that1geek
Occasional Visitor
Greetings SNB community!
Setup: T-Mobile TM-AC1900 successfully flashed (CFE) to RT-AC68U long ago
Background: Was on latest Asus stock firmware for a while. Decided to try out Tomato. Wasn't happy with WiFi performance, so decided to try flashing to Merlin last night.
Flashing steps:
Setup: T-Mobile TM-AC1900 successfully flashed (CFE) to RT-AC68U long ago
Background: Was on latest Asus stock firmware for a while. Decided to try out Tomato. Wasn't happy with WiFi performance, so decided to try flashing to Merlin last night.
Flashing steps:
- Tried flashing latest stable Merlin firmware "RT-AC68U_378.56_2.trx" via Tomato interface, got "Bad TRX header" error
- Put router into recovery mode and tried flashing via Asus Restore utility, uploaded to 100% but then said "Unable to restore router" or something to that effect
- Connected to MiniCFE flashing page while in recovery and flashed "RT-AC68U_378.56_2.trx". Sat on page for a while, then took me to http://192.168.1.1/f2.html, but was a broken page
- Can't ping 192.168.1.1 while PC set to static IP 192.168.1.10/Mask 255.255.255.0/Gateway 192.168.1.1 and PC connected to LAN1-4 port(s)
- Power light comes on, as does any LAN/WAN port which is connected. WiFi lights are off. LAN ports flicker periodically as though it sees activity
- Recovery mode process makes power light flash extremely slowly - comes on for about 30 seconds, then goes off for about 30 seconds, then comes back on, and so on.
- Windows displays "Unidentified network" while setup with static IP. "Packets sent" increments, but "Packets received" does not
- Loaded Wireshark in Promiscuous mode; could not see any traffic except from my own machine on the network
- Can't ping or access router via web or telnet
- Recovery mode (with unusually slow flashing power LED) does not work. Can't ping router. TFTP times out, Asus recovery utility doesn't work (don't recall error), and can't get to MiniCFE web page
- Clearing NVRAM by holding WPS button during power up. I've read Power light is supposed to flash rapidly during that process but it stays solid
- I've read having a solid power light and LAN lights is a promising sign that I haven't totally fried it (I hope)
- Prior to the flashing mess last night, I'd notice seeing the stock "Your ASUS Router IP has changed" page while Tomato was rebooting sometimes, makes me wonder if something didn't get cleared that should have been
- I've also ready maybe I didn't wait long enough after the MiniCFE flash for the router to boot/reboot [Turned on router before leaving for work this morning; should have been on for around 12 hours by the time i get home tonight]
- Sounds like I might need to pick up a USB to Serial TTL cable too see what's going on or (hopefully) fix it, but I don't know and can't seem to find instructions for how to open this router up