I have a v3.8 and get a "bad file" error when trying to flash my EAP225. Is there any simple way around this before I consider accessing by serial connection?
You can find a patched image of 23.05.2 here:
https://svanheule.net/files/openwrt-23.05.2-ath79-generic-tplink_eap225-outdoor-v3-squashfs-factory-compat-2.bin
The patch only bumps the firmware compatibility level, not the version number (to >5.1.0). Please let me know if this works, so I can update the tplink-safeloader utility.
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I can confirm that it works with the patched image on a EAP223-Outdoor-v3(EU) with stock firmware 5.1.0.
But only after executing cliclientd stopcs like described in the installation guide. Without that you get a "Bad File" error on the Webinterface
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Having to use cliclientd stopcs is expected. OpenWrt images don't contain a valid signature, so that check needs to be disabled before flashing.
Thanks for testing and reporting back!
Hi (Sorry newbie to OpenWRT Firmware flashing)
Could I check - I have a EAP225 with V5.1.0 Firmware. The OpenWRT page ( https://openwrt.org/toh/hwdata/tp-link/tp-link_eap225-outdoor_v3 ) has a link to V23.05.0 OpenWRT Firmware. Will this work? I notice that the version you tested appeared to be 23.05.2 - Should I be using the OpenWRT firmware from that page - or a later version from somewhere else?
you can start with 23.05.0, then upgrade to 23.05.3 using the sysupgrade image from https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/
Oh great and there won't be the issue with the firmware compatibility level? - Has that already been incorporated into V23.05.0?
what specifically are you asking about, the openwrt version, or the tp-link fw ?
Ah I was talking about whether the TPlink V5.1.0 Firmware would be an issue when installing V23.05.0 but it looks like it was ok. I now have a device running V23.05.0 of OpenWRT 
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Can you update to 23.05.3 and confirm it's working?
The techdata page states it's supported.
Most likely just the links to the images, which still link to 23.05.0, need to be updated.
yup, it's manual work, since the "global" version bump haven't been executed.
Ah .. I'm a newbie. If I update to 23.05.03 and it doesn't work I'm not sure what I would do ..
Ok, no worries.
Maybe someone else can confirm.
Id like to help. If it doesn't work can you suggest a link to some recovery steps?
There is a description of recovery steps in the supporting commit:
https://git.openwrt.org/?p=openwrt/openwrt.git;a=commit;h=7e4de89e631aaf56be5375662b7d5ed0f27e26f6
But it involves having to set up a serial connection. Not exactly newbie friendly.
Debricking:
To recover the device, you need access to the serial port.
This requires fine soldering to test points, or the use of probe pins.
Also I don't own this device, so I can't confirm those steps are accurate.