

 

[RogerSC]

Few comments here, after a few days of playing with the Orbi on the latest firmware (v1.12.x) and the previous firmware release (v1.11.x).

1. For me v1.12.x has been stable so far, both in router and AP modes. Apparently, according to the Netgear community forum, some have the opposite experience.

2. I've tried to go back from v1.12.x (latest) firmware to v1.11.x, to be able to turn off 2.4GHz. wireless again, and I have not been able to keep it from auto-flashing back to the latest firmware release. It may take 3 or 4 days, but it will auto-update. I've had it auto-update during the transition between router and AP modes as well. So the Orbi will be on v1.11.x in router mode, I'll switch it to AP mode, and it will end up on v1.12.x when it comes up in AP mode.

3. V1.11.x has been stable in router mode, but not stable in AP mode. I've tried to put the Orbi in AP mode 2 or 3 times with v1.11.x, and the router and satellite units have ended up isolated/magenta within about 20 minutes each time. Can't get to either one with their respective web admin interfaces. At that point, I have to reset both units and either reconfigure manually or load a saved configuration file.

The Orbi has been stable for me on all the firmware releases that I've used in router mode. Have not experienced any problems between the router and satellite units during the process of flashing from v1.11.x to v1.12.x, or vice-versa. This may be because auto-flash works great *smile*, and when I flash the Orbi manually, I always flash the satellite first. It's only since I've started using AP mode that I've encountered any stability problems.

Since the latest firmware is stable in AP mode here, I'm using it in that mode with another Netgear router as my "main" router. And waiting for Netgear to issue firmware that will restore the ability to turn off the 2.4GHz. radio, and allow the Orbi to be put on previous firmware without auto-updating if necessary. There are other features that Netgear has taken out of the firmware that other users want back, but those are the two main features that I feel that I need. The firmware enhancements are not an absolute requirement, the Orbi is fine the way that it is, great wireless as usual. But it would be more compatible with the way that I want to use my router here with those normal features restored.

 

[RogerSC]

I think you have to Login Satellite UI via IP and update the FW manually.

No, you don't have to do that. Just flash the satellite first from the router, and then flash the router after that. This always works for me, flashing both units from the router. And if you read the instructions on how to flash/update the Orbi that Netgear puts in the release notes with the firmware, you'll find that's what they tell you to do, as well.

 

[sm00thpapa]

No, you don't have to do that. Just flash the satellite first from the router, and then flash the router after that. This always works for me, flashing both units from the router. And if you read the instructions on how to flash/update the Orbi that Netgear puts in the release notes with the firmware, you'll find that's what they tell you to do, as well.

That's how I updated the satellite and all is well now.

 

[sm00thpapa]

A few hours ago my satellite starting flashing white and hasn't stopped. I logged into the router and see that it is attached. Why would it be flashing white than?

 

[sm00thpapa]

Not sure what's going on but my Orbi system is having all kind of issues today even after a hard reset and reconfigure. 2 devices have the same IP address. Pages won't load within the GUI after clicking apply. My Amazon Echo's all 4 keep losing connection and reconnecting constantly.

 

[pege63]

Maybe you have visitors from the other side

 

[sm00thpapa]

This firmware is seriously broken. Hope they fix it in the next release.

 

[ppilot]

This firmware is seriously broken. Hope they fix it in the next release.

I wouldn't count on it. When the Orbi system works, it's the best pure Wifi system I've used. The problem is that the firmware roll outs have been trainwrecks as they break something for every issue they fix.

 

[thiggins]

I'm just not seeing what you guys see. I've had Orbi running since I reviewed it and it has been trouble free. It runs in AP mode and we don't stream with it. Just web browsing and email for iPad and Android tablet and phones