Will 4 hours ago
No it is a $99 router and not the full Asus 68U router. Several of the advanced functions such as Dual WAN, 6 guest networks, and AI Cloud have been purposely disabled. So it is definitely worth the $99 price but it takes quite a bit of work to make it into the same $200 router. You have to go in and swap out the bootlooder called the CFE with a version from the Asus 68U). Otherwise it will also be the crippled T-Mobile version and not the more advanced and stable Asus version. It is not as simple as just flashing the firmware. T-Mobile and Asus automatically update and lock both the bootloader and the firmware in the latest firmware update. So if you think you are getting the $200 version for $99, think again. It's still a very capable version but not the more powerful one. And if you are technically skilled, you can change the bootloader and load stock Asus firmware (or third-party firmware). But your time is probably worth more than the $60 or so dollars you will save if you buy the full Asus 68U version. Plus you risk bricking the router by changing the bootloader.
Intel did the same thing with it's processors a few generations ago. They crippled high speed cores to sell them as cheaper parts. But the difference is that Intel would sell you the ability to upgrade to the faster cores for like $50. Asus and T-Mobile permanently lock you out.
Will 3 hours ago
The model number of the Cellspot is the TM-1900. Many people, including T-Mobile support, will try to tell you that it is the Asus 68U. But it is not. It has both a different bootloader (CFE) and firmware than the Asus RT-68U. The hardware may be the same. But it's the firmware that makes or breaks a router. Many manufacturers use the same chipsets and similar hardware. Firmware is everything on a router.
bob 3 hours ago
I have heard that if you download the latest Asus RT-68U firmware and update this one before it is connected to the network, then you have a RT-68U for $99.
Will 2 hours ago
Nope. As soon as you update the firmware with the latest stock Asus RT-68U firmware, the bootloader also gets updated and the device permanently locks to become a Tmobile cellspot TM-1900.
In other words, it reverts back to the TM-1900 firmware without any help form you.
You can only correctly make it a RT-68U by going in through Telnet and installing a stock RT-68U bootloader. But that also means using a hex editor and modifying strings in the bootloader. If you do it wrong, the device becomes bricked. But once you change out the bootloader to an older one, then you can install any firmware that you want, whether it is the TM-1900 or the stock Asus RT-68U or a third party firmware like Asus-Merlin.
It's not as simple as just loading firmware like it was in the past. Tmobile and Asus fixed that and lock you out permanently now, regardless of whether or not you try to flash the firmware before plugging it in.
So whats the updated news today? Is this fully working with dd-wrt or will it not be worth it or just become bricked? T-mobile offered it to me for free.
If I can get a fully fledged DD-Wrt on it, Ill grab it, otherwise Ill stick with my WRT610N. _________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
So is it the same process as mentioned on page 2? Anyone else have news on this? _________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
logged in and telnet did and nvram erase and then loaded:
Ok, well to touch base, I just TODAY picked one up at T-Mobile for free, loaded it up, bypassed the startup router setup and went directly to main menu to update the firmware with the above mentioned file. Instantly had DD-Wrt!
Now since some mentioned do not have the router connected to a network and update, I did not hook this up to the internet, just ran it straight. ASUS file on its GUI showed my version as 3.0.0.4.376_1520
Now AFTER that, I went to dd-wrt admin stuff, enabled telnet, username - root, password - whatever you set
Then did "erase nvram" and "reboot" to clear it out. Then after that, looks like the K3x build works. Grabbed the single bin file from http://desipro.de/ddwrt/K3-AC-Arm/
Which awesome enough, has minidla too! Seems I have SOOOOOO many new options now that I have AC... Region stuff etc, I have no clue what it all is, but I have the 12/27/2014 build installed on it for a quick and easy process. (Wifi does seem to take an extra min to load each band tho before a PC can connect it seems)
So confirming, that as of todays pickup, it worked flawlessly! I cant wait to get home and play with this more. =D
Edit. Posted 2 pics to show what router and that it indeed is working. Case people need more proof and peace of mind.
