Voxel Custom firmware build for Orbi RBK50/RBK53 (RBR50, RBS50) v. 9.2.5.2.40SF-HW

[Voxel]

Continuation of

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/custom-firmware-build-for-orbi-rbk50-v-2-5-0-42sf-hw.60308/
. . .
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/c...50-rbk53-rbr50-rbs50-v-9-2-5-2-38sf-hw.93820/
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/c...50-rbk53-rbr50-rbs50-v-9-2-5-2-39sf-hw.94368/

New version of my custom firmware build: 9.2.5.2.40SF-HW.

Changes (vs 9.2.5.2.39SF-HW):

1. Toolchain: Go is upgraded 1.24.2->1.24.4.
2. dropbear package is upgraded 2024.87->2025.88 (fixing CVE-2025-47203).
3. DNSCrypt Proxy v.2 is upgraded 2.1.8->2.1.12.
4. wireguard-tools package is upgraded 1.0.20210914->1.0.20250521.
5. curl package is upgraded 8.13.0->8.14.1.
6. cifs-utils package is upgraded 7.3->7.4.
7. ca-certificates package is upgraded 20241223->20250419.
8. ethtool package is upgraded 6.11->6.14.
9. bind package is upgraded 9.18.35->9.18.37.
10. iperf3 package is upgraded 3.18->3.19.
11. unbound package (used in stubby) is upgraded 1.22.0->1.23.0.
12. libiconv-full package is upgraded 1.17->1.18.
13. libusb package is upgraded 1.0.28->1.0.29.
14. Host tools: upgrade libtool to 2.5.4.
15. Host tools: upgrade m4 to 1.4.20.
16. Host tools: upgrade make-ext4fs to 2025-05-02.
17. Host tools: upgrade findutils to 4.10.0.
18. Host tools: upgrade quilt to 0.69.
19. Host tools: upgrade mpfr to 4.2.2.
20. Host tools: upgrade patch-image (strip trailing whitespace).
21. Host tools: synchronize bison with OpenWRT.

The link is:

https://www.voxel-firmware.com (thanks to vladlenas for his help with hosting).

Voxel.

 

[TeamZero]

Thanks!!! Much appreciated as always!!

 

[bert131313]

Once again many thanks for this beautiful work helping us to keep using our "old" system !

Keep going

 

[NemesisXT]

Thank you for doing this.

 

[digital10]

hello. I am having trouble with firmware 2.7.5.6 by Netgear with dropping connections. Does the voxel firmware help with stability or is it just to enhance speed?

i'd like to hear from other experiences

 

[69GHz]

hello. I am having trouble with firmware 2.7.5.6 by Netgear with dropping connections. Does the voxel firmware help with stability or is it just to enhance speed?

i'd like to hear from other experiences

TL;DR Yes, but your mileage may vary.

I was on 2.7.5.6 for a while and started experiencing intermittent internet connection drops, WiFi issues and general stability issues. After weeks of rebooting every 1-3 days and constant troubleshooting, I was ready to chuck the Orbis out of the window and purchase a nice set of EEROs as a replacement. While browsing Reddit, I stumbled across Voxel firmware and ended up here. Downgrading to the stock firmware that Voxel recommends then flashing to Voxel firmware resolved all of my issues... AND provides me with updated firmware since Netgear decided to abandon those of us that trusted them to keep us safe online

 

[digital10]

TL;DR Yes, but your mileage may vary.

I was on 2.7.5.6 for a while and started experiencing intermittent internet connection drops, WiFi issues and general stability issues. After weeks of rebooting every 1-3 days and constant troubleshooting, I was ready to chuck the Orbis out of the window and purchase a nice set of EEROs as a replacement. While browsing Reddit, I stumbled across Voxel firmware and ended up here. Downgrading to the stock firmware that Voxel recommends then flashing to Voxel firmware resolved all of my issues... AND provides me with updated firmware since Netgear decided to abandon those of us that trusted them to keep us safe online

thanks for the reply when you say downgraded to stock firmware you mean stock firmware version 2.5.2.4

--
EDIT
--

Can't believe Netgear quit on us. This is one of the most popular router models out there. I am going to guess they are hoping people will buy their new $1000+ routers. I have a feeling they pushed a last firmware that makes the orbi to malfunction to make people think their device is old and needs replacement.

 

[69GHz]

thanks for the reply when you say downgraded to stock firmware you mean stock firmware version 2.5.2.4

Sounds familiar. I downgraded to the version listed in the installation instructions .txt file.

 

[digital10]

I would like @Voxel opinion on Beamforming and MU-MIMO , does it enhance or corrupts the signal? my main aim is a stable far reaching signal more than most possible speed. I can't find a definite answer to this question.

 

[Voxel]

I would like @Voxel opinion on Beamforming and MU-MIMO , does it enhance or corrupts the signal? my main aim is a stable far reaching signal more than most possible speed. I can't find a definite answer to this question.

As for me, I personally use Beamforming and MU-MIMO. I don't see any problem with using these options.

P.S.
Look, NETGEAR's firmware consists of basically two main parts: very small part, what is created by QCA (Qualcomm) is mostly and only closed source code, chipset drivers, Wi-Fi, kernel modules, and the second huge part, everything else, is what is created and used from Open Source outsourcers DNI (Delta Networks Inc.) from Taiwan. There have been recent and right attempts by NETGEAR to use their own development team instead of outsourcers, but I don't know what now. At least for the routers I support it was QCA and DNI.

The main things that I fix is the results of DNI work, and I am not satisfied with the quality of this work. But the quality of QCA's work is quite good, and Beamforming and MU-MIMO is what QCA has created. Not DNI. QCA releases its drivers for other vendors as well, not just NETGEAR.

Voxel.

 

[digital10]

As for me, I personally use Beamforming and MU-MIMO. I don't see any problem with using these options.

P.S.
Look, NETGEAR's firmware consists of basically two main parts: very small part, what is created by QCA (Qualcomm) is mostly and only closed source code, chipset drivers, Wi-Fi, kernel modules, and the second huge part, everything else, is what is created and used from Open Source outsourcers DNI (Delta Networks Inc.) from Taiwan. There have been recent and right attempts by NETGEAR to use their own development team instead of outsourcers, but I don't know what now. At least for the routers I support it was QCA and DNI.

The main things that I fix is the results of DNI work, and I am not satisfied with the quality of this work. But the quality of QCA's work is quite good, and Beamforming and MU-MIMO is what QCA has created. Not DNI. QCA releases its drivers for other vendors as well, not just NETGEAR.

Voxel.

thank you very much!