Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 4:27 Post subject: WRT320N no lights after flashing DD-WRT
My WRT320N was on stock firmware. I flashed 14929 K2.6 mini trailed build like the Wiki said and everything went fine. I was able to access WRT320N DD-WRT UI. After that, I decided to try 30-30-30 and WPS reset methods and it worked both (able to browse webui). However, while I was looking which firmware to upgrade next, all lights on the router went off (idk when, noticed it when looking at the router). I tried unplugging and replugging, did both 30-30-30 and WPS reset but the router still not powering on, no lights.
Is it bricked? And is there anyway to fix this?
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14244 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 11:14 Post subject:
Did you underclock the CPU back to 300 MHz per the wiki? The only thing I can suggest to fix it is serial recovery. That way, at least you know whether or not it is trying to boot up. If no known good power supply is working, that would be my next option. At least I don't suspect hardware failure.
Did you underclock the CPU back to 300 MHz per the wiki? The only thing I can suggest to fix it is serial recovery. That way, at least you know whether or not it is trying to boot up. If no known good power supply is working, that would be my next option. At least I don't suspect hardware failure.
Oh I didn't read that part since it's not in the instruction so I didn't underclock the CPU.
About the serial recovery, I noticed that the Internet port has 4 serial interfaces (GND, TX, RX, 3.3V). Is there anyway to do it without soldering the board?
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14244 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:18 Post subject:
vinhtq115 wrote:
kernel-panic69 wrote:
Did you underclock the CPU back to 300 MHz per the wiki? The only thing I can suggest to fix it is serial recovery. That way, at least you know whether or not it is trying to boot up. If no known good power supply is working, that would be my next option. At least I don't suspect hardware failure.
Oh I didn't read that part since it's not in the instruction so I didn't underclock the CPU.
About the serial recovery, I noticed that the Internet port has 4 serial interfaces (GND, TX, RX, 3.3V). Is there anyway to do it without soldering the board?
Not that I have tried. All you will need is GND, TX, and RX, though.
Edit: no lights at all with a known good power supply, is a symptom which, I can imagine, could well be pointing to hardware failure
Idk, after the 2nd reset, it still runs fine. I only connected the router with my laptop through RJ45 and nothing else(even the Internet cable). Not sure why it happened.
Btw, is it possible to check if the router is truly dead by plugging it for a while and check its temperature?
Update: after plugging it for 15 mins, it generated some heat.
About the serial recovery, I noticed that the Internet port has 4 serial interfaces (GND, TX, RX, 3.3V). Is there anyway to do it without soldering the board?
This is linked and mentioned in egc's first link too, but to be clear, yes there is a serial interface accessible from the WAN port of some Linksys devices:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=62998 _________________ #NAT/SFE/CTF: limited speed w/ DD#Repeater issues#DD-WRT info: FAQ, Builds, Types, Modes, Changes, Demo#
OPNsense x64 5050e ITX|DD: DIR-810L, 2*EA6900@1GHz, R6300v1, RT-N66U@663, WNDR4000@533, E1500@353,
WRT54G{Lv1.1,Sv6}@250|FreshTomato: F7D8302@532|OpenWRT: F9K1119v1, RT-ACRH13, R6220, WNDR3700v4
About the serial recovery, I noticed that the Internet port has 4 serial interfaces (GND, TX, RX, 3.3V). Is there anyway to do it without soldering the board?
However, while I was looking which firmware to upgrade next, all lights on the router went off (idk when, noticed it when looking at the router). I tried unplugging and replugging, did both 30-30-30 and WPS reset but the router still not powering on, no lights.
Is it bricked? And is there anyway to fix this?
This sounds bad; were you using the router (to access the network) when this happened, or just had it powered up, looking for firmware separately? Your description indicates hardware failure; even a bricked router should light the power LED when plugged in. If you are sure the power supplies tested are fine (~11-15v output), then I'd suspect internal voltage regulator capacitor failure. Has this device been in service for a long time? Unfortunately, I've never had visible failure signs from any of the many bad caps I've replaced (I had an ESR meter), as opposed to power supply, TV, motherboard, and other failed caps. I've got some 330uF 25v caps I could sell cheap, if you (are in the US and) can solder. I'd expect a device of that vintage has 220uF caps, and 330uF would work fine, as they are just for buffering the IC input/output.
Or, time for an upgrade. I've got various spare routers to sell too.
