Asus T-Mobile Cellspot

From DD-WRT Wiki

Revision as of 11:43, 26 July 2015

WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT YOUR DEVICE TO THE INTERNET

At least wait until you finished flashing your device. Failure to heed this warning can result in the device automatically configuring itself to block DD-WRT flashing.

Asus Cellspot TM-AC1900RT-AC68U

!!!!! WORK IN PROGRESS !!!!

This wiki's purpose is to provide an up-to-date and concise how-to for first-timers. Kudos to contributors have taken the time to document this guide by consolidating and condensing postings from newsgroups. Please add content if you had success flashing your cellspot. Otherwise, please try to successfully flash your cellspot before contributing to the wiki. For your convenience this page can be easily referenced with:

http://tinyurl.com/asuscellspot

Key contributors to developing and organizing this content include: UKEE, Mysticales, cdmarshall

CFE Issue

This upgrade is a little trickier than most because the procedure involves not only navigating DD-WRT firmware, but navigating the CFE The newsgroups document that CFEs are able to control / deny firmware upgrades, which is the reason for 'downgrading' to firmware that does not have this capability.

******Updated guide to CFE Mod ****** here but doesn't mention flashing firmware

Version 2827 is firmware locked to only TMobile branded firmwares. Not only is the firmware locked (disabled Telnet), it installs CFE 2.1.2.2, which locks the router from any non TMobile branded firmware via recovery mode and GUI mode. The only way to change firmwares is to downgrade to an older TMobile firmware (1703 for example), enable Telnet, and then replace the CFE (preferrably with an Asus RT-AC68U version - such as 1.0.2.0).

Many details in this guide including links to the older 1703 firmware and all CFE's and utilities needed

if you're on CFE 2.1.2.1, which is not locked, and try to use the latest Asus branded firmwares, it will update your CFE and, lockout out all non TMobile firmware's again. Once you get to DD-WRT, doesn't matter anymore unless you decide to go (back) to Asus stock RT-AC68U firmware, latest copies.

For more information see UKEE's post here.

Links: verified firmware

FIRST asus_rt-ac68u-firmware.trx THEN flash dd-wrt.v24-K3_AC_ARM_STD.bin (per cdmarshall)

Links to tools and other files

Asus tools to revert FW ("Engineer" or UKEE to verify this).

Links: verified CFEs

Verified: 1.0.2.0 from the tmo2ac68u package.

CFE_ASUS_RT-AC68U_1.0.2.0 (US).txt

CFE_ASUS_RT-AC68U_1.0.2.0 (US).txt (??? user to verify)

Procedure

Before starting the process, obtain the tmo2ac68u package. Tools and Firmware used in this process must be obtained and unzipped. Copy the mtdwrite utility to a flash drive.

1) Enable Telnet if it is necessary

2) Check your CFE Version via telnet and change the CFE to 1.0.2.0:

    nvram get bl_version

This process involves telnetting and copying the existing CFE to retrieve data, paste this data into another CFE file, and writing the new CFE file back to the router.

3) Perform Hardware or Software NVRAM Reset

4) Place router in recovery mode and upload TMobile firmware xxx.1703 through web UI. Hint-look in the tmo2ac68u package

5) Perform NVRAM reset, place router in recover mode and install Merlin firmware via Asus Firmware Install utility

6) If you have successfully installed Merlin's FW, Go to your fridge and reward yourself with your favorite beverage and sign your username here:

gatorback

Tests to perform after installing DD-WRT firmware

• NVRAM available immediately after install
• Speed Test measurements in 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands
• Verify USB 3.0 speed measurement
• Optware (OTRW) compatibility
• Please update any other meaningful or useful test metrics / measurements