Netgear released a significant firmware update for the R7500. This adds new features and fixed some of the performance issues some experienced. The following list the engineering notes on updates and changes. Just use the update function on the R7500 to get this release.
Enhancements and Bug Fixes
Supports QoS function that user can edit the device type and priority.
Improves the NTFS write speed over the USB from 40 Mbytes/sec to 60 Mbytes/sec.
Added "Traditional Chinese" in language support for GUI.
Supports CE DFS channel.
Improved 5G stability and performance
Improves the 2.4G auto channel selection function
Fixed the issue with loading network map and iPad detection with NETGEAR Genie.
Fixed the GUI issue that gets wrong 5GHz link rate information when R7500 is setup as wireless bridge.
Fixes the GUI issue in which the user sees an invalid DLNA task message on the web GUI page when they apply the Media Server settings.
Fixed the GUI issue in AP mode, user still can click the "Wireless Bridge" menu item even though it is grayed-out.
Fixed the GUI issue, When R7500 is in wireless bridge mode, the ACL function should be grayed-out.
Known issues & bugs & Limitation
With regards to Apple's Time Machine backup function, Nighthawk X4 R7500 Router only supports NTFS, EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, HFS+ in Journal, HFS+ in non-journal file system. R7500 does not support FAT16, FAT32 file format for Apple Time machine backup at the moment.
R7500 support maximum backup file size up to 500GByte now.
Firmware Upgrade Instruction
Note: To avoid wireless disconnect issue during the firmware download process, NETGEAR recommends that firmware upgrade be performed on a computer with wired connection.
1. Write down all the settings which you changed from the default values, since you may need to reenter them manually.
2. Download and extract the new firmware to a convenient place such as your desktop. The filename after extracting is R7500-V1.0.0.76.img
3. Log in to the router using a Web browser. The URL is http://www.routerlogin.net.
4. Click ADVANCED tab > Administration > Firmware Upgrade.
5. Click Browse and find the file you just downloaded.
6. Click Upload. Do not interrupt the upgrade while the router does this step.
Important Note:
1. The upgrade process is completed when the on screen progress bar completes. If power LED light turns amber and blinking, power cycle the router to complete the upgrade.
2. If the upgrade progress bar on web GUI doesn’t display correctly during firmware upgrade, you can still check the status using Power LED. The Power LED should be blinking (amber) during firmware upgrade. After firmware upgrade is done and boots up the system, it changes to steady amber color.
Please DO NOT power off or reboot the device during firmware upgrade, otherwise, it may result to a corrupt firmware and cause the device not to work.
Bob Silver
Netgear Networking Consultant
Enhancements and Bug Fixes
Supports QoS function that user can edit the device type and priority.
Improves the NTFS write speed over the USB from 40 Mbytes/sec to 60 Mbytes/sec.
Added "Traditional Chinese" in language support for GUI.
Supports CE DFS channel.
Improved 5G stability and performance
Improves the 2.4G auto channel selection function
Fixed the issue with loading network map and iPad detection with NETGEAR Genie.
Fixed the GUI issue that gets wrong 5GHz link rate information when R7500 is setup as wireless bridge.
Fixes the GUI issue in which the user sees an invalid DLNA task message on the web GUI page when they apply the Media Server settings.
Fixed the GUI issue in AP mode, user still can click the "Wireless Bridge" menu item even though it is grayed-out.
Fixed the GUI issue, When R7500 is in wireless bridge mode, the ACL function should be grayed-out.
Known issues & bugs & Limitation
With regards to Apple's Time Machine backup function, Nighthawk X4 R7500 Router only supports NTFS, EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, HFS+ in Journal, HFS+ in non-journal file system. R7500 does not support FAT16, FAT32 file format for Apple Time machine backup at the moment.
R7500 support maximum backup file size up to 500GByte now.
Firmware Upgrade Instruction
Note: To avoid wireless disconnect issue during the firmware download process, NETGEAR recommends that firmware upgrade be performed on a computer with wired connection.
1. Write down all the settings which you changed from the default values, since you may need to reenter them manually.
2. Download and extract the new firmware to a convenient place such as your desktop. The filename after extracting is R7500-V1.0.0.76.img
3. Log in to the router using a Web browser. The URL is http://www.routerlogin.net.
4. Click ADVANCED tab > Administration > Firmware Upgrade.
5. Click Browse and find the file you just downloaded.
6. Click Upload. Do not interrupt the upgrade while the router does this step.
Important Note:
1. The upgrade process is completed when the on screen progress bar completes. If power LED light turns amber and blinking, power cycle the router to complete the upgrade.
2. If the upgrade progress bar on web GUI doesn’t display correctly during firmware upgrade, you can still check the status using Power LED. The Power LED should be blinking (amber) during firmware upgrade. After firmware upgrade is done and boots up the system, it changes to steady amber color.
Please DO NOT power off or reboot the device during firmware upgrade, otherwise, it may result to a corrupt firmware and cause the device not to work.
Bob Silver
Netgear Networking Consultant