New Features & Enhancements:

• Supports Open VPN for mobile devices.
• Supports BT IGMP.

Bug Fixes:

• Fixes the 2.4G 20/40 coexistence issue where the 2.4G will stay in HT40 mode when the router is in a noisy area and configured in a fixed channel.
• Fixes the issue in which DFS might falsely detect radar and switch to another channel.
• Fixes the issue in which the Schedule WiFi feature can’t be enabled in some browsers.

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-V1.0.2.54_1.0.56.chk
   
   Download Link: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/R8500/R8500-V1.0.2.54_1.0.56.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.