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Topic: WR710N Internal USB hub and external antenna mod

The content of this topic has been archived on 30 Apr 2018. There are no obvious gaps in this topic, but there may still be some posts missing at the end.

Hi, below attach pictures from my modded wr710n (US 1.0) running Barrier Breaker 14.07 with smb and ftp server, support for ntfs drive, add micro usb connector for external power supply, repeater and add usb adapter wn722n working as wireless lan (useful when repeated network is not available).

Some pics:

USB Hub 4 Ports:
http://imageshack.com/a/img538/7365/Ymf62t.jpg
Small USB Hub 2.0 self powered.

External antenna mod:
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/5318/LptAa5.jpg
For this mod I had remove J1 (0 ohm resistor) and cut ANT1, I let untouched capacitors around original antenna.

Micro USB:
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/3623/elZR03.jpg
Micro USB pins connected to C206 pins, reference: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr710n

Internal setup:
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/4330/PoowZX.jpg
I wanted original USB port working as if unmodified. To do so, I had to insert hub between original USB data lines on motherboard and original USB socket. For this i had lift d- and d+ in original USB port, GND connected to GND below original USB port, while +5VDC was connected to C206 positive pin because original port is limited to 1A.

Final setup:
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/1118/DHwq7G.jpg
Working with internal (AC) power supply or this setup can work too with external power supply and at least 5V @ 2A is needed, I used for example iPad 2.1A adapter.

(Last edited by gdl2010 on 4 Mar 2015, 03:10)

That looks very cool, and something I might want to try as well...

You mention "I wanted original USB port working as if unmodified. To do so, I had to insert hub between original USB data lines on motherboard and original USB socket. For this i had lift d- and d+ in original USB port"

Does that mean the original USB port is now actually connected to the hub, and the hub connected to the original port's data +/- traces?

CescoAiel wrote:

Does that mean the original USB port is now actually connected to the hub, and the hub connected to the original port's data +/- traces?

"I had to insert hub between original USB data lines on motherboard and original USB socket."

There's no other way that this could work

tmo26 wrote:

There's no other way that this could work

In fact...

You can see similar mod here: https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=34188

But I donĀ“t use glue or tape for mount usb ports or antenna, instead I drilled fixed holes and I added four screws for easy disassembly.

Where did all the pictures go? Dang. I would like to try this on my tl-wr710n.

The discussion might have continued from here.