Hello,

Recently I tried to install OpenWRT on my Nanostation M5 (XM) following the official tutorial but as the page didn't mention that a previous downgrade was required for devices with AirOS v5.6.x installed now I think I bricked my device :'(

I would really appreciate any help!

This is what I did:

• Previous the update, the AirOS version was v5.6.2 (XM)

• I tried to install OpenWRT (openwrt-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-nano-m-squashfs-factory.bin) through the AirOS web interface. During the update process the AirOS web interfase window showed the message:

Uploaded Firmware Version: XM.v6.0.0-OpenWrt-r42625
    WARNING: Uploaded Firmware is from third-party, make sure you're familiar with the recovery procedure!

• After the update process the device stopped responding (No response from Web interface nor from Ping command)

• Using TFTP I updated to the AirOS version (XM.v5.6.5.bin). The updated process showed no error, however there was still no response from Web interface nor from Ping command.

• Using TFTP I tried to install a downgrade firmware (XM.v5.5.11.bin), however the process ended with the error:

    tftp: error received from server <Firmware check failed>
    tftp: aborting

• In TFTP mode I receive a ping response from 192.168.1.20

What makes me really crazy is that when I try to connect through RS232 I receive strange characters from the device (?!). I tried using both a USB-RS232 converter and a direct connection to the pc-motherboard COM port and I receive in both these non sense characters. I'm using minicom for the connection.

This is an image of the strange characters:
h_ttp://i64.tinypic.com/n65jj7.png

This an image showing the characters in hexadecimal:
h_ttp://i63.tinypic.com/j5l0l0.png

When I connect the antenna to the power I can see the following leds activity:
[POWER, LAN1, LAN2, SIG1, SIG2, SIG3, SIG4]

• t0:
  POWER: Green
  LAN1, LAN2: Green (just for a few milliseconds then went off)
  SIG2: Orange (just for a few milliseconds then went off)

• t2:
  POWER, LAN1, LAN2: Green (LAN1 & LAN2 went off a second latter > t3)

• t15:
  POWER: Green
  LAN1, LAN2: Green (just for a few milliseconds then went off)
  SIG2: Orange (just for a few milliseconds then went off)
  SIG3: Very week green (just for a few milliseconds then went off)

• t30: Same as t15

• t45: Same as t15, t30

Is my device permanently bricked? Is there anything I can do to recover it?

Thank you!!

(Last edited by bawfree on 23 Feb 2017, 01:36)

I think I may be in the same position as you. I just created a new topic myself. The difference is that I have installed OpenWRT to AirRouter with firmware v5.6.2. And I also can't ping my device or access LuCi (web interface). Do you really think that this is "bricked" status?

Well I think so as we got stuck with no options, at least this is my case. Are you seeing same strange characters as me connecting through RS232?

Thanks

Sorry, I am not really advanced in this area. I have no idea what RS232 even is.

np, it's communication port (COM) so you can connect your router to a pc in order to interact with the booting process and thus get information or load a firmware in a recovery mode.

(Last edited by bawfree on 23 Feb 2017, 01:30)

If recovery fails for official firmware then this is a serious issue and these devices should be returned to Ubiquiti and requested to give you a working one that you can flash OpenWrt to.

I tried on a second antenna that works fine and I'm seeing same strange characters, it's really annoying :'(

Try different baud rates: 57600, 38400.

Never connect the TTL pins directly to an RS-232 port.  Also do not connect the power wire (red) of a USB-TTL converter to the router.  Connect only the two data lines and ground.

(Last edited by mk24 on 30 Apr 2017, 17:31)