Before all this though, set a static IP and run a continuous ping, then power it up and see if you get any responses at all. Good luck. _________________ #NAT/SFE/CTF: limited speed w/ DD#Repeater issues#DD-WRT info: FAQ, Builds, Types, Modes, Changes, Demo#
OPNsense x64 5050e ITX|DD: DIR-810L, 2*EA6900@1GHz, R6300v1, RT-N66U@663, WNDR4000@533, E1500@353,
WRT54G{Lv1.1,Sv6}@250|FreshTomato: F7D8302@532|OpenWRT: F9K1119v1, RT-ACRH13, R6220, WNDR3700v4
However, while I was looking which firmware to upgrade next, all lights on the router went off (idk when, noticed it when looking at the router). I tried unplugging and replugging, did both 30-30-30 and WPS reset but the router still not powering on, no lights.
Is it bricked? And is there anyway to fix this?
This sounds bad; were you using the router (to access the network) when this happened, or just had it powered up, looking for firmware separately? Your description indicates hardware failure; even a bricked router should light the power LED when plugged in. If you are sure the power supplies tested are fine (~11-15v output), then I'd suspect internal voltage regulator capacitor failure. Has this device been in service for a long time? Unfortunately, I've never had visible failure signs from any of the many bad caps I've replaced (I had an ESR meter), as opposed to power supply, TV, motherboard, and other failed caps. I've got some 330uF 25v caps I could sell cheap, if you (are in the US and) can solder. I'd expect a device of that vintage has 220uF caps, and 330uF would work fine, as they are just for buffering the IC input/output.
Or, time for an upgrade. I've got various spare routers to sell too.
Before all this though, set a static IP and run a continuous ping, then power it up and see if you get any responses at all. Good luck.
Here is the device.
And the description:
Quote:
All kinds of satellites set-top box upgrade
Router,HDD,ADSL,broad band modem firmware upgrade or cracked upgrade
cellphone,,GPS serial communication,vehicle inspection and test,DVD flash and so on
Burn write STC MCU, MCU,renesas MCU, MCU and so on
Simple UART communication,commonly used UART debugging tools in supper terminal
USB signal transferred to TTL signal,may be used by electronic enthusiasts
Features:
Adopt imported controller PL2303HX,which can stabilize the flash with high speed
500mA self recovery fuse for protection
Two data transmission indicator can monitor data transfer status in real time
Reserve 3.3V and 5V pin interface,easy for the DDWRT of different voltage system that need power
The entire board is coated by high quality transparent heat-shrinkable sleeve,making the PCB in insulation state from outside,
so that the board won't burnt down by material short cut.
Electrostatic package,insures the board will not be damaged before use
Support WIN7 system
Package Included:
1PCS*USB To RS232 TTL PL2303HX Auto Converter Module FOR arduino Converter Adapter
Also, I wasn't using it for Internet while I was plugging it (used other Wi-Fi to do that). The power supply is stock one. I also tried another one and it didn't work too. The router was used from 2010-2014, and then about 1-2 month in 2018. Yesterday, I decided to flash DD-WRT to try the repeater mode but it was bricked before I had a chance to try. Thanks for the offer but I'm not in the US so can't buy them. I will try bring it to a repair shop and see if they can revive it. The WRT320N is the only router in my house that has GigabitEthernet ports and I need that to use Steam Link so I don't want to abandon it.
Edit: oh btw, if the router still generates heat even when it is bricked, could that mean the capacitor have not failed?
Ya that USB serial adapter looks fine. The second power supply you tested; it was rated for 12v and at least 1A right? Can you measure the voltages?
vinhtq115 wrote:
Edit: oh btw, if the router still generates heat even when it is bricked, could that mean the capacitor have not failed?
Unfortunately, no, and in fact it could mean e.g. your SoC is burned up. That happened to my old WRT54GSv1.1 when it's caps failed. :`-( It's what started me checking and replacing bad caps on all my older devices.
With the ping method, all packet say "Destination host unreachable".
Including a continuous ping at router power-up? It's always good to have a USB serial adapter around if you're gonna use third-party f/w, but it sounds dead to me; and possibly not even reasonably recoverable. Unless you can open it and check/change caps yourself, it's probably best to search thrift shops, ebay, craigslist/facebook/similar for something rather than pay to have yours evaluated and (possibly) repaired at a shop. I've found some amazing deals at Goodwill in the US. _________________ #NAT/SFE/CTF: limited speed w/ DD#Repeater issues#DD-WRT info: FAQ, Builds, Types, Modes, Changes, Demo#
OPNsense x64 5050e ITX|DD: DIR-810L, 2*EA6900@1GHz, R6300v1, RT-N66U@663, WNDR4000@533, E1500@353,
WRT54G{Lv1.1,Sv6}@250|FreshTomato: F7D8302@532|OpenWRT: F9K1119v1, RT-ACRH13, R6220, WNDR3700v4