Instructions to flash MERCUSYS MR70X v1 with OpenWRT?

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Could you guide me into the right direction, where I can find instructions to correctly flash the MERCUSYS MR70X v1 ?

https://openwrt.org/toh/hwdata/mercusys/mercusys_mr70x_v1

I don't see any instructions how to install OpenWRT on this device.

Thanks!

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2

click the git link on the page you posted.

3

I assume you are referrung to the following link?

https://git.openwrt.org/?p=openwrt/openwrt.git;a=commit;h=47de2c686291e69afc9f443e27e1dfd11ed5fbe7

"Installation

Flash factory image. This can be done using stock web ui.

Revert to stock firmware

Flash stock firmware via OEM Web UI Recovery mode.

Web UI Recovery method

  1. Unplug the router
  2. Plug in and hold reset button 5~10 secs
  3. Set your computer IP address manually to 192.168.1.x / 255.255.255.0
  4. Flash image with web browser to 192.168.1.1"

So this router can be flashed from the Mercusys default firmware via the web ui using the following image?

This would be the following OpenWRT firmware file, correct?

https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.4/targets/ramips/mt7621/openwrt-23.05.4-ramips-mt7621-mercusys_mr70x-v1-squashfs-factory.bin

Has anyone tested this without bricking the device?

There already appears to be a newer firmware version available (23.05.05):

https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=23.05.5&target=ramips%2Fmt7621&id=mercusys_mr70x-v1

4

I am.

if that's what the git commit says, then yes.

that is also correct.

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5

I just found the following post from last year, which sounds like a bit of trouble:

It sounds like the author of this post tried to flash a custom-built OpenWRT image on the device, which failed ?!?

Has anyone tested if you can now flash the Mercusys MR70X from the default Mercusys Web UI using the 23.05.5 factory bin image without bricking the device?

6

@elbe1 I would recommend downgrading to the earliest firmware you can find.
That git commit is from March 2023, so anything pre march 2023 will do.

On the mr90x I had to downgrade to convert to Openwrt.

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7

@hecatae Do you mean that I have to downgrade the official Mercusys firmware first to an older version pre March 2023?

And one once that is done I can flash the firmware with the latest factory bin to OpenWRT using the Mercusys web UI?

Thanks for your feedback!

8

Yes earliest official mercusys firmware

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9

@elbe1 Did it work for you? I have a MR70X v1 and I will try it again, last time I tried to downgrade the firmware it failed because of invalid file (from the official Mercusys product page). I might have used the wrong firmware.

10

I was able to flash the Mercusys Mr70X but only with serial connectivity, the flash using the web ui is broken.

11

Could you help me open the device without damaging the plastic?

12

I actually had to put a lot of effort to open it, it is tricky.

What I recall is I removed 2 screws and used a knife or something to make a lever to separate the two main parts (the upper one and bottom one). It was not easy, it felt like I was going to break it. I believe I had some lucky to be honest to not damage, but it seems counter-intuitive, for me I had to put a lot of effort to separate it and I feel it was going to damage it.

13

Do you know where the anchors are to leverage efficiently?

14

Sorry I don't know. I used a random spot in the router I don't recall anymore.

15

I was able to open it now, the plastic was slightly bent and probably some anchors. I was also able to recover the device with this guide using the method "Fixing thefactory boot check integer flag is not 1.".

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16

Hi all,

Anyone had success with eu version 1.2?

Thanks !

17

Recent feedback:
Today i've successfully flashed version 24.10.0 on a MR70X eu/1.0 through the Mercusys WebUI using the ā€œFirmware Upgradeā€ option.
The upgrade worked seamsly and the router already rebooted presenting the LuCI login page.