[bob8]

The stock firmware for the Samsung CY-SWR1100 is v1.00 released in late 2010. The last known update is v1.00b32 with web UI reporting: 1.00 Tue 21 Feb 2012

The CY-SWR1100 utilises the same RaLink SoC which can be found in the Asus RT-N56u. Custom firmware originally developed and maintained by 'Padavan' for the Asus RT-N56u, has made its way onto the Belkin N750 and Samsung routers thanks to work by 'radmir'.

It is easy to flash firmware onto the Belkin N750 F9K1103 v1. Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to use the normal GUI to replace the stock firmware on the Samsung router.

The only current method to install Padavan's firmware onto the CY-SWR1100, is with a little help by using a serial USB cable. This thread provides guidance and pictures on how to achieve this using Windows.

Thanks to 'radmir' for his help.

The procedure is similar to what is described in this thread for a different router using a Mac and a Nokia CA-42 USB cable:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=82160&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0



Warning: Perform these tasks at your own risk. You will not be able to return to the original stock Samsung firmware. Risk of damage to equipment is also possible.

Update (7 Sep 2014): SWR1100_3.0.3.8-084_base.trx may be unreliable when using external USB storage devices.

You need to be logged into this forum to be able to view the numerous pictures attached to this thread.


You will need:

The new firmware can currently be obtain from this web page
https://app.box.com/s/2wxyv4cjdgd52m4a1wzd
Only use the .trx files which begin with SWR1100.
I used SWR1100_3.0.3.8-084_base.trx

Update: OpenWrt is also available but wifi is not fully implemented.
https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/19.07.7/targets/ramips/rt3883/openwrt-19.07.7-ramips-rt3883-cy-swr1100-squashfs-factory.bin


A Windows PC. (I have tested on Windows 7 32 bit desktop PC and Windows 10 64 bit laptop)

PUTTY from http://www.putty.org/

'TFTPD32 standard edition installer' from http://tftpd32.jounin.net/
If you have 64 bit windows, you may wish to use TFTPD64.

A suitable 3.3v compatible serial-TTL to USB cable. (I use a blue coloured PL2303TA serial TTL USB adapter)

You will also need a fine tipped soldering iron and good soldering skills.



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If you are considering buying a serial TTL USB cable, search on eBay for 'PL2303 usb to rs232 TTL', there seems to be quite a lot of these inexpensive USB adapters on sale.

However, if you considering this USB cable option it is very important to find one which is specifically 3.3v TTL compatible. Some designs may have hard wired 5v TTL outputs. The higher voltage could damage the router.....

The very latest Prolific driver installed by Windows Update may not work with a lot of counterfeit PL2303 adapters. However, the 2008 driver attached to this thread is compatible with the adapter in Windows 7 32 bit.

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There also seems to be a new generation of USB adapters which use the newer PL2303TA chip. It is Windows 8/8.1 compatible. Search on eBay for "PL2303TA usb TTL". These appear to be compatible with 1.8v - 3.3v TTL circuits too. The leads also provide a dedicated 5v power supply output which is not required.

I purchased and briefly tested one such USB cable (blue plastic body) in loop back mode. The open circuit voltage measured on TxD lead was 3.30v. It is compatible with the latest Prolific driver from Windows Update running on Windows 8.1 laptop. The old 2008 driver also appeared to work.

I can also confirm the PL2303TA adapter worked perfectly with PUTTY to access the console of a second CY-SWR1100, and many other routers I subsequently purchased to 2022.

==================================================

You may also need the Windows driver for the Prolific PL2303 if Windows update does not install one for you.

If you have Windows 8, it does not support the PL2303HXA and PL2303X, but there is simple workaround described here which basically involves locating and manually installing an older 2008 dated PL2303 driver.
http://minhdanh2002.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/using-prolific-pl2303-usb-to-ttl.html

I found when I manually installed this older 2008 driver on a Win7 and Win8 PC, Windows automatically updated the driver to the very latest from Prolific. Device manager reported the driver was not working for a very cheap serial TTL USB adapter I was evaluating. I rolled back to the older driver through Device Manager, and the adapter started working.


If the PL2303 adapter is correctly installed, you should see it in Device Manager. You can also change the COM port number within Device Manager.

