I have successfully flashed the router and make telnet works by following http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr703n. But somehow the telnet doesn't work anymore after I tried to change the IP address. Tried to restore factory img with OPKG by following one thread in this forum but failed. Then I used local tftp and finally make it work through the console.

1) install tftp server for windows
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/638/xp2k … tp-server/

2) Set your windows computer ipaddr to 192.168.1.100
copy factory img 2011930104462.rar to tftp server fold under this computer     
Note: can not find it from tp-link website but got one from here: http://villagetelco.org/download/firmwa … /Standard/ 

3) Setup serial console 115200 8n1
Enter "tpl" as soon as U-Boot announces "Autobooting in 1 seconds"
Run blow command under U-Boot:
tftpboot 0x81000000 wr703nv1_cn_3_12_11_up(110926).bin
erase 0x9f020000 +0x3c0000
cp.b 0x81000000 0x9f020000 0x3c0000
bootm 9f020000

Great summary! I can add Mac OS X procedure witch is about the same:

1). Get free TFTP Server form MacUpdate
note: you'd better use your Administrator account not standard user! Or may have some difficulties.
Install the application and start it, then click on Reveal ( Finder Icon inside the TFTPServer Interface) default path will be /private/tftpboot, copy your firmware.bin there. then start tftpserver

2).Set your Mac Ethernet to Manually config and IP address to 192.168.1.100
The newest original firmware can be downloaded form here ( Chinese ) or directly form TL-WR703N V1_120228???

3). Connect your router over serial and Ethernet cable to your Mac. For serial console I'm using CoolTerm and you have to change the default settings form baud-rate 9600 to 115200 and select right "Usb to serial" adapter. Then push button connect, you should see U-Boot boot process. Off and On your router and quickly type 'tpl' without quotas and hit 'Enter' U-boot should stop if you succeed and fallow the rest as WiKi but will have to change the start address as sunvale post in summary:
Run blow command under U-Boot:
'printenv' will show you router IP and server IP (your MAC IP 192.168.1.100 in that case) - you actually do not need to do that.

tftpboot 0x81000000 exactflashname.bin
erase 0x9f020000 +0x3c0000
cp.b 0x81000000 0x9f020000 0x3c0000
bootm 9f020000

This is the exact same procedure for recovering messed up TL-MR11U back to Original firmware form offical page or direct link for TL-MR11U V1_111129???

I hope you did not damaged/overwritten your 'Config' or 'ART' partition, then you will have working router without WiFi. Solution is to flash your full backup.bin with programmer. I did not succeeded flashing 'Config' and 'ART' form U-BOOT.

(Last edited by mveplus on 4 May 2012, 15:37)

Are you using a direct serial cable connection or do you have a ttl to rs232 converter inline?

you NEED    USB to TTL 3.3V serial (example cables with PL2303 chip), or RS232 to TTL (example with MAX232 chip).

sorry I do not speak English, I installed it on my tp 703 DD WRT but I would like to return to the original firmaware. Could you help me by placing screenshots of the steps?
thanks so much
I used google traslator apologize if English is not perfect!
Paolo.

some time ago I made a tutorial on the ddwrt forum about this:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic. … p;start=64

Ignore the PCB pics, they are for the 740n v4. Just follow the commands which are the same for the 703n.
Also:
http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl- … al.console

regards

(Last edited by dabyd64 on 5 Sep 2012, 21:58)

I LOVE this forum and it's members. THanks to everyone who gives a helping hand!!

then I would need a cable to connect to the router which do you recommend?
To do the surgery I have to open the case?
Thanks Paolo.

Yup, you have to open the case. You also need to do some soldering (described in the Wiki). For cable the cheapest is a Nokia cable, hacked: see
http://hackaday.com/2010/02/25/nokia-us … -disguise/

Actually this board http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-PL2303-USB … 353wt_1312
Is cheaper than any Nokia DKU-5 cable on ebay. I found it today for other openwrt user

Wow, good call!

Hello after a long time I started to work on updating the firmware, I buy a usb pl 2303 but I can not understand what it means to enter "tpl." You can have a video or a screenshot of how to do the operation?
thanks

did you connect your router to your computer with the USB converter / TTL?

if you are opening (under windows) hyperterminal (or putty) to select the proper COM port
enter parameters:

115200 baud
8 bit data
1 stop bit
no parity
no flow control

turning on the router,
as soon as you see something in the terminal type on the keyboard tpl and enter ;

One comment from my experience, how much flash needs to be erased and than copied from memory depends on particular image, unless they all have 100% identical size