OpenWrt Firmware for Archer c6 v3.2

For Developers
216

hmm.. currently, I don't, I recently shifted to a new home, its 3 floors so thought of make a diy mesh network, that's why I was so desperate to Install OpenWRT & forgot 'bout the Snapshot version. Is there any way to go back to the stock firmware without Luci. as I didn't liked the router and just want to sell it to buy couple of Archer C7 or any other like Linksys.

Thanks!

PS: currently, I'm trying updating using WinSCP.

217

Do you want to install LuCI or do you want to revert to stock firmware?

218

Anyway, assuming that:

  1. You installed a snapshot image (without LuCI)
  2. You want to revert to stock firmware
  3. Your device does not have an Internet connection
  4. You have a Windows 10 PC
  5. Your OpenWRT Archer C6 v3.2 is turned on, up and running
  6. You can ping and ssh your OpenWrt device at 192.168.1.1

Then execute the following steps to revert to stock firmware:

  1. Download a ZIP with the revert image of the Archer A6/C6 v3 I've made from [here]( a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin.zip (Password: a6c6revert)
  2. Unzip the file contents to a folder in your PC (ex: "C:\tmp"). You should get a file named "a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin" in this directory
  3. Open a windows command prompt and change the current directory to the folder you unzippped the revert image: cd c:\tmp
  4. Copy the revert image to the device using the Windows scp command:
    C:\tmp\scp a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin root@192.168.1.1:/tmp
  5. Open an ssh session to your device:
    ssh root@192.168.1.1
  6. Flash the revert image with the following command (ignore the warnings):
    root@OpenWrt:~# sysupgrade -v -F /tmp/a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin
  7. Wait for the flashing process to finish. After the device reboots, you can access the stock firmware at http://192.168.0.1
  8. Using the stock firmware after the revert, it is strongly recommended to flash a new firmware stock image downloaded directly from TP-Link website.

More details below.

C:\tmp>scp a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin root@192.168.1.1:/tmp
root@192.168.1.1's password:
a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin     100%   15MB   6.0MB/s   00:02

C:\tmp>ssh root@192.168.1.1
root@192.168.1.1's password:


BusyBox v1.35.0 (2022-02-11 13:30:04 UTC) built-in shell (ash)

  _______                     ________        __
 |       |.-----.-----.-----.|  |  |  |.----.|  |_
 |   -   ||  _  |  -__|     ||  |  |  ||   _||   _|
 |_______||   __|_____|__|__||________||__|  |____|
          |__| W I R E L E S S   F R E E D O M
 -----------------------------------------------------
 OpenWrt SNAPSHOT, r18792-337e942290
 -----------------------------------------------------
root@OpenWrt:~# sysupgrade -v -F /tmp/a6c6_v3_sysupgrade_factory_revert.bin
Sun Feb 13 08:00:15 -03 2022 upgrade: Image metadata not present
Image check failed but --force given - will update anyway!
(...)
Sun Feb 13 08:00:16 -03 2022 upgrade: Commencing upgrade. Closing all shell sessions.
Command failed: Connection failed
root@OpenWrt:~# Connection to 192.168.1.1 closed by remote host.
Connection to 192.168.1.1 closed.

C:\tmp>
4 Likes
219

I did as you said, after the process the router restarted nd now all the leds are solid on.

1 Like
220

That's not expected. I hope you haven't bricked your device. Try long pressing the reset button (for 30 seconds) until it reboots itself. Hopefully this will clear any invalid configuration and it will boot into the stock firmware.

1 Like
221

Tried, nothing.. I was very careful with every step as it was my first time. I'm Pretty sure it bricked now.
Can't I get a replacement or RMA from the service center as they won't be able to tell who bricked it.
if Not then what are my options now..

1 Like
222

Let's continue this discussion on this other topic:

2 Likes
223

hey - it seems they have taken the feb build off the lists on openwrt.
I installed your firmware on my 1 year old build and it works fine (i like the dark theme btw)
only issue is the kernel. Since all has gotten to 5.10 and this one is 5.4 i cant get openvpn to work...

now i see there is also a C6U V1 in the list with same processor and is final build...

have you tested it? I am tempted as making another build with 5.10 is too much work :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like
224

Aight...so I tried and bricked my c6v3.2 trying to force c6u firmware.
So anyone here having the same itch...DONT.

Alas, now over to UART!! This router is a pain in the....

2 Likes
225

Same thing happened with me after Installing the 1st Feb build, the router was bricked and tried all the methods except UART since I don't have that.

Finally, I requested an RMA and they provided a new one.

It took them more than 2 weeks to ship it.

So, I think it's not worth the risk. Since the stock was working fine for my requirement.

However, It would be great if someone can upload a video on youtube for the recovery via UART.

That will be much appreciated.

1 Like
226

Aight so i found the solve..i stumbled on this without any internet video so i feel so cool :nerd_face: :sunglasses:

@ashish @hrindr13

no UART needed...if lights are solid on,...ur router is recoverable...

simply change the ip of your pc to 192.168.0.66 subnet 2552552550

plug in lan cable to lan port on router..power it on...and voila...

u can find the router on 192.168.0.1

no gateway no dns pls

i am now flashing all kind of firmwares to see what works :stuck_out_tongue:

5 Likes
227

Yippy Kay yay...

My router lives to die another day!!

So i managed to recover without UART...

only glitch I am back to stock firmware now.. but thats ok...I will reflash some more cr@p on it!

228

Yes, it was supposed to respond the same way as you mentioned. I did recover this way several times.

But this time symptoms were different.

There was just Power LED which was constantly ON and all the ethernet ports were not working/dead.

1 Like
229

Let us know if the 17th Feb build is working, I don't want to brick it again.

1 Like
230

Tried flashing the second service release version (21.02.2) on my router (Archer A6 v3 us) today. The device bootloops when I enable the 5ghz band without any modifications done.

1 Like
231

Nopes. Don't bother.... Not stable....

I got bootlooped....

my july2021 snapshot is the most stable (although archaic build)...

I have decided to stick to stock for the moment and gone ahead and flashed openwrt on my c20v5 instead. Works like a charm...

232

I fixed that problem as well.... Issue is bad flash.... I tried at least 20 different images and magically one of them worked....

The issue with these TPlink routers is regional variances and uboot configs.... So unless u have the exact firmware with same bootloader config, you may just be flashing the wrong variant of the same firmware version....

The good news and why I still love them is the ability to tftp and flash using 0.66 ip irrespective of many bad flashes given the way its set up... No other router manufacturer I have seen does that!!

233

Did anyone test the latest A6v3 stable build? Does it include the latest WiFi Drivers?

234

Hello devs/users from openwrt,
I am currently using Tplink c6 v3.2(US) from the latest official firmware
I am aware that there is no official firmware from openwrt for this router.

I have average knowledge for this type of things. As I went through this topic,
Correct me if I'm wrong I have to use a firmware to update from the stock then sysuprade from that again.

  1. Is the sysupgrade GUI?

2.Can you guys provide me specific files that work with v3.2. As I read through june and the latest should work.

Lastly Luci is needed to get a webui, but when I upgrade and try to install luci I'm in a state where I have no internet.

3.How can I install it?

235

Well update:
I decided to do it anyways and it works.:partying_face:
Im using the march snapshot

1 Like