[megabyte24]

I found info that DD-WRT is not supported on v1/2 of this router (https://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=690924) because it has a Marvell chipset, but cannot find any info as to whether v3 is supported or not (even on the DD-WRT supported + definitely not supported lists).

I presume this means it isn't, but just to make sure... https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/ea4500 suggests v3 has a Qualcomm chipset, and in the case of (amongst others) the Buffalo WZR-450HP2 on https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices it is supported on a device that uses the same model Qualcomm chipset even. I realise that there is other components that may not have code in any of the current DD-WRT codebase to drive them, which would prevent this unit from being supported.

Can anyone advise categorically?

[ian5142]

Most likely the devs will ask for a hardware donation, possibly from the manufacturer.

The hardware seems very similar to a TP-Link WDR4900 v2, except for the WDR4900 v2 having only a 8MB flash.

I can modify the file so that it may flash on your router. There is a good chance it will brick the router though. I would suggest having a USB-TTL 3.3V device such as this for recovery: https://www.adafruit.com/product/954

Atheros routers are usually fairly easy to recover but also pretty easy to soft-brick.

[megabyte24]

Thanks ian5142.

I will acquire one of the cables suggested this weekend, though I though I read that this iteration of Linksys router have a dual boot system that can recovery from a bad flash without use of a JTAG cable.

What is the next step in acquiring your offered test build of DD-WRT for this router?

[ian5142]

Serial cable is different than JTAG.
I linked to a serial cable.

JTAG looks like this: https://www.digikey.com/catalog/en/partgroup/xup-usb-jtag-programming-cable/55630

I have one of these that does both: www.diygadget.com/tiao-usb-multi-protocol-adapter-jtag-spi-i2c-serial.html

But I find it easier to use a dedicated USB-TTL Serial cable like I linked to earlier instead. Less problems with drivers, etc.

[megabyte24]

Sorry ian5142. My mistake.

Will keep an eye on this thread for further info on the offered build of DD-WRT for this router.

[js1662]

[megabyte24]

Hi ian5142/js1662,

Apologies again for posting this subject to the general forum. Didn't realise Qualcomm owned Atheros these days. Maybe it be might be an idea to rename the Atheros group "Atheros/Qualcomm WiSOC based Hardware" on at least the main page to help prevent others making the same mistake.

As for monitoring the Atheros forum, what would I be monitoring it for? I thought ian5142 was offering to supply a build that may work on this unit, but not sure of the timeline for this. Are other forum members likely to have other input to be had on this subject?

Thanks!

[ian5142]

It takes no time to edit the header of a file and upload it here. I can have it ready in under 10 mins.

Just be aware that I have not tested it at all and it will most likely either not work or brick your router.

You should have a way to recover it before even trying.

[megabyte24]

Thanks ian5142, I have acquired the cable suggested and this is not our locations production router, so no worries if I have to try other ways to recover from a bad flash, that may require other equipment. Hope that my lack of stating I understood the risks was not what was being waited for?

[ian5142]

I thought I could modify the header so the file for a WDR4900v2 would flash on the Linksys but in the Linsys firmware, I can't even find the end of the header.

Your best bet would be to open the router and hook up 3.3V serial cable and open Putty. Reboot the router and attach a zip file with the Putty output. Once that is done, interrupt the boot (usually CTRL + C, tpl on TP-Link routers, it should say somewhere in the putty screen).