How to open a Linksys EA8500?

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
1

Hi all,

I've got my hands on an EA8500 and trying to open it up so I can attach the serial cable, but I'm having trouble getting into the thing.

I removed the 4 rubber feet and extracted the screws. I was able to pry the back center and see 3 clips but everything else is down pretty solid. I read on the openwrt page there are clips on the side and front but I can't seem to find them or trying the wrong place.

Does anyone else experience opening one of these things that can give me some advice?

Thanks,

2

you don't need to open it to flash openwrt onto it
pics in link

3

Why don't I need to open it, exactly?

4
1 Like
5

image

6

it is possible to downgrade to 1.1.4.169978 using the official linksys .img and the “Router Firmware Update → Manual Update” process. Flash 1.1.4.169978 a second time, reboot, verify 1.1.4.169978 has been installed, then you can update using the openwrt--factory.bin file

this is what i did to my last one
I think the EA7500 has better instructions

but use the EA8500 firmware

7

If it's a non-US router.

8

lucky I'm not in the US :slight_smile:

same with dd-wrt :frowning:
https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_EA8500#Installation_instructions

You can attempt to see if doing a revert to oder firmware on the help icon will yield version 1.1.4.167984. If the revert goes to anything newer than firmware 1.1.4.167984 you will not be able to gui flash dd-wrt onto the EA8500

I hope the pictures will help you then

9

I did, that's why I'm here asking how to open the thing.

10

look's like 4 screws
and grab an old plastic card like a credit card to split it apart

11

I've opened up three of these and flashed them with a usb to serial dongle. It is a bit tricky and can require more force than plastic pry triangle can give you.

Edit: You already have, but for posterity reading this without reading the entire thread, of course you need to remove the 4 screws under the bottom rubber bumper pads first. With care the adhesive film on the pads will survive, and if not, a thin coat of rubber cement solves putting the pads back on when done.

I recall starting on the sides, then working around to the front and back. Once you get a section opened up on the sides, it helps to have insert(s) to hold it open where you have succeeded and another pry tool that can push in a bit further as you continue to work your way around front or back, being careful not catch any wires inside (search for a picture of the board so you know where to be more careful for this). Something like a narrow dry wall spackeling compound knife (but don't shove the whole thing in) can come in handy. Once its in, try, gently as you can while still making progress, twisting it as you move around the perimeter to open the gap a little more and pop the clips working your way around.

As I write this, I regret it may not seem too helpful for you. Not much better than "keep trying just enough to not break it and you will eventually succeed" LOL....but, it can be done and so far I'm 3 for 3 on not trashing them. It's almost impossible to do this without marring the plastic a little bit: 2 of 3 I put a very small mark on the front center area - barely noticeable. One came out pristine except for the factory tamper seal sticker of course.

Good luck.

1 Like
12

Someone needs to modify the instruction for Linksys EA8500 at https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/ea8500. I wrote it here to help others save their time not to make mistakes following the instructions.

I got a Linksys EA8500 (likely US version) with firmware 1.1.4.168206
I followed the instruction here:
https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/ea8500
The instructions are as followings:
Warning, works only with non-US version and US version firmware older than 1.1.4
Warning, before installing LEDE/OpenWrt the first time:
.install (at least) firmware 1.1.4.169978 twice to make sure the primary and the secondary partitions have a compatible format
.some users have reported that 1.1.4 versions do not boot, so installing a 1.1.3* firmware may be needed*
.if it doesn't work still, use TFTP method below

At first, by reading this, I understand that it would be a requirement to go up to the firmware at least version 1.1.4.169978 in order to flash the OpenWrt. My Linksys EA8500's firmware current version is 1.1.4.168206.
However, after flashing this firmware, it is locked out, unable to downgrade to any version, nor flash the OpenWrt 22.03, or 23.05.

I almost get the USB to TTL cable so that I can do the TFTP method.
I remembered that I can switch another/alternative partition by doing the power cycle sequence as instructions in here:

Step 1:
Power OFF the router with the Power Switch.

Step 2:
Power ON the router and the Power light will start blinking. As soon as it turns OFF (for about 2 seconds), power OFF the router.

Step 3:
Repeat Step 2 twice. << I did 3 times in total.

Step 4:
Turn the power back ON and wait for the Power light to turn solid. It should now be booted using its alternate firmware partition.

With this sequence, it did switch to the alternative firmware partition and booted to Linksys OEM GUI with older firmware 1.1.4.168206. Phew!!
Now with this version, in the OEM GUI, I flashed directly to openwrt-22.03.5-ipq40xx-generic-linksys_ea8300-squashfs-factory.bin >> IT WORKS: rebooted into OpenWrt Luci interface.

13

This topic was automatically closed 10 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.