Belkin RT3200/Linksys E8450 WiFi AX discussion

hi daniel I installed version 0.6.0 1 month ago, and I succeeded without any problem flashing 0.6.1 and reloading snapshot thank you for your work

Yes, but you were not running ubi recovery on top of stock bootchain (which is needed to take full flash backup) while flashing anything.

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ok if i get a new router with the original software the step remains the same first recovery installer 0.6.1 and snapshot?

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U-boot (the "vendor bootloader"?) doesn't seem to start a TFTP server if the reset button is held down during boot. I can, however, use the tftpboot command or other bootmenu options via serial to access a TFTP server on my computer. I'm not sure what to do from here. Specifically, which commands should I issue via serial and what images should I host to flash to stock or the installer? Sorry for my ignorance.

EDIT: Nevermind, boot menu->"System Load Linux Kernel then write to Flash via TFTP" option was what I needed. Thanks for all you do Daniel!

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This sounds a bit too involved for me, I think I will need to write the router off or buy another.
However, I do have to ask: is there any chance the non-UBI version could be supported in the latest snapshot? Or can I install the non-UBI version (in dual boot mode), and upgrade to latest snapshot?
How about main release (whenever it will go to main), would that include UBI and non-UBI layouts?
Thanks for the help!

I have submitted a patch to revive the non-UBI variant which will hopefully be integrated into the mt76 driver soon.
Once this got merged, you can just install an OpenWrt snapshot alongside the vendor firmware in dual-boot mode.

The next upcoming release is going to include both, UBI and non-UBI images (given that we get all issues on non-UBI image resolved which currently make it unusable).

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hello daniel the next openWrt fork will be soon you think i think you mentioned january february, is that right?

Hi, I'm waiting for my brand new Belkin RT3200, I'm a real newbie so I'll need your help, in the meantime I'm reading everything I can.

One quick question, using Release v0.6.1 will I be able to install additional packages, for example to enable usb tethering following this guide : Smartphone USB tethering ?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, installing additional packages is supported and USB tethering should work fine.
For kernel packages you may have to run auc or select Attended Sysupgrade in LuCI Web-UI to update installation to most recent snapshot, and for that you need access to the Internet, so that might be a chicken-egg situation if your only access to the Internet is via USB tethering... Maybe using WiFi tethering for upgrade to recent snapshot?

Hi Daniel, thanks for your invaluable work !! Luckily I have access to internet without the need to enable usb tethering first.

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Just a small sidenote, but expect USB tethering to be somewhat slow - the RT3200 only has a USB2 port, so by default you're limited to 480Mbps (384Mbps after the USB protocol overhead is added). Depending on your use-case, this might not be fast enough.

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Hi Fonix, duly noted. I'm planing to use USB tethering just in case my main 5g router has problems.

Hi Daniel,

I saw that mtk_snand_mtd_read_data return max_bitflips. That it also caused some other issues in mtk_bmt.c, when the caller only check the zero return without mtd_is_bitflip(ret).

Which advantage do you have in mind when running OpenWrt in non-UBI, now that you have converted the device already?
Or are you planning to go back to stock firmware?

Replace it with what? This box is kind of the latest and greatest thing in the OpenWrt community right now.

I'm sure you could readily sell it to someone here, with OpenWrt installed.

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+1 this device is superb I have x3 connected wirelessly and I get fast transition bliss throughout my entire large three floor home and garden. There is way more processing power and memory than I need on all devices. Everything seems so stable. I am delighted with these and the development work that has gone into them. And the only gripe would be the installer wiki did not have enough information but I think that has been updated now.

istockphoto-1248543745-170667a

Imagine I will have this setup for some time to come.

My first device and access route to OpenWrt. I am sure this device brought many more to OpenWrt.

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I'm sure you could readily sell it to someone here, with OpenWrt installed.

+1 on that, especially given the currently limited availability of this device in central europe.

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We were seeing the exact same problem on the Xiaomi AX3600 and from what we discovered it was that the bss color option was not getting set and is needed for AX to work correctly.

We more or less solved it by setting it manually in the config WiFi device section of wireless config.

option he_bss_color '8'

As far as I'm aware the value can be anything up to 63 and should be set random.

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Cool. Let me give it a try. Tho. the latest mt76 driver is performing a lot better now. I still see WiFi issue while playing online games on AX, but it’s less now.

Stock firmware SUCCESFULLY restored. :+1: Bye.

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