I just wanna start a new topic for this device and hope we can support this nice device maybe with a wwan interface or bridge mode to extend 5GHz wifi range with a fast cheap Atheros device.
This device is really cheap under 15€ atm on eBay.
So this device should be a very interesting device for wifi extensions, bridges and wireguard server functions.
That would be in my focus.
Continuing the discussion from Archer D7 support:
I installed the newest snapshot-image via stopping autoboot and then TFTP as @numero53 described.
Unfortunately there is no luci in this image and I had a little hustle to configure everything via serial console.
But luckily I got it to manage and to save all my partitions. The partition looks like:
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| - || _ | -__| || | | || _|| _|
|_______|| __|_____|__|__||________||__| |____|
|__| W I R E L E S S F R E E D O M
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OpenWrt SNAPSHOT, r10199-04b45d3
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Backing up mtd0 (u-boot)
256+0 records in
256+0 records out
Backing up mtd1 (firmware)
15616+0 records in
15616+0 records out
Backing up mtd2 (kernel)
2468+1 records in
2468+1 records out
Backing up mtd3 (rootfs)
13056+0 records in
13056+0 records out
Backing up mtd4 (rootfs_data)
512+0 records in
512+0 records out
Backing up mtd5 (config)
128+0 records in
128+0 records out
Backing up mtd6 (romfile)
128+0 records in
128+0 records out
Backing up mtd7 (rom)
128+0 records in
128+0 records out
Backing up mtd8 (art)
128+0 records in
128+0 records out
Compressing backup files to "mtd_backup.tgz"
Closing master SSH connection
Stop listening request sent.
Removing temporary backup files
MTD backup complete. Extract the files using:
tar xzf "mtd_backup.tgz"
If it helps I can also upload the MTD backup of my device.
Actually I hope we get support for QCA9982, unfortunately I didn't get the 5 GHz band to work with this device.
But here it says QCA9982 is a 3x3 MU-MIMO device with up to 1,3Gbit/s (which is more than with the OEM was possbile)
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/qca9982
I checked it today with the newest FritzWLAN-App which works through an iperf-server construction with my Wifi. - Here I was able to push 96 Mbit/s from Wifi (2,4 GHz) to WAN (Eth4). So it should push in general the whole 100 Mbit/s. - I still hope the support vor 3x3 of the QCA9982 (1200 Mbit/s) will be supported in Openwrt soon to maybe use this interface as WWAN and AP at the same time and push much more through this device.
@numero53 Did you already have success to compile a full support version with 5 GHz wifi, wireguard, luci and nf-offload? - After I would install the sysupgrade image, is it than possible to install all usual packets from openwrt like wireguard, qrencode etc.? - Is there any information if the wifi is able to be used for mesh-networks or if it supports already AP+STA at the same time?
I have some new compiled images for the D50v1. Maybe someone could test it. I am still on holidays. - It is compiled with wireguard, samba-server, nft-offload and luci. For exakt list please see into config.seed and test initram.image first.
Please use official Snapshot of OpenWRT for this device. My builds contain zram-swap and there went something wrong during build. It shows I have around 100 MB of flash instead of 8 MB and you cannot store configurations out of Luci.
With official snapshot it works after installing luci after flashing.
Just login and type
opkg update
opkg install luci
Unfortunately it's still not supported to use the 5 GHz wifi as client (sta) and ap mode at the same time. I hope this known feature from good old Ar9331 (TPlink WR150) or AR9441(TPlink WR841) will be implemented for newer Atheros chipsets soon.
@suppenkasper0815 Sorry for the delay.
I didn't try AP+STA using the 5GHz interface and unfortunately I borrowed my Archer D50... I will get it back at the beginning of September and I'll test it. However the problem could be caused by the Candelatech firmware. In the meantime you could give it a shot with the original Qualcomm firmware.
root@D50v1:~# get_mac_binary "/proc/device-tree/ahb/eth@1a000000/mac-address" 0
d4:6e:0e:a1:c4:db (it's the same address like on the sticker on the back of the device)
Hi,
I got two "Archer D50" yesterday and would like to flash OpenWRT to the devices.
Unfortunately I found no way to open the cover of the device. Could you provide me with small instruction?
