OpenWrt build for ZBT z8102ax - M2-a -t (v2)

Walfarash · June 2, 2025, 7:39pm

Hi conker thanks for your answer: as for me I also asked zbt for the firmware that was inside the router, and they send me their zbtos 25.01 (last one) and I downloaded on their site an openwrt version that is called Z8102AX-NAND-MT7981-v23.1109_015905-128M.bin. I flashed that from the zbtos firmware and all went fine with that openwrt version you have seen already, that is a 21.02 the same as you. I also wait maurer input. Btw have you figured out the watchdog version of the router?
btw I checked really quick your log (i'm not a programmer of course) but seem equal to this one:
ROOter OpenWRT on Z8102AX with U-Boot BL31 v2.7 - Modems/Routers
the reason seem the ubi partition of wrong size, and a bootloader that is 2.7 version not 2.6...about the ubi partition something has been told already in the previous posts of this thread

maurer · June 3, 2025, 11:32am

I've recompiled with master patches on top - could you retest please (also cc @conker )
https://0x0.st/8Ytl.bin

conker · June 3, 2025, 6:17pm

Alright, it works, thanks

I'm also surprised it's so small, only 8MB vs the usual 18MB of the other images, how did you manage that ?

I just noticed the other partition seems to have not changed, for any of the FWs.
For apps/packages etc it's still 89MB or something available.

Regarding the BL, just for logging/confirmation, seems I have indeed 2.7, too

BL log

NOTICE: BL2: Booting BL31
NOTICE: BL31: v2.7(release):
NOTICE: BL31: Built : 05:15:20, Sep 20 2023
NOTICE: Hello BL31!!!

U-Boot 2023.07 (Sep 20 2023 - 05:14:31 -0700)

Walfarash · June 3, 2025, 7:46pm

Hi maurer, thanks for the new version. I downloaded that and will try tomorrow when I have serial console access over the AP

juan3211 · June 4, 2025, 4:28pm

@maurer is any way to "pull up" your PR?

github.com/openwrt/openwrt

mediatek: add support for Zbtlink ZBT-Z8102AX v2

main ← maurerr:z8102ax-v2

opened 10:58AM - 17 Apr 25 UTC

maurerr

+360 -1

Specifications: SoC: MediaTek MT7981B RAM: 1024MiB Flash: SPI-NAND 128 MiB S…witch: 1 WAN, 4 LAN (Gigabit) USB: two M.2 slots for 5G modems via USB 3.0 hub, external USB 3.0 port Buttons: Reset, Mesh Power: DC 12V 1A WiFi: MT7976CN UART: 115200n8 UART Layout: VCC-RX-TX-GND Installation: 1. Power down the router and hold in the Reset button. 2. While holding in the button power up the router again. 3. Hold the button in for 10 seconds and then release. 4. Use your browser to go to 192.168.1.1 5. If you see a GUI that is for flashing firmware then you have the V2 model. If there is no GUI and the router continues to boot up normally you have the V1 model. 7. Now use the V2 sysugrade file. Note: Recovery GUI it can be used to recover from an incorrect firmware flash. Based on patches adding support for this device by Yannick Chabanois (openmptcprouter) and Dairyman (ofmodemsandmen)

Trying to be accepted as soon as possible?

Thanks

frollic · June 4, 2025, 4:49pm

It's only been two weeks dude, relax.

And stop SPAMing the PR, if you're ortegafernando.

maurer · June 4, 2025, 5:33pm

see my previous comment OpenWrt build for ZBT z8102ax - M2-a -t (v2) - #33 by maurer

juan3211 · June 5, 2025, 5:13am

Thanks I am not, I have just read it. OK, no "pull up"

juan3211 · June 5, 2025, 5:24am

Hi, then the firmware we must use is this one and not your previous message (OpenWrt build for ZBT z8102ax - M2-a -t (v2) - #47 by maurer)? Thanks

maurer · June 5, 2025, 5:40am

when dealing with main (dev) branch is always good to use the latest when possible

EDIT: for everyone interested - I've updated my PR to be ready for the switch to 6.12 kernel

maurer · June 6, 2025, 8:06am

@all can someone please test the latest version addressing the review comments from core developer Hauke?
especially:

please check that all the LEDs are working like expected and that the MAC addresses are correctly assigned.

https://0x0.st/8gag.bin
(I don't have access to my router)
thanks

juan3211 · June 7, 2025, 4:55am

Hi, what do you need from us? I still have original firmware (v2), do i need to flash this file with WEBUI or do Ineed to install previous openwrt firmware and use openwrt firmware update in luci? Once installed, what do you need to check, or where? I am a newbie, may be there is more people with knowledge that could help this PR. @Walfarash @conker @LinuxInside @makap

maurer · June 7, 2025, 4:57am

this and

please check that all the LEDs are working like expected and that the MAC addresses are correctly assigned.

juan3211 · June 7, 2025, 5:05am

then i need to install first openwrt, i have original firmware. I need more time. I hope someone with already openwrt installed could help us to improve this PR. thanks

maurer · June 7, 2025, 5:24am

Then you can install this version from recovery gui. It should work like the previous ones

Walfarash · June 7, 2025, 8:47am

Hi, thanks to maurer for the new build. I flashed the new firmware using luci update interface from the stock openwrt firware provided by zbt and everything went fine. About LED according to the spec of this pdf

I have mesh led (the third one with the world icon) green. I tried to connect to wifi (didn't set anything else my wan ppoe ecc) and it connect and assign a ip and mac address.
Btw how to add 5g driver to make the sim module work again and insert a sim to navigate?
I know you told your image doesn't have driver uploaded by default.
Thank you

maurer · June 7, 2025, 11:11am

Is the RED led working?
As for the kernel modules I can provide you if you want a tarball with all the modules or an imagebuilder but you'll have to figure out the rest (installation instructions)

Walfarash · June 7, 2025, 11:55am

when is the red led suppose to turn on? if it is during booting, then yes I see the same light as stock firmware: orange, red and when booted the green one.
about the modules don't know what is best between tarball or imagebuilder.
Tarball mean like a zip file? and image builder means I create an image with software on it, to flash on the router like this one?
btw I see on ssh that router use apk instead of opkg as packet manager

conker · June 7, 2025, 12:50pm

So, I've been just running it the last 3 days (the 8Ytl.bin, OpenWrt build for ZBT z8102ax - M2-a -t (v2) - #62 by maurer)
and seemed work so far, but I didn't have the time to use/test anything.
At least nothing crashed, it was running fine, and there were no issues in dmesg.
lan/wifi connected, too.

As I remember with the previous FW, the (mesh, 3rd) led was red during boot,
then iirc initially green after boot, but at some point in the last 1-2 days I noticed it was yellow.

Now, after installing the latest, I just did it via lucy, it seemed to have failed initially and didn't do anything, but then after I connected the serial dongle, it just magically booted ...

And imho the mesh led is yellow.

update: also nothing happens when I press the mesh button.

Also what exactly was about the

the MAC addresses are correctly assigned.

?

For me the BSSIDs of the wifi APs are there and I was able to connect to wifi (tho I didn't test any file transfers).

I sadly don't have any 5G modems so I can't test that part ...
@Walfarash what modem you have in yours ? and do you recommend it ?

Or generally, is there a list of recommended 5G modems or should I go to the ROOter page for that to see which are most popular there ?

conker · June 7, 2025, 1:04pm

Active people in the thread are usually subscribed to it automatically according to their settings and read it when they see fit. You should ping people only when you have something specific to tell them.

Also tbh I don't have any knowledge about how the openwrt PR process works. I never even had any openwrt router before the glinet beryl one from sept 24 (which I don't like and intent to replace, so that's why I decided to try this zbt).

So if you want to help out either delve into the openwrt documentation to understand the process more,
or the quick route: you can just help maurer by testing his latest commits/builds, report feedback/answer his questions.