Linksys E3000 update documentation with common problems

Talk about Documentation
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Hi.

I am trying out OpenWRT with a Linksys E3000, and i found in the hard way that this router have some heavy issues that should be noted in its OpenWRT wiki page https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/e3000.

The problem i found is if you enable 5Ghz antenna with its available open source driver (the one it comes with the firmware) you can enter in a kernel panic Panic when enabling 5GHz radio on Linksys e3000 (you need to use the other drivers Panic when enabling 5GHz radio on Linksys e3000) and if you by mistake save that configuration you can enter in a crash loop bricking the router Linksys E3000 reboot loop Linksys e3000 debricking help?.
The main issue with that, is also there isn't an easy way to reset the router to the normal state in this case, because anyone of the "soft" options i tested (holding reset, holding WPS button, 30/30/30 https://community.linksys.com/t5/Wireless-Routers/Bricked-E3000-Router-Recovery/m-p/363455#M190728, factory reset https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/troubleshooting/failsafe_and_factory_reset, trying to bring the recovery interface https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt610n#recovery_web_interface, using stock reset www.linksys.com/gb/support-article?articleNum=134969#c) don't do anything useful as they should be (some do something, but you can't reach the router as is described in the steps, as Windows put a weird IP 169.254.234.71 because DHCP isn't working and it should https://forum.archive.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=65390) and maybe the reset is not useful there because it isn't bringing the defaults to the router (i noted after trying to reset the router, the IP range it comes until it reboots alone is 192.168.1.x, and i think, i'm not 100% sure, the last IP range i was using with it was 192.168.99.x).
The only proved options to reset the router in this case is using a serial connector, or making a dangerous short circuit Linksys e3000 debricking help?. I don't have at the moment possibility to do anything of these options, and should be noted in the wiki you can confront this if you have any problem with this router.

The bug about the panic mode is in the issue tracker https://bugs.openwrt.org/index.php?do=details&task_id=1650 but i don't know if it should be useful to post bugs about the "reboot cycle" and the possibility to change something to make possible a successfull factory reset using the router buttons, or making not available the 5Ghz mode with the open source driver in the main releases (for example, with the Huawei HG556a needs to install a driver to use the N mode, the open source can use it, and that info is in the wiki).

Everything of this happens with the lastest release, 19.07.1.

This is for consult how and what add about all this info to the wiki, and later made some research and tests about if there is any possibility to make this router work again without using any hardware option (doubtfully).

Thanks

PD.: As pointed here Links limit for new users i have edited all links with extra spaces because as new user i only can post two links. Sorry for that.

[Edit tmomas] links fixed

1 Like
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This sounds like you successfully reset the router.

Are you going to make the edits to the Wiki?

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If all you did was enable the 5ghz, you should be able to grab this tool(if you run windows), and set your ethernet adapter for 192.168.1.2 and your gateway to 192.168.1.1, browse to the correct firmware, and click upgrade at the same instant, or a second after you power on your router.

I use the E3000 for my home network, but its been a while since I bricked mine, so that's the procedure from what I recall. The red, green, and black wires coiled up on top in the picture are soldered to the serial pads on the board, so I always could see when the router was ready for me to start the tftp the two or three times I bricked it over the years. There are also serial pads in the WAN port, but I never tried to use them. I have seen a thread about someone using them :man_shrugging:

In any case, I now use a separate wireless AC access point, so can't help you in that area... haven't even tried wifi with openwrt, but it did work with freshtomato FYI

E3000
E30001328×747 118 KB

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That's something i was thinking until this morning, when i do continuous pings to the router with 192.168.99.x manually configured in the PC meanwhile it is in the "reboot cycle" and i have some pings back. But with 192.168.1.x i have one ping back too, so the problem here is i lack the knowledge and tools to make a proper testing of what are happening here (that's what i will try to do), but now i don't think is really reset, because i manually put that 192.168.99.x IP range.
Now i can't reproduce this, but i think it's i putting Windows crazy with all these connection reboots.

I did in the past some wiki editing in other sites, but as a new user and limited openwrt experience i need to ask first if i can do it or it's better some one else do it, because i'm not sure what templates you use, and what to write. In my opinion the two things i think are important to know are the problem with using 5Ghz with the default driver and the lack of an emergency reset. I think i can do it, but i need some advice.

I can't do it, first, because it's in a "reboot cycle" when i only switch on the router, it reboots in 5-10 seconds losing connection every time.
Holding the WPS button, and using the reset button (some links above talk about these methods) i can make the router holds on and it does not reboot, like be in a recovery mode, but i tried to reach with all IP ranges without any luck (in fact, one link said it use DHCP and i don't need to manually put the IP, but when i do that appears the mentioned 169.254.234.71 which seems it's Windows putting an IP because DHCP is not working).
I tried some factory reset methods too, but anyone change anything of the behaviour. When i installed OpenWRT it works, and it switch on perfectly and i was using it until i tried configured the 5Ghz antenna (which is the main thing about this topic, to warn people about this in the wiki)

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If you were to solder leads inside, or modify something for holding leads onto the serial connection inside the wan port and attach a serial adapter of some kind, Ill bet you would see a 1-2 second prompt to begin uploading the firmware as soon as you power it on. Worth a try maybe if you need to revive a low power router for :poop:s and giggles

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I know i'm bumping this old topic again, but i want to post about the last week i brought back to life this Cisco Linksys E3000 with the short circuit method. It's dangerous but it worked and it was very easy to do.

Now i know it works, if there is no issue i could add some info about this in the Wiki. I'm not going to point to the "short circuit method", but to this topic, and maybe a warning to not configure the 5Ghz antenna or doing it knowing the risks. If that is okay.

Now i have other issues with the router but that's other topic.

Thanks!

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