Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 19:36 Post subject: LAN and WLAN indicators not working on v5.0new
I managed to install the factory.bin uploaded previously on this thread by LOM. The router is a WR941ND v5.0new.
I had to flash a newer version of WR841ND v8 on it to get the link lights working for the LAN ports.
In case anyone thinks they've bricked it - it could simply be that it's not indicating that it has link on the Ethernet port.
Even using the latest firmware (23320) the WLAN indicator is not on, but does flash when there is traffic. Also noticed now that the indicators don't work on lan ports 3 and 4. The ports work and so does the WLAN.
I've verified this on two routers so, it's not likely to be broken hardware.
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 17:13 Post subject: LED GPIO assignments on TL-WR941ND v5new
I think I've managed to identify which gpio ports correspond to which LEDs/buttons on the TL-WR941ND v5new (that has similar hardware as the TL-WR841ND).
I have here also one TP-Link WR941ND v5 new.
I will test the gargoyle firmware.
But on the wr841nd is one of the wifi output turned off? (Because 841 has only two antennas)
I just successfully installed firmware for wr841nd v8.It looks that it works OK, but I'm not able to get higher output then 18dB (I tried also countries with higher power). Is it locked in EEPROM? But the Atheros chip should be able to provide up to 23dB...Otherwise now I'm running on 802.11n 40MHz. I can get without problem 22Mbps (I don't have better connection) but tomorrow I will test it with two notebooks and iPerf :)BTW I opened the case, and the left and centre antenna are connected to one output and they are just switched by one IO. Does it have really some improvement? For me it looks the same as 2 antennas working continual...
EDIT: I found a strange thing. I'm in next room from router and when I looked into inSSIDer, the txpower of the router unfortunately drop by 10dB (to -60) and after while it goes back to -50dB. It's always by 10dB, otherwise the signal strength is constant...
I just successfully installed firmware for wr841nd v8.It looks that it works OK, but I'm not able to get higher output then 18dB (I tried also countries with higher power). Is it locked in EEPROM? But the Atheros chip should be able to provide up to 23dB...Otherwise now I'm running on 802.11n 40MHz. I can get without problem 22Mbps (I don't have better connection) but tomorrow I will test it with two notebooks and iPerf :)BTW I opened the case, and the left and centre antenna are connected to one output and they are just switched by one IO. Does it have really some improvement? For me it looks the same as 2 antennas working continual...
EDIT: I found a strange thing. I'm in next room from router and when I looked into inSSIDer, the txpower of the router unfortunately drop by 10dB (to -60) and after while it goes back to -50dB. It's always by 10dB, otherwise the signal strength is constant...
What firmware did you flashed? Gargoyle or DD-WRT for 841ND v8? Because I have an 941ND v5 (new)...
Which firmware is better in 941NDv5new in your opinion? The original TP-link, DD-WRT, or Gargoyle?
Thanks!
First I flashed Gargoyle, but I didn't liked it. So I used DD-WRT (latest version).
I don't like TP-Link (the SW is sometimes really crap, and HW too). The DD-WRT worked well (I used it only us classic home router).
BTW signal strength was same on TP-Link and DD-WRT.
If we want to disable the 18dB limit, we need firmware compiled with CONFIG_ATH_USER_REGD=y. Then it will use reg domains included in the file in DD-WRT...
But if I will need in future something more powerful (signal but also computing) I will go for Mikrotik RB951Ui...
Good evening to all the forums, why is not out yet for the 941 version v5, advise me to wait or to install one for 841 v8 changed? Thank you in advance Regards ..
Here is a header patched factory-to-ddwrt firmware for WR841NDv8 which the WR941NDv5 will accept.
Use the official dd-wrt webflash bin for WR841NDv8 for future updates until the time when WR941NDv5 gets its own builds.
Observe, this is for the "new" v5 only - the "old" v5 which is a v4 should only use v4 builds!
Just a tip for others: don't try this on TP-Link 941ND V5.1, it will brick your router.
I just bricked one of my routers...
P.S.
After a few hours of trial and error I've managed to unbrick my 941ND V5.1. I was lucky I had a data cable from an old Samsung phone and I used it as a USB to Serial adapter (once I figured out the pinout).
I tried loading different firmwares (official and Open/DD-WRT, including those for 841ND v8 ) using tftp but the router refused to cooperate. The only way was to load a this 841ND v8 "back_to_factory" from this thread.
For all intents and purposes I turned my router into an WR841ND v8, and then flashed the appropriate DD-WRT firmware from the web interface.
Unfortunately I use ddwrt's chillispot features that's why I need a stable version. Could you please upload a stable version, tell me how much it's neccesaary I ll contribute without hesitate.
Finally, does anyone know the differences in the AR9341 model numbers? Mine is an AR9341-DL3A and I notice the pictures earlier in thread are an AR9341-AL1A.
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 21:15 Post subject: Re: TP-Link WR941ND v5.1 brick/unbrick
Just to clarify things a bit here's what I did to unbrick my 941ND v5.1 routers, step by step:
I had a few 941ND V5.1 routers with stock firmware which wouldn't allow more than 15 WiFi clients simultaneously (stupid limitation), and needed badly DD-WRT.
I came across this topic and LOM's post and thought I should give it a try.
1. Downloaded this firmware from LOM's post, tried to flash it and bricked the router.
2. I improvised a serial cable from an old data cable for a Samsung phone. Took the 941ND serial pinouts from this post (You only need the TX, RX and GND wires, and you can ignore the part about shorting those two pins.)
3. Connected to the router using Putty and the serial interface
- when the "Autobooting in 1 seconds" message appears type in tpl and hit Enter. You'll have to be very quick in doing it because there is only a second or so to react.
- if successful, type in printenv and hit Enter. In the output look for serverip=192.168.1.xxx. This is the IP address you'll have to assign to your computer because the router will try to tftp to that IP
- connect a network cable between the computer and the router's LAN1 port
- setup a tftp server on your computer using TFTPD32, assign a folder for it to use and make sure it listens on the correct network interface. (You might want to disable the firewall for this one)
- grab this firmware, unpack the archive and put the file in to the folder configured in the tftp software. This is actually a DD-WRT_to_factory-firmware for 841ND v8 routers. I have tried other firmwares (stock and DD-WRT) but none would complete the boot process.
If all went according to plan you should now have a 841ND v8 router. Set your network interface IP to auto detect and you should be able to browse the router's web interface.
In the future, when an official DD-WRT built for 941ND v5.1 is available, you should have no problem updating to it.
I have 3 such routers with DD-WRT on them and they are very stable, although the WiFi TX Power seems to be limited (???) to 20 dBm (perhaps only using 2 out of the 3 antennas)