Yes, you can still follow the instructions. I have unfortunately no access to my D50 at the moment, so I can't help you with the opening. As far as I remember there are two screws unter the label in the edge corners downside and maybe under the gum feet.
It was at least much easier than to open D7.
I also still struggle to order a few more of these because of the great break through of @número53. Thanks again! I also were successful to change Mac Adress and converted it into a C7. Unfortunately the power consumption is still much higher (around 4W to 5W more), but ok, you have to consider your energy costs
Maybe you find the way to disable modem part in d50. Power consumption is much smaller and it worked already with OpenWRT 18.06 in ap+sta on 5 GHz at the same time. So maybe you can extend your network without using the slow fast ethernet ports as uplink. The device has the best 2,4 GHz range I have ever seen!
@suppenkasper0815: thanks for replay. I found two screws below the label. After I removed the screws, I was able to lift the hood without destroying all the plastic latches.
BusyBox v1.30.1 () built-in shell (ash)
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|_______|| __|_____|__|__||________||__| |____|
|__| W I R E L E S S F R E E D O M
-----------------------------------------------------
OpenWrt 19.07.2, r10947-65030d81f3
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@suppenkasper0815 Which kind of performance tests are you interested on?
@gwlim would you also help compiling or providing us an SFE-image with wireguard and maybe USB-support for Archer D50? My power consumption of D50 is between 9W and 12W and seems still pretty much compared to my 2W WR841 device.... I messure with the same energy-meter and I am very suprised about that big diffrence. In D50 there is also just 100Mbit/s switch and just a 5G module extra compared to wr841. I still have trouble to configure it into AP+STA-Mode on 5G module... maybe you guys have some hints to test?
BusyBox v1.31.1 () built-in shell (ash)
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| - || _ | -__| || | | || _|| _|
|_______|| __|_____|__|__||________||__| |____|
|__| W I R E L E S S F R E E D O M
-----------------------------------------------------
OpenWrt SNAPSHOT, r12948-97c5fb4709
-----------------------------------------------------
Edit: I made some performance messurements:
Straight from D50 via Client-Mode 866 Mbit/s connection speed to my 7490:
Messurement from Client connected via 2G on D50 are instable between 30 Mbit/s - 80 Mbit/s connection speed@130 Mbit/s beside the device with my mobile device.
So all in all a bit disappointing if you compare it to the messurement of @gwlim with his 1043 device@slow 400MHz CPU and a constant performance of 700 Mbit/s.
I tried just with software-offloading and also with hardware-offloading enabled. There was no big diffrence and also I installed package kmod-nft-offload.
If someone has still ideas how to improve or maybe also switch bootloader to a better supported device like I did with Archer D7v1 to Archer C7v1 please let me know, especially for @gwlim if you have any idea.
Thank you very much to @all for your big support and hard work!
is it possible to flash this to tplink archer D50 via the original oem gui ? :
openwrt-19.07.3-ath79-generic-tplink_archer-d50-v1-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
is about 4 mbyte size
the original firmware from tplink Archer_D50v1_0.8.0_1.3_up_boot(170223)_full_2017-02-24_09.37.45.bin
is about 9 mbyte size
they seem to start with the same bytes, are they compatible ? is there a "factory" firmware rather than "sysupdate"/"sysupgrade" ?
alternatively is it possible to setup a tftp server with tp_recovery.bin over ethernet cable ?
is it possible to use it as wireless repeater/range extender with WDS ?
thank you for any clues
Your Archer D50 has an integrated xDSL modem, basically two devices (Broadcom xDSL SOC plus QCA wireless) glued together. Given these circumstances, your power measurements don't surprise me (even if the Modem wouldn't be active).
Since as far as I know the device has just an ADSL Modem it's not really interesting anymore to use the modem part. Also Broadcom is a mess with openwrt.
But my idea is that these cheap second hand devices (provided on ebay under 10€) could replace the development of legendary Wr740 or Wr841 devices with the 4/32 problems.
The D50 also supports wifi5 AC with stable 866 Mbit/s as client on FritzBox 7490. Unfortunately only 8 MB Flash and 100 MBit/s, but with that it should save power compared to Gigabitswitch-devices.
Do you have any idea how we can pull down the power consumption with removing fuses or cutting the modem power lines?
The wr740 for example had just a consumption of under 2W idle compared to around 11W of the D50.
