Add Support for TP-Link MR6500v v2.0

For Developers
1

Request: Add Support for TP-Link MR6500v

Hello! I did some analysis of the hardware and system firmware of this device to figure out its components and see if it can be supported by OpenWrt.

Device Overview:

  • Model: TP-Link MR6500v
  • Chipset: Likely MediaTek MT7621 (not confirmed, but highly probable based on analysis).
  • vermagic: 2.6.36 SMP mod_unload MIPS32_R2 32BIT MT_SMTC.
  • Cellular Modem: Qualcomm-based cellular modem for LTE functionality, using proto QMI.
  • Status: Not officially supported by OpenWrt.

Details from Analysis:

  1. CPU Architecture: MIPS32_R2 with MT_SMTC (suggesting dual-core MT7621).
  2. Wi-Fi: MediaTek MT7603 (2.4 GHz chipset).
  3. Switch: MediaTek MT7530 (Ethernet switch).
  4. VoIP Reference: /proj/mtk06404/p4v2022/BBN_Linux/Branch/Branch_for_Rel_EN7512_SDK_VOIP_20150916/voip_framework/voip_module/DSP/MTK/mod-slic3/src/silab/3226x/si3226x.c

Similarity to Supported Devices:

  • TP-Link Archer MR600 v2 (EU): Shares MT7621, MT7530, and MT7603 hardware.
  • Strong potential for adapting MR600 v2 OpenWrt firmware to MR6500v.

Request:

  • Add support for the TP-Link MR6500v.
  • Confirm chipset and compatibility with MR600 v2 firmware.
  • Assistance with device tree creation or initial testing builds.

Overview_TL-MR6500v_01_normal_1604307038382v
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Default Credentials: I found a username and password combo (admin / 1234) that is different from the UI login.

Logs: extracted_data_log.txt

2

That's not how it works, you have the device, you are the only one who could do the development necessary to add support for it. There is no budget for developers to go out and buy random gear on request, nor time or developer power for that. Either you get it working and provide a patch or (most likely) no one will.

3

Hello! I’ll try opening it up when I get some time. Last time, I noticed a thermal pad covering the processor, so I’ll check under it to confirm the exact SoC. I’ll also try unscrewing the board to examine it further.

From my earlier attempts, it doesn’t seem to support TFTP by simply pressing the reset button during boot, but I’ll test it more thoroughly next time.

4

See
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/adding_new_device
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/add.new.device

But start from connecting a console to the UART pins on the board and grab the OEM bootlog.

1 Like
5

Apart from the VoIP functionality not being supportable anyways, EN7512 hints a lot at EcoNet EN7512, not mt7621 - which would pretty much be game over as well.

6

Ok, yes, I'll do that. I will get the CP2102 3.3V adapter.

1 Like
7

Ok, I assumed it to be the MT7621, considering that the Wi-Fi and switch components are MT7603 and MT7530, similar to its sibling LTE router, the MR600, which uses the same case design. However, there’s a slight possibility that the VoIP code was borrowed from a router using the EN7512 chipset, which could explain its reference in this context when looking at a similar LTE router.

To confirm, I'll need to open it up and remove the thermal pad for a closer inspection.