RBR40 boot loop

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hello,

First time user. I want to get a VPN client setup on a router, and saw that OpenWrt now supports the Orbi RBR40.

I did a factory reset on the ORBI first, that was fine. Was able to log into the web browser, and went through enough steps to get to the firmware update page.

I downloaded and installed the factory image for the RBR40, openwrt-24.10.0-ipq40xx-generic-netgear_rbr40-squashfs-factory.img. It took a bit of time, but ultimately seemed to update and then restart the router.

However, I was not able to access the router at all. I disabled wifi and plugged in a cable on one of the non-internet ports. At first it seemed like the laptop connected, with a little box, but then it went to a world symbol. In the network settings, the ethernet connection goes back and forth between seemingly connected, identifying the network os ORBI, but then shows "Ethernet cable unplugged", back and forth, staying in one state for 5-10 seconds.

When I didn't get an IP, I set a static ip for ethernet to 192.168.1.2, but I was not able to ping 192.18.1.1.

I tried restarting the router in failsafe mode, and then at least I was able to ping 192.168.1.1 ... sort of. I get a couple of successful pings, and then request timed out.

I was able to get to 192.168.1.1 in the browser for a moment, but there is something seriously messed up happening, it feels. It brought up my Starlink page. As if somehow the router were still in bridge mode after a reset, but the Internet port is not connected to anything. The RBR40 is only connected to my laptop by ethernet, and my wifi is off. I only have this connection, and I don't understand how on earth it is possible I could be getting my starlink page.

I don't understand what could be wrong here, unless this seems like some version of a failed firmware update. I didn't do anything outside the norm, haven't been able to get in or configure anything at all.

What am I doing wrong? How do I fix this and get the RBR online normally?

Thanks,
Mickey

2

RBR40 is referencing RBR60 install instructions, you can probably still use NMRPflash.

3

Thanks - does that mean it seems like the router is borked and unrecoverable as is? Do I just need to try again (assuming I can get it back), or try the snapshot version? Is there still a way I can make this work?

4

NMRPflash.

5

Thank you incredibly much, I wasn't sure that would work with the Ethernet connection bouncing up and down, but it worked flawlessly and the router came up and accesible via web at the expected setup page after reboot.

Thank you again!!

6

Fair warning, 5gz doesn't work

7

could be related to https://openwrt.org/releases/24.10/notes-24.10.0#known_issues

8

No, the radios are show in the config file and configured, they just have extremely little range and devices can't connect even right next to the unit.

9

have you set the country for the radio ?

10

Yes, to the US on both 2.4 and 5ghz radios, and another user in that thread tried other countries as well

11

Yeah, just noticing that, not sure it will bother me too much, but I need to see.

Once I got OpenWrt going, I got NordVPN setup for the lan and wlan interfaces, verified I show protected through the site.

The problem I was facing is that while I'm a US citizen, I'm currently in México. I have Jellyfin working everywhere but the Samsung tv in the living room, and I wanted to try a streaming client that is supposed to support Jellyfin before resorting to trying a hack install, and went with an ONN (in theory to avoid ads, we shall see, but at least better than Roku ...).

So I go to set it up today, only to discover ONN only works in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Fantastic, glad they mention that on amazon.com.mx where I picked it up ...

Before deciding to return it, I wanted to take a stab at this. Since Jelly content is being transcoded at the nas instead of the TV (I don't really want to buy a Plex account, not just for the cost, but for many reasons), I'm hoping performance will be okay. Have specific tests I can do as well.

My hope now will be that that means I can finally move everything off the old nas and just use Jellyfin for everything, and as the Sony upstairs worked off this older RBR40 wirelessly to stream shows off Plex without Nas transcoding, we'll be okay. I'm not usually streaming 4K content from the nas anyway ...

Sorry, I know that was a lot in response, I need to sleep, but I do appreciate the insight and help testing all of this immensely.

12

Possibly, and hopefully that means a fix at some point in the future.

Luckily I'm not worried about it at the moment. With OpenWrt working, VPN connected, I've been able to get an ONN device connected to the US. Now if I can just validate getting a JellyFin client working on the ONN, transcoding at the nas, hopefully the connection will be just fine (everything else is wired Cat 8 using tp-link 7, I think no bandwidth issues until I can validate through this RBR40 and ONN. We shall see.

1 Like
13

Yes, can validate this. I only setup the 5ghz AC to start, and couldn't find the wlan. Went back in and enabled 2.4 and immediately found and connected to the network from the laptop.

But hopefully a fix I'm the future.

14

I'm currently in México, but haven't mucked with any region settings in OpenWrt yet, only through NordVPN setup on the router now.

Seems per other user US is an issue, not sure what defaults are when I first connect here, but not overly worried at the moment.

15

Yeah, this was the stepping stone needed. Finished getting everything else setup, got Jellyfin client installed and logged in on ONN, seems like everything is a go, NordVPN instructions and config worked to keep anything connected to RBR40 US site. Probably be great if 5g issues get resolved, and am copying over video now to test in the morning from new nas.

Was just lucky I had this router recently replaced I could get cooked up so quickly with help and get the rest of the pieces working, have Jelly access on that last TV was the final piece I needed to solve.

16

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