Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 15:08 Post subject: Re: EA8500 Not operational after serial port install DD-WRT
K4CI_Richard wrote:
MRJCD, All,
Followed MRJCD's write up on how to install DD-WRT using serial interface, but, attempted the procedure a second time with newest build. Dont know what I was thinking when the proper course of action would have been to use firmware upgrade option from within DD-WRT for the upgrade!
Symptoms resulting from mistake:
1. Can not web into router with ethernet connection.
2. Can not ping router's ethernet interface on any port.
3. Have activity led on ethernet port during programing.
4. Router Wifi interface not operational.
This is what is displayed at turn on via serial port:
In you pic --- This is all you get from serial log when you turn it on and just let it run????
It does interrupt itself?
When you flashed 2nd time did you use 30949 factory-to-ddwrt.img or dd-wrt-webupgrade.bin ???
Still think should be able get it to boot other part.
Use rest button for atleast 10 sec.
Do power on/off as I mentioned wating 3 full seconds between on & off and should be done 3 times consecutively
As you suggested, I again tried to get this device to fail over to the other sector to no avail. I watched on the screen until I saw "updating boot count" then I would turn unit off.
Then I just keep trying to install firmware over and over hoping this would work but, NO..
I then tried the on/off routine but this time I did not wait until I saw "updating boot count done" and just turned off after a couple of seconds and then I heard the device take a deep long gasp of air and now it works!
I suppose the first install attempt worked and the second attempt with newer build went south and this is what the device was trying to load and would not fail over to the first good load. Strange that I had to cycle power in such a short period when I had read to wait 3 or 4 seconds.
Run BS_r31101(01/07/17) for 2 days, 17:02 no problems.
Now running
DD-WRT v3.0-r31120M kongat (01/10/17)
Linux 3.18.46 #8 SMP PREEMPT Tue Jan 10 23:59:32 CET 2017 armv7l
No problems I can see so far, admittedly I am not close by.
The ea8500 is main router holding WAN but I have another
router within network running openVPN server so install done with droid turbo phone via public WiFi thru VPN tun. I probably would not do an untested BS build this way.
This looks to be a good Kong build.
Great way to start the day -- ah and now it's breakfast time.
I just read the recent and complete MRJCD tutorial (http://mrjcd.com/EA8500_DD-WRT/). However, they mention a USB-to-TTL-RS232 connection. Is it necessary to go through this system to switch from the factory firmware to that of DD-WRT? Is not it possible to go through the GUI for the first flash (installation of the first firmware dd-wrt)?
Thank you
Last edited by pika28 on Wed Jan 11, 2017 18:14; edited 1 time in total
Installing dd-wrt on the ea8500 using serial cable is only for US routers which have upgraded linksys firmware that prevents installing 3rd party firmware via the GUI.
All other non-US routers with updated linksys firmware should use worldwide firmware ea8500ww factoty to ddwrt for initial flash.
Thanks mrjcd. I hadn't realized his wasn't an American ea8500.
I also wasn't aware that the firmware prevented third party firmware.
I thought Linksys wasn't doing that.
I flashed a wrt1900ac last weekend that had the latest Linksys firmware on it. Did it from the gui. _________________ I am far from a guru, I'm barely a novice.
Thanks mrjcd. I hadn't realized his wasn't an American ea8500.
I also wasn't aware that the firmware prevented third party firmware.
I thought Linksys wasn't doing that.
I flashed a wrt1900ac last weekend that had the latest Linksys firmware on it. Did it from the gui.
I just checked Linksys web site.
Nothing has changed for the EA8500 with US firmware. Latest is still the July 2016.
All notes about this on the ea8500 revert back to factory....link to that page at bottom on install page
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