Tip: To confirm the USB adapter is working, connect the Tx and Rx wires of the adapter together. If you then use PUTTY (see later), anything you type should be echoed back onto the console screen.[url][/url]

[bob8]

How to open up the CY-SWR1100

To unclip the top cover, there are 8 tabs which need to be released. If you look through the gap on the 'underside' of the Samsung, you will just about be able to see where the locking tabs protrude.

The following photos show the locations for where the tabs from the cover engage in the slots in the case. Use a metal spudger and use it to carefully press the tabs inwards towards the centre of the router while you try to pry the top cover away from the unit. Unclip the tabs in the order shown in the photo.

[bob8]

Connecting the TTL serial to USB adapter

I temporarily soldered some short thin wires onto the JP1 solder pads of the Samsung. The PL2303TA usb adapter could then be plugged into the Samsung. Remove the neighbouring antenna and cable to avoid burning it while soldering.

You should only use the Tx, Rx and Gnd solder pads.

The normal wiring convention is the Tx from the USB adapter is wired to the Rx solder pad. Rx from the USB adapter is wired to the Tx solder pad.

Do NOT use the 3.3v solder pad. If you wire USB adapter's own 3.3v and/or 5v dedicated outputs to this solder pad, you may damage the Samsung or the USB adapter.

Attach the USB adapter into the Samsung, but do NOT plug the USB adapter into the PC. Now power up the router and confirms it boots up normally.

[bob8]

Set up a static IP address on Windows PC

Connect your PC to the Samsung router, ideally using a hardwired ethernet connection. Confirm you can see the router at its factory default IP address of 192.168.0.1

You need to set up a static IP address on your Windows PC. Use 192.168.0.10 for example.

[bob8]

How to configure TFTPD server on Windows PC

Install TFTPD32 on your Windows PC.
Launch the program, click on the Settings button and configure the settings as shown in the following photos.

The 'Base directory' is the folder where the SWR1100 firmware you plan to use is located.

I renamed the original SWR1100_3.0.3.8-084_base.trx to 084base.trx to make it easier to type in later.

After you complete editing the settings, the program will prompt you to automatically restart the program.


The TFTPD server is now running and waiting.

[bob8]

Configuring PUTTY

Switch off the Samsung router.

Now plug serial-TTL USB adapter into both the PC and the router.

Switch on the router and check it boots up normally. Two bright blue LEDs should light up immediately. If you see no activity from the Samsung, switch off the Samsung immediately. Recheck the wiring to the Samsung.

If all is okay, you are ready to establish a console connection to the Samsung.

Just launch the PUTTY program you downloaded to start using it.

Click on the Serial menu in bottom left of the screen and then edit the settings.

Apparently, flow control should be set to 'None' as shown in the photo, but I forgot to change it from the default 'XON/XOFF' setting. I only just noticed my mistake while writing this post. I didn't observe any negative effects with the wrong setting.

When you click on the 'Open' button, a console will now appear and hopefully there is readable text appearing on screen coming from the Samsung. Switch the Samsong off and on again and you should see the bootloader messages etc.

If Putty does not do anything when you press the Open button and you just hear a 'ding', click the Session link in top left of the window and try the Open button from the main screen.

If you encounter issues getting any response from the Samsung, then you may need to look at wiring, particularly if you are using a Nokia CA-42 cable. Some suggestions are provided in the thread:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=82160&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Some cheap USB to TTL adapters may also have their wires transposed.

[bob8]

Uploading firmware to CY-SWR1100

We are ready to go.

Power off the Samsung router.
Hold the '2' key down on your keyboard and switch the Samsung router on again.

Let go of the key a few seconds later and hopefully the menu option 2 should have been selected.

[bob8]

I've briefly compared the wireless performance of the stock firmware against the new Padavan firmware.

In summary, the 5 GHz wifi in 20/40 MHz mode is not very good on the Samsung. The signal is stronger than my existing router. But the link speed reported by Windows can fluctuate wildly if my laptops are not in the same room as the Samsung router - the wireless speeds are generally much lower. The new Padavan firmware doesn't alter this wifi behaviour.

The used Belkin N750 f9k1103 v1 (stock and Padavan) 5 GHz wifi fairs a bit better. Strong signal but link speeds still fluctuate wildly when in a different room.

