wrong firmware bricked my wrt160n v1

Post new topic   Reply to topic    DD-WRT Forum Index -> Broadcom SoC based Hardware
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 0:29    Post subject: wrong firmware bricked my wrt160n v1 Reply with quote
I have a linksys wrt160n v1. It was working fine on firmware from 2009 but I wanted to get on the latest. I selected the wrt160n v3 firmware (dd-wrt.v24-21061_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini.bin from 2013) by mistake and attempted to upgrade the router to that firmware.

Now the router does not work. It gets power and link lights but no ip networking and no wifi. I've tried several variations of the 30/30/30 reset.

Any ideas on how to recover this router? Thanks in advance.
Sponsor
Malachi
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 7209
Location: Columbus, Ohio

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 0:41    Post subject: Reply with quote
Probably serial recovery.
_________________
I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:30    Post subject: Reply with quote
Serial recovery sounds fun.

These see like good instructions.
http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt160n

I guess i'll have to solder up a serial cable. ugh.
Malachi
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 7209
Location: Columbus, Ohio

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 2:32    Post subject: Reply with quote
Or buy a cable/adapter for a few bucks on eBay.
_________________
I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 2:55    Post subject: Reply with quote
What sort of adapter? I see only pads on the motherboard of the router that look like they will only accept solder connections. I don't see any pins or connections on the router for a serial cable. Thank you for any input.
Malachi
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 7209
Location: Columbus, Ohio

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 2:59    Post subject: Reply with quote
I use these http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/400813839732?lpid=82&chn=ps
I buy 3 or 4 at a time. Today I was careless and hooked the wires up wrong and burned one up. So I reach in my drawer and get another. Lol.

You'll have to solder the wires to the pads. I had extra laying a round so I cut the ends off.

_________________
I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 3:01    Post subject: Reply with quote
gotcha. that makes sense. I just made the ebay order... free shipping will take about 30 days (ha!). I'll set that project aside until then. Thank you.
Malachi
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 7209
Location: Columbus, Ohio

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 12:31    Post subject: Reply with quote
I got mine sooner than they said.
_________________
I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:12    Post subject: Reply with quote
ok, need some more advice please.

The usb adapters came in and I think it have soldered up correctly. See the attached picture.

JP2
pad 1 - 3.3v
pad 2 - tx
pad 3 - rx
pad 4 - not used
pad 5 - gnd

adapter
3.3v pin
gdn pin
+5v pin not used
txd pin
rxd pin
dtr pin not used

I set putty to 115200 baud, 8n1, flow control none.

I got a usb driver from Silicon labs.

Windows recognizes the usb in COM3 once I apply power to the router.

However, my putty screen remains blank.

I tried swapping tx/rx, I resoldered everything, I tried another adapter.

However, my putty screen remains blank.

Any suggestions? Thank you.



IMG_0636.JPG
 Description:
 Filesize:  163.38 KB
 Viewed:  11789 Time(s)

IMG_0636.JPG


Malachi
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 7209
Location: Columbus, Ohio

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:33    Post subject: Reply with quote
You only use ground, tx and rx.
_________________
I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
Murrkf
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 22 Sep 2008
Posts: 12675

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:40    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you can't echo keystrokes with tx and rx connected, the adapter is not hooked up properly.
_________________
SIG:
I'm trying to teach you to fish, not give you a fish. If you just want a fish, wait for a fisherman who hands them out. I'm more of a fishing instructor.
LOM: "If you show that you have not bothered to read the forum announcements or to follow the advices in them then the level of help available for you will drop substantially, also known as Murrkf's law.."
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:48    Post subject: Reply with quote
I tried to resolder it and the rx pad on the router seems to be completely wore off.

I think I'm sunk. Crud.

Thanks for the help.
Murrkf
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 22 Sep 2008
Posts: 12675

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 15:39    Post subject: Reply with quote
Find another place to solder to. Follow the trace.
_________________
SIG:
I'm trying to teach you to fish, not give you a fish. If you just want a fish, wait for a fisherman who hands them out. I'm more of a fishing instructor.
LOM: "If you show that you have not bothered to read the forum announcements or to follow the advices in them then the level of help available for you will drop substantially, also known as Murrkf's law.."
todlarson
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 28 Dec 2014
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 1:30    Post subject: Reply with quote
I followed the trace until the disappeared in the PCB. Nowhere I could find would accept the solder.

Thanks for the help but I'm calling it quits and putting this router out of its/my misery.
ramx2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 03 Apr 2012
Posts: 38

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:49    Post subject: Reply with quote
todlarson wrote:
I followed the trace until the disappeared in the PCB. Nowhere I could find would accept the solder.

Thanks for the help but I'm calling it quits and putting this router out of its/my misery.


No it's not over yet. You can scratch gently the copper line that you were following and solder a small copper cable on it!

Or build a jtag cable and solder it to the router to erase the nvram. But this time watch out for the copper leads, use a 30 watts soldering iron...

How to build the jtag cable:
http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/hardware/port.jtag.cable.unbuffered

Pinout Headers:
http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt160n


There's still hope out there for you Very Happy

Couple days I bricked wrt160n but so far I couldn't erase the nvram with jtag :S
Goto page 1, 2  Next Display posts from previous:    Page 1 of 2
Post new topic   Reply to topic    DD-WRT Forum Index -> Broadcom SoC based Hardware All times are GMT

Navigation

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum