Can't "opkg update" in AP mode

the file is:
/etc/config/network

the VI editor is installed by default, so if you're okay with VI, you can edit the file that way.
vi /etc/config/network

Or copy the file via scp to your computer and then back again after you're done editing.

There are also UCI commands to do this, but I actually just do LuCI or direct editing, depending on the situation.