My three laptops use Intel 6200 and 5300 wifi cards so this could be a factor.

[bob8]

Testing SWR1100_3.0.3.8-084_base.trx on Samsung.

I'm encountering a problem with the USB socket when using SMB Server. I have tested a variety of different usb storage devices from a Kingston Traveller G3 USB2 pen drive, Western Digital 3.5" desktop USB2 hard drive (green) and an ancient Maxtor 3.5" desktop USB2 hard drive (not green). I've put some video files on these drives. All exhibit the same symptoms.

When I try to play (read) the files, and perform an action such as hopping to a later time index in the video, it can cause the USB to disconnect.

The system log reports the USB disconnect. The drive does subsequently remount, but the drive name also changes from sda, to sdb etc

Looks similar to this issue:
https://code.google.com/p/rt-n56u/issues/detail?id=220


I've repeated the same test using a Belkin N750 running BN750DB_3.0.3.8-084_base.trx

It seems to work fine on Belkin in a brief test.

[bob8]

Update 10 December: Latest 088 'stable' build using 3.4 kernel available.

https://disk.yandex.com/public/?hash=JI5isJRE9poJ%2FJV5KS3jTRClJfjm8hxzMec6%2FUdmdEM%3D%3A%2FSWR1100

https://app.box.com/s/2wxyv4cjdgd52m4a1wzd

Change log:
http://rt-n56u.googlecode.com/git/changes.eng.txt


I've also successfully flashed another CY-SWR1100 using SWR1100_3.4.3.7-078.trx firmware with aid of a newly acquired PL2303TA usb cable. I had to log into the router and perform a factory reset because the DHCP server did not appear to be working initially, but this may have been because I had turned off the DHCP server when it had stock Samsung/Dlink firmware installed.

[JohnOH]

Thanks, loaded to Samsung router successfully.

[bob8]

I've been using my Samsungs in AP-Client (Client Bridge) mode with LPR printing and they work brilliantly with 078 and more recently with 088_base. My old tower PC, USB laser printer, and an IPTV box now connect via 5 GHz wireless to my main router. The Samsungs are switched off when these devices are not being used btw.

I installed 088_DLNA onto one Samsung to evaluate. Eventually succeeded in getting DLNA working with a HP 32GB flash drive formatted to FAT32, and played a 20 minute video through my Sony W705B smart TV. I also enabled windows (samba) sharing and FTP share.

Unfortunately, when I tried to watch another video later, the flash drive appeared to have dismounted and remounted. The mount point had changed from sda1 to sdb1, and the volume name as seen by the Samsung had also changed from 'HP32' to 'AiDisk_b1'. I could no longer access the shares.

I reformatted the HP flash drive to NTFS but then found the Samsung cannot seem to see the HP32 volume or any of its folders via the GUI for Windows sharing. I am able to create new folders using the GUI but cannot seem them.

The miniDLNA media server also appears to have created the .DMS folder and written files.db and minidlna.log files to it.

There is clearly an unresolved issue with USB storage support. (See also my earlier post).


===========================

I also managed to compare the 5 GHz wireless performance of three different routers recently. These routers were located in a room at the front of the house, and speedtest.net results were obtained using a laptop fitted with Intel 6200 wireless card located in the garden at the back of the house. Distance between router and laptop was perhaps less than 20m.

CY-SWR1100 (build 088) 2-3 mbps !
Western Digital MyNet N750 (stock fw) 12 mbps
Belkin F7d4302(8302) (shibby tomato v123) 16 mbps

[merrow75]

Hi there, I've bought a Samsung CY-SWR1100 router. I understand that I can load Padavan's custom firmware as per this thread. However, I wanted to know whether I can load the latest version too as listed in https://bitbucket.org/padavan/rt-n56u/downloads

And if so, which one out of the latest, such as *base, *full, *nano and so on. Or on the other hand are the compatible versions limited to the ones listed in https://app.box.com/s/2wxyv4cjdgd52m4a1wzd

Thank you for your help

[bob8]

You can only use the CY-SWR1100 images found in app.box.com. There has not been any updated firmwares for the CY-SWR1100 lately.

[merrow75]

Thank you for the reply.