RT-AC3100 brick

[Vadim Tkachenko]

I think I managed to brick RT-AC3100, it is not getting into recovery mode.
The Power LED stays ON all the time.

I did the normal reset, and also I did RMerlin recommendations:

1) Turn the router off. Unplug all network cables from it.
2) Press the WPS button, and keep it pressed while turning the router on
3) Wait 10 secs, then press the reset button. Now, release the WPS button.
4) Wait 5 secs, then release the reset button

This happened after I tried to migrate from DD-WRT to Asus-Merlin and couple times failed and I did factory reset.

Is there anything I can do to get into recovery mode and unbrick the device?

 

[jim769]

Recovery mode is turn off router. Turn router back on while holding the factory reset button. When the power light on the far left is blinking your in recovery mode.

 

[Vadim Tkachenko]

Recovery mode is turn off router. Turn router back on while holding the factory reset button. When the power light on the far left is blinking your in recovery mode.

I did that before and tried again.
The power light stays ON and never gets into blinking state.

 

[RMerlin]

You might need a TTL serial connection to determine what is going on. I know DD-WRT can modify the partition table, something might have gone wrong in the process of moving back.

 

[Vadim Tkachenko]

You might need a TTL serial connection to determine what is going on. I know DD-WRT can modify the partition table, something might have gone wrong in the process of moving back.

I do not have much experience with serial connections to ASUS, could you please point to some links to check how this can be done? Thanks.

 

[TonyH]

I do not have much experience with serial connections to ASUS, could you please point to some links to check how this can be done? Thanks.

Basically your router is dead in the water? Not responding to any attempt to talk to it? Serial console is to access the router using serial protocol but these days not many devices has serial port, so you may need to get a serial-USB converter first. And you need to open the router, solder at least 4 wires on serial connector, RX +/- and TX +/- and keep in mind cross over connection since it is direct connection. There are many Youtube help or other documents regarding how to do it. There is no guarantee you'll succeed for 100%. You may even have to know how to restore CFE. Did you try to move from dd-wrt to
Merlin's f/w or via default f/w? Remember time is $$$ too, LOL! Good luck.

 

[RMerlin]

No soldering involved, Asus always includes pin headers. And you absolutely need an adapter, those serial ports are for TTL levels, not RS-232 levels.

 

[Pierino]

And only connect tx, rx and ground. Only 3 wires are used, not two.

 

[Vadim Tkachenko]

For the reference I was able to restore router and flash Asuswrt-Merlin.

I have used "JBtek® WINDOWS 8 Supported Debug Cable for Raspberry Pi USB Programming USB to TTL Serial Cable" and the procedures described in https://www.snbforums.com/threads/t...d-while-flashing-from-tomato-to-merlin.29077/

The router was indeed broken, DD-WRT got into a weird state.
nvram erase
helped to get into recovery state and flash new firmware.

 

[Oz M]

Vadim, I'm the same situation, bricked my RT-AC3100 as well following the information you referenced. Any advice before I go into this? I will be ordering the USB cable soon. Thanks!

 

[Oz M]

Scratch that, I just needed to wait a little longer after using recovery tool...router is back online. Happy holidays!