NWA50AX Pro installation failed

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Translated from German to English with deepl
Hello,

I wanted to expand my WLAN with an access point (AP).
I chose the ZyXEL NWA50AX Pro
https://www.zyxel.com/de/de/products/wireless/ax3000-4-stream-wifi-6-dual-radio-nebulaflex-access-point-nwa50ax-pro
because OpenWrt is available for this. https://openwrt.org/toh/zyxel/nwa50ax_pro

I followed the OpenWrt instructions and used the factory image, but apparently an error occurred when flashing OpenWrt.
After a restart, it was possible to log in with the Zyxel software via the browser, but an error occurs when assigning the password.

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Assigning a new password has no effect.

A little research on the Internet has shown that it is also possible to update the firmware via ftp.
https://support.zyxel.eu/hc/de/articles/360003285540-Wie-aktualisiere-ich-die-Firmware-auf-einen-Controller-Access-Point-per-FTP

So I tried this method. First with the above-mentioned version of OpenWrt and after that didn't work with the three OEM stock firmwares.
https://www.zyxel.com/de/de/support/download?model=nwa50ax-pro

However, I always get the error 226 file damaged!!

Here is the complete output of the attempt:

[user12@user12-t440p ~]$ ftp 192.168.1.2
Connected to 192.168.1.2.
220-
220-You are user number 1 of 5 allowed.
220-Local time is now 00:06. Server port: 21.
220-This is a private system - No anonymous login
220-IPv6 connections are also welcome on this server.
220 You will be disconnected after 600 minutes of inactivity.
Name (192.168.1.2:user12): admin
331 User admin OK. Password required
Password:
230 OK. Current restricted directory is /
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> bin
200 TYPE is now 8-bit binary
ftp> put /home/user12/Downloads/ap/710ACGE1C0.bin
200 PORT command successful
150 Connecting to port 43353
226-File successfully transferred
226-0.340 seconds (measured here), 111.09 Mbytes per second
226-firmware verifying…
226 file damaged!!
39657996 bytes sent in 0,3228 seconds (117,1800 Mbytes/s)

Unfortunately, I don't know where to go from here and am hoping for help.
The AP also has a console interface, but no attempt could be made here due to a lack of cable.
https://support.zyxel.eu/hc/de/articles/21848296932626-Zyxel-Access-Point-Konsole-So-verwenden-Sie-den-Konsolenport-fĂĽr-Access-Points

2

Buy the cable ...

3

OK, I'll do it :wink:

I read in the instructions “... do not connect the red cable” I'm not quite sure how the cables are connected to the AP. Is it always the right cable, as shown here in a picture?
https://support.zyxel.eu/hc/de/articles/21848296932626-Zyxel-Access-Point-Konsole-So-verwenden-Sie-den-Konsolenport-fĂĽr-Access-Points

4

their point is, you shouldn't connect the Vcc cable, Tx, Rx and GND only.

5

unfortunately, i don't understand the last post.
On the AP is the console interface on the picture is the protective cap on it (picture is from the manual)

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Where the word “CONSOLE” is written there is an arrow above the LE.

I would now connect the cables from left to right
GND (black) TXD (white) RXD (green)

I would not connect the cable where the arrow is.

Is that correct?

6

From left to right pin:
GND, RX, TX, 3.3v (dont connect 3.3v, its not needed)

see https://www.reddit.com/r/hardwarehacking/comments/1kpndw7/uart_pinout_on_ap/

HTH

1 Like
7

Ok, so that I don't make a mistake.
I'll swap against the side:

https://support.zyxel.eu/hc/de/articles/21848296932626-Zyxel-Access-Point-Konsole-So-verwenden-Sie-den-Konsolenport-f%C3%BCr-Access-Points

TX with RX

8

just look in the last zyxel link you posted, the right most pin isn't connected ...

you can't really break anything, it'll simply not work if it's hooked up the wrong way.

9

ok, that reassures me

THANKS

EDIT: I am now waiting for the cable and will report back afterwards

10

So, the cable has arrived and I can access the AP with putty.
Since I have no experience with this type of installation, I would like to know how to install OpenWrt on this AP.

What are the next commands if the installation file is under /home/user12/Downloads/?

11

the workflow is posted at https://openwrt.org/toh/zyxel/nwa50ax_pro#debricking.

12

In my specific case, I would enter this
atnz /home/user12/Downloads/openwrt-24.10.0-mediatek-filogic-zyxel_nwa50ax-pro-squashfs-factory.bin

13

if your specific case you would host it on a TFTP server, perhaps using a shorter name, just in case, not all boot loaders like long file names.

14

unfortunately i don't know what you mean by that. sorry.

15

basically you're doing this: https://youtu.be/rtrMpANC2kk?t=69

IP's will be different (you don't have to change yours), the file name too.
he's also doing it on a VM, the interface on top of the TFTP application windows is wrong, you need to select the real one, not 127.0.0.1, as in the video.

16

so I wouldn't have needed to buy a cable to connect to the serial port.

17

yes you would.
you're doing the same kind of flashing, but via serial instead of button.
not all devices have (reliable) button recovery.

the video is for the setup of the TFTP, the commands still have to be executed via serial, as in the link posted earlier.

18

So I need two connections? LAN and serial port?

19

yup.

one of the commands, one for the file.

20

ok, thanks. I'll try that at the weekend.

If the file is on the TFTP I would enter the following: atnz openwrt-factory.bin (after I have shortened the name)
That should work, right?

EDIT: I change the name to what the query showed me