router access problem

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Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › router access problem

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Topic # 105977 15-Jul-2012 19:00
Folks, I recently acquired a TP-Link portable wifi router, model WR703N. After connecting to a laptop and using IP address 168.192.1.1 I was presented with the user interface in Chinese, which was no problem because web sites say this unit can be flashed with DD-WRT. Downloaded the appropriate DD-WRT .bin file and located the interface page to carry out the re-flash .... which appeared to proceed correctly. However, now I cannot access the router ... tried several IP addressess using a browser and Telnet. DD-WRT is supposed to have a GUI, so any assistance gaining access would be appreciated. Thanks, R.

freitasm

BDFL
43761 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

Trusted

Geekzone

Subscriber

Reply # 656207 15-Jul-2012 21:25
If you run "IPCONFIG" you can see what is the default gateway IP address... Mauricio Freitas (Geekzone Admin, Devil's Advocate, my blog, technology disclosure, my tweets, Web Performance Optimization) Geekzone Price comparison \| Amazon Kindle order page \| How to get the best out of Geekzone \| New Zealand IT Jobs \| Geekzone News \| Jinglebugs

Virgil

56 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 656209 15-Jul-2012 21:29
Bother, hate it when that happens. Everything I have read indicates that the IP should be 192.168.1.1. Are you receiving anything from DHCP, or entering the computer's IP address manually. This may help: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Obtaining_Router_IP In fact the whole article http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation has good tips if things go wrong Good luck

gstarkey

41 posts

Geek

Reply # 656211 15-Jul-2012 21:35
Before installing DD-WRT, you say the IP address was 186.192.1.1 did you mean 192.168.1.1?? I understand DD-WRT uses 192.168.1.1 as a default. You need to make sure the PC trying to connect to the router is on the same subnet as the router.

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 656212 15-Jul-2012 21:39
Guys, Thanks for replies, and I've been scanning the WRT site as well. So far - As I said, flashing seemed to go fine, the unit reboots correctly and displays function light. I used a laptop not connected to my network, so no DHCP to interefere, and made the computer 192.168.1.2 to avoid conflict. Default IP of router is stilli192.168.1.1, and I can PING it no problem at all. IPCONFIG confirms router/unit address This unit is listed as being compatible ... checked that before flashing. Tried the 30/30/30 hard reset process Any further ideas or siggestions most welcome, R.

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 656219 15-Jul-2012 21:50
Sorry about the typos .... yes, correct IP for the unit is 192.168.1.1, and yes, subnet is 255.255.255.0 OK, I've just noticed that I have made a blunder by using the incorrect flash file from WRT !! BUGGER !!! Any clues how to re-flash with correct file? R.

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 656224 15-Jul-2012 22:13
Ding! Ding! Round two. I can access the router via Telnet and in WRT's 'Failsafe Mode" ... so far so good. I'm not a Linux user so not sure of the command line I should use to install the correct flash file, so any help in that regard would be appreciated. R.

mjb

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 656225 15-Jul-2012 22:13
I suspect you'll need to use the device's bootloader and tftp to get the original firmware back onboard, then try again. Take a look at http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr703n#back.to.original.image contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 656234 15-Jul-2012 22:45
Sadly, none of that makes any sense to me. The WRT site does offer the following - "For systems without a web interface, you can flash a sysupgrade file with mtd (after downloading the file to /tmp and then "cd /tmp"):", and then gives the Command Line. Looks good, BUT how do I get the upgrade/flash file into the router's tmp directory? R.

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 656418 16-Jul-2012 12:40
C'mon all you Linux gurus ... how does this helpless Windows guy copy a file from my computer to the router? I can access the router via Telnet, and the tmp directory where the file (on a USB drive) needs to go. Cheers, R.

djtOtago

35 posts

Geek

Reply # 656656 16-Jul-2012 20:38
Try using WinSCP http://winscp.net/eng/download.php Just not sure if it will connect while router is in Failsafe mode. [EDIT] Fix url

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 656751 16-Jul-2012 22:41
I'll give WinSCP a go ... thanks for the pointer. R.

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 657474 18-Jul-2012 10:42
David, WinSCP did the trick and I can access the router's internal files and directories now. Next trick is to gain extra storage/RAM via an external flash drive and get the GUI working .... sheesh, to us DOS/Windows users it would be easier to learn Klingon than Linux Any Linux people out there that can help with this "bootloader" thingy? R.

Rickles

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 667761 5-Aug-2012 12:45
UPDATE: Used WinSCP to access router files, changed static IP address in a config file, reconnected router to network LAN router, again used WinSCP to access router's command line feature (similar to Telnet), spent three days learning Linux commands, downloaded GUI "package" and installed .... after three attempts now have graphical user interface with router ... whoooo heeee! Made appropriate settings and now have router working as Access Point etc. Trying to get the 3G dongle to work is next step ... looks like more package downloads (for USB support), and then amending config files to get 3G dongle dialling correctly. I'm exhausted, so off to Australia for some sunshine tomorrow. R.