yes. you can flash an archer c5 1.2 to c7 v2.
flash factory_to_ddwrt image of c5 first, then flash special image from .pl site to make it c7. then flash factory_to_ddwrt image for c7 v2 and you're done.
did it yesterday. worked fine.
I have a C5 arriving near the end of the week and I'm keen to 'convert' it to a C7. I'll be using it as a wireless access point.
I've read through the plethora of posts around the process(es) but wanted to summarise in one place for my own sanity. So to confirm, is this what I need to do?
With the C5 connected to gateway and laptop via ethernet cable.
1, Update C5 to latest factory FW.
2, 30-30-30 reset.
3, Flash with latest DD-WRT firmware for the C5 (factory to DD-WRT).
4, 30-30-30 reset.
5, Telnet into C5 and run the following commands:
6, Via 192.168.0.1, update C5 to latest C7 factory FW.
7, 30-30-30 reset.
8, Flash C5 to latest C7 v2.0 DD-WRT FW (factory to DD-WRT).
Before step 5, do I need to set the C5 up to be able to access the web? If not, how does it find the mod.bin file?
If I stopped at step 6, does that mean I have, what is essentially a factory C7? If I decided not to install DD-WRT next, will it function fully if I don't complete step 8?
Just did this today successfully so I can walk you through.
First you need to flash your C5 AC1200 V1.2 with DD-WRT. I used 38159. Make sure you do your 30/30/30 & that it's up & running. Assuming you have W10 you'll need to install "telnet" from the Turn Windows Features On section. Now you can open a command prompt & type "telnet 192.168.1.1". It will ask for the routers user & password. Now enter the code that's been listed before. Enter it a single line at a time followed by Enter & wait for it to complete. After the last line completes you'll get a message saying your connection has been lost.
Code:
cd /tmp
wget http://thesen.eu/files/tplink_mod.bin
mtd -r write tplink_mod.bin linux
WAIT for your router to reboot. Now you can access your router at 192.168.0.1 using the default TP-Link admin/admin. You'll see that you now have a TP-Link C7 V2 with some old firmware. At this point you can flash either the latest DD-WRT or TP-Link firmware.
Yes, a "Factory to DDWRT" of whatever version you wish to try the first time you flash. Then later, if you want to try a different version, you just use the normal .bin. For example, the latest version as of today is r38581. You would flash "factory-to-ddwrt-US.bin" (Assuming you have a sold in USA Router) on this page.
https://dd-wrt.com/support/other-downloads/?path=betas%2F2019%2F02-06-2019-r38581%2Ftplink_archer-c5-v1%2F
Any subsequent changes to firmware should be made by flashing the "tplink_archer-c5-v1-US.bin" file.
Yes, a "Factory to DDWRT" of whatever version you wish to try the first time you flash. Then later, if you want to try a different version, you just use the normal .bin. For example, the latest version as of today is r38581. You would flash "factory-to-ddwrt-US.bin" (Assuming you have a sold in USA Router) on this page.
https://dd-wrt.com/support/other-downloads/?path=betas%2F2019%2F02-06-2019-r38581%2Ftplink_archer-c5-v1%2F
Any subsequent changes to firmware should be made by flashing the "tplink_archer-c5-v1-US.bin" file.
thanks but just to be clear... (because i understand a little bit about hardware)...are you saying that the factory to ddwrt.bin fw that you pointed me to is specific for my router model? if so... then isnt that enough? why would i immediately overwrite it with another fw file that is also specific to my router (that being the tplink_archer-c5-v1-US.bin file)? the 2nd file simply overwrite the first no?
Yes, a "Factory to DDWRT" of whatever version you wish to try the first time you flash. Then later, if you want to try a different version, you just use the normal .bin. For example, the latest version as of today is r38581. You would flash "factory-to-ddwrt-US.bin" (Assuming you have a sold in USA Router) on this page.
https://dd-wrt.com/support/other-downloads/?path=betas%2F2019%2F02-06-2019-r38581%2Ftplink_archer-c5-v1%2F
Any subsequent changes to firmware should be made by flashing the "tplink_archer-c5-v1-US.bin" file.
hi again. sorry. i think i can answer my own question.... each rev folder has 2 diff .bins , one for upgrade from factory and one for upgrade from prior ver of ddwrt... but both will put the router into the same end configuration? is that correct?
most of the forum guidance seems to say dont just install the latest rev but to search the forums to see what is the most recent stable rev. i dont find much mention of my archer c5 v1.2, is the rev you pointed to , one that you are using? thx!
hi again. sorry. i think i can answer my own question.... each rev folder has 2 diff .bins , one for upgrade from factory and one for upgrade from prior ver of ddwrt... but both will put the router into the same end configuration? is that correct?
Yes
coolpontiac wrote:
Most of the forum guidance seems to say dont just install the latest rev but to search the forums to see what is the most recent stable rev. i dont find much mention of my archer c5 v1.2, is the rev you pointed to , one that you are using? thx!
This is the tough part. Check the Atheros forum for build discussions in general. It's not necessary to find C5 specific posts. Builds generally will have the same issues across all routers with similar chipsets.
hi again. sorry. i think i can answer my own question.... each rev folder has 2 diff .bins , one for upgrade from factory and one for upgrade from prior ver of ddwrt... but both will put the router into the same end configuration? is that correct?
Yes
coolpontiac wrote:
Most of the forum guidance seems to say dont just install the latest rev but to search the forums to see what is the most recent stable rev. i dont find much mention of my archer c5 v1.2, is the rev you pointed to , one that you are using? thx!
This is the tough part. Check the Atheros forum for build discussions in general. It's not necessary to find C5 specific posts. Builds generally will have the same issues across all routers with similar chipsets.
does it make sense to you that there are 2 diff fw upgrades to same end state depending on whether you start with factory install or prior drt install? my understanding is fw will rewrite entirely former install to a new one. it doesnt seem to be an 'additive' process if youknow what i mean?
also...
on 1/26/19 the instructions you give are to basically turn my c5 into a c7 ver 2 with the factory fw? if true then uour last sentance, do you say i can then flash with the ddwrt fw for C7 instead of C5?
does it make sense to you that there are 2 diff fw upgrades to same end state depending on whether you start with factory install or prior drt install? my understanding is fw will rewrite entirely former install to a new one. it doesnt seem to be an 'additive' process if youknow what i mean?
Yes, this is how it works. Someone with more technical expertise than I can chime in about the nuts & bolts of why. By the same token. you can't flash back to factory by using the stock TP-Link firmware either.
coolpontiac wrote:
also...
on 1/26/19 the instructions you give are to basically turn my c5 into a c7 ver 2 with the factory fw? if true then uour last sentance, do you say i can then flash with the ddwrt fw for C7 instead of C5?
thanks!
That is correct. You flash with DDWRT C7 v2 firmware once it has been "converted".
