Hello Folks,
In the past, I used both dd-wrt and openwrt, and I realize that there seems to be version of Openwrt that is compatible with the TP-Link AX80 V1, but I happen to have the AX80 V1.6 (US) version. I heard that AX80 V1 and the AX80 V1.6 are basically the same in terms of hardware (the V1.6 is manufactured in Vietnam); but I am not sure if that is accurate.
Can the Openwrt firmware for the AX80 V1 be used in the AX80 V1.6?
Thanks for any insight!
Most likely, vX.z is usually vX in the world of TP-Link.
GPL source
Points to same source file.
frollic & brada4:
Thanks for the confirmation, I feel relieved.
In order to flash it, it seems that it requires to open up the router to gain access to the uart interface. I had experience with routers that could simply be flashed with openwrt or ddwrt firmwares by simply flashing the new firmware through the router’s oem firmware by means of its web interface; and routers that needed access to the uart interface and even lacked the physical header (port) for the uart interface (so, had to solder it) – the first case was way more convenient.
In any case, it seems that the AX80 needs access to the uart interface. Should be able to use the CP210x uart-usb bridge, I assume. In order to open up the AX80, is there only 4 screws (no screw in the center behind the router label?)? Is there a uart header on the router’s main board?
Yes, it is to open the router according to commit message
Thanks. Would you know if the router’s case has a fifth screw under its label. There are four screw under the rubber feet. I don’t want to peel off the label (damaging it in the process) just to find out that there is no screw there.
FCC pictures (locatable by just googling for fcc id number) usually have the teardown images you can use to locate screwss and clasps. Obviously back of if not confident.
@tk3000
The AX80 shares a lot of components with the Mercusys MR90x, including the same uboot version, can you check if you have SSH available on port 20001 ?
I did not know that fcc files had some things available. However, it does not show whether or not there is a screw behind the label.
The removal of the label was made much easier and quicker with the use a heat gun. Just for reference, there is no screw behind that label.
Once I snapped the top cover off, things did look bleak: all the antenna wires are soldered to the main board (instead of using the small round connectors) and there is no header for the uart interface.
With a multimeter and by visual inspection, I found out the soldering points for a header (I do have many headers, but don’t know where they are now and the removal of the board would be much time consuming). Below are some pics (it may help somebody else in the future):
If you have TTL adapter and breadbord plugs you can harmlessly netboot AX80 kernel and if all check out install actual OpenWrt….
hecatae:
I gave it a try, was unable to log in. It is listening though on port 20001.
The following command resulted and error:
ssh -p 20001 user@
The message of error was to the effect that: “no matching host key type found. Their offer: ssh-rsa”
Then, I tried to force my client to use the ssh-rsa host key algorithm:
ssh -p 20001 -oHostKeyAlgorithm=+ssh-rsa user@
The above command resulted in yet another type of error, to the effect that: “PTY allocation table failed on channel 0” and “shell request failed on channel 0” So, I just gave up, but it seemed to have passed the authentication phase.
You can type shell commands without tty, just that you will not get proper echo back and outputs will not be nicely synced
You mean the ssh terminal connection? I don’t know what is going with no feedback, logs, or anything; so I’d rather try a different approach.
Mission accomplished.
Earlier today, I got the chance and was able flash the router with openwrt. Since, removing the board in order to add a header for the uart was time consuming and somewhat risky, I tried by simply using 18 gauge wires that did fit more or less snugly into the holes along with some weight on the wires to increase the pressure+friction (thanks brada4 for hinting about this approach). Monitored the bootup process of the route with minicom, ctr+c to interrupt it, “flashed” the initramfs file and then permanently flashed it with the squashfs.
Hopefully, openwrt will work fine on the AX80 and is going to explore and expound on the router’s hardware capabilities.
Thanks for all the insights!