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_________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
Holy hell... the upgrade from Wrt610N v2 Kong, to this Asus AC1900 Kong, just made my speeds off the charts. I have a 100Mbps internet plan, The 610 gave us about 50-70 Mbps on speedtest.
This one.... still using a N600 Wifi dongle with everything on the network connected just gave me this on 5 different tests.
Only change was the router and making sure it was tweaked up for the house. Yea... Free router = Good! (And Kongs firmwares are awesome!) _________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
Ok, well to touch base, I just TODAY picked one up at T-Mobile for free, .........................
Free? Maybe not. I had to sign for it, and was told if I left T-Mobile without turning it in I would be charged $200. However, I have no intention of leaving at the moment. Let the flashing begin!
200$? Its only 100$ if you dont return. Normally had a 25$ dep which is waived.
Prepay customers just buy it out right.
Either way.. even if you left T-Mobile. After you get dd-wrt on this, its easily worth 100$. Better then other items on the market currently. _________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
Ugh, mine won't accept the BrainSlayer firmware, neither via GUI nor via CFE recovery webserver.
Over CFE, I get: The file transferred is not a valid firmware image.
The stock firmware identifies itself as: 3.0.0.4.376_2827-g566ef60
Any hints? Maybe I can downgrade the firmware to something more "accepting" of the dd-wrt firmware, but I am not sure where to get an earlier version of the stock firmware from. Hmmm.
Ive seen stock firmware out there, not sure if its orig tho.
So Ill take it you upgraded orig the stock rom after you plugged in everything eh? Since seems your version is different.
Which would go along with what others said, not to upgrade or network connect it till you have dd-wrt on it. _________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
Ugh, mine won't accept the BrainSlayer firmware, neither via GUI nor via CFE recovery webserver.
Over CFE, I get: The file transferred is not a valid firmware image.
The stock firmware identifies itself as: 3.0.0.4.376_2827-g566ef60
Any hints? Maybe I can downgrade the firmware to something more "accepting" of the dd-wrt firmware, but I am not sure where to get an earlier version of the stock firmware from. Hmmm.
Version 2827 is firmware locked to only TMobile branded firmwares. Not only is the firmware locked (disabled Telnet), it installs CFE 2.1.2.2, which locks the router from any non TMobile branded firmware via recovery mode and GUI mode. The only way to change firmwares is to downgrade to an older TMobile firmware (1703 for example), enable Telnet, and then replace the CFE (preferrably with an Asus RT-AC68U version - such as 1.0.2.0).
Many details in this guide including links to the older 1703 firmware and all CFE's and utilities needed:
Oh, and if you're on CFE 2.1.2.1, which is not locked, and try to use the latest Asus branded firmwares, it will update your CFE to TMobile's CFE 2.1.2.1, therefore lockout out all non TMobile firmware's again. Once you get to DD-WRT, doesn't matter anymore unless you decide to go (back) to Asus stock RT-AC68U firmware, latest copies.
Version 2827 is firmware locked to only TMobile branded firmwares. Not only is the firmware locked (disabled Telnet), it installs CFE 2.1.2.2, which locks the router from any non TMobile branded firmware via recovery mode and GUI mode. The only way to change firmwares is to downgrade to an older TMobile firmware (1703 for example), enable Telnet, and then replace the CFE (preferrably with an Asus RT-AC68U version - such as 1.0.2.0).
Thanks, this helped a lot! I was able to downgrade, replace the CFE, then patch the dd-wrt firmwares (not sure if I had to patch the trx one first, then the latest bin. Who knows.
At any rate, seems to run nicely! I'll give it some more testing on a wired connection, but on wifi I appear to be getting a solid 100/77 Mbit. Nice piece of hardware!
Whats sad is... ps4 on wired connection still seems to get shitty download and upload ratios.. anyone else find a great way to have those higher? _________________ ~Battlez-avec la Mystique?~
Asus AC68U/AC1900 (Tmobile) - Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r52369 std (04/20/23)
