New Features & Enhancements:

- Improves general WiFi performance and stability for both 2.4G and 5G.
- Improves OpenVPN throughput.
- Supports Airtime Fairness.
- Improves 2.4G performance in environments that have interference.

Bug Fixes:

- Fixes the Smart Connect algorithm for better WiFi selection.
- Fixes the IPv6 firewall issue when IPv6 is 6rd.
- Fixes the issue in which a WiFi client can't access the Internet if it connects to the guest network and Live Parental Control is enabled.
- Fixes the Time Machine admin login fail issue.

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. Using the Download Link below, download and extract the new firmware to a convenient place such as your desktop. The filename after extracting is R8500-V1.0.2.26_1.0.41.chk
   Download Link: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R8500/R8500-V1.0.2.26_1.0.41.zip
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.