The RB-1132 instead runs on RTL8196BU (or is it RTL8652?)
The 3R161n referenced above seems to be the GR-1102.
I'm actually working with a Solwise NET-3G-3G11nMRW which is using a RTL8651C SoC (reported as RTL8652). It's a R3000 MIPS architecture with 8MB flash and 32MB SDRAM like the RB-1132.
I believe this is the same as what is currently the Sapido GR-1102, although there was a previous Solwise model (NET-3G-3GWIFIMRW) in the exact same casing that was indeed based on a Star STR9105 (again 8MB flash & 32MB RAM).
Form what I've gathered the Solwise = Sapido = Amigo (OEM) models correspond like this:
There may be some differences with the RB-1132 (Amigo BR182N) but I think it's probably the same Realtek SDK used by the OEM for the GR-1102 and RB-1132 (since they are the same architecture) or at least sufficiently similar to be of use.
For example, the GPL source for the 3R161N yields a usable squashfs-lzma implementation that works for squashing and unsquashing the rootfs where no other sources I found could read anything more than the superblock, and I expect would be able to read/generate rootfs for the RB-1132 also. And the firmware structure looks the same for both so the checksum method ought to work for the RB-1132. So there's two of the issues Conjur had problems with sorted out potentially.
I haven't had chance yet to look at the bootloader code (or even to see if it's included, though there is certainly a bootloader.bin file I spotted). I expect if the bootloader relies on some specific memory addresses for loading the kernel that could be one place where the GR-1102 and RB-1132 differ? But I'm no expert when things get that low-level. I did some assembler once, but that was 20 years ago on Motorola 68k and I've stuck to high-level languages and userspace tools pretty much ever since...it's a bit of a learning curve but I'll get there eventually :D
So really just trying to post anything I can find that might help progress here. For my own purposes I only actually need to replace the rootfs, not the kernel/bootloader, but since I've had to go to this much trouble already I will probably try to finish the job and get complete replacement distros (like DD-WRT) running on it as well.
I'm an experienced programmer but could certainly use some help from anybody with more experience messing with this kind of stuff. I have over 100 of these Solwise routers and would happily post a couple to any serious devs willing to assist.
Have been watching this thread for some time. Have a RB-1132 myself which was recently "bricked" due to firmware upgrade. The inside looks like this...
Sorry, I'm a noob at this. I just want to change some scripts on the rootfs. Can someone explain how to unpack the files from the .bin file provided, and pack them again so I can upload the modified firmware through the web interface and have my changes there?
I would be really interested to see if this project could be resurrected. I bought a Sapido RB-1132 this summer. The few reviews I could find didn't have much technical info and the sapido website and pdf manual online is full of the company's weird jargon which makes its way into the stock firmware. Stock firmware also seemed to be pretty buggy and I lost all of my settings every time I changed 'modes' with the manual toggle on the device.
I kind of gave up on the thing but it still sits in my bag (since it is tiny) in case I need it for temporary, basic wifi. People have spoke about using the repeater function (one of the main reasons I bought the thing) through the stock firmware but I could never get it to connect which was pretty disappointing. Man, the form factor is so awesome, the software just sucks. Here's hoping DD-WRT can bring this thing up to a 10.
Joined: 06 Nov 2010 Posts: 42 Location: Harlem, GA
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:11 Post subject:
merrykid,
That would be too easy- If you can get the TD-SCDMA PCI-E card to physically work with the BR183n; you already have the SDK; just use the toolchain to compile a kernel module for it; and drop it in the squashfs.. I'd say it would be much easier to strip a USB based one, and solder onto the unused USB bus; less pins to worry about.
I'm stuck at work, and can't wait to see this infamous Realtek SDK in it's entirety
Joined: 06 Nov 2010 Posts: 42 Location: Harlem, GA
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 20:06 Post subject:
I've been running diff's to the linux-2.6.30 in the new realtek sdk and vanilla; and my eyes are already bleeding.. This is ALOT cleaner than the previous source tree; but I'm more of a cracker than a programmer- I can reverse engineer pretty decently; but putting it back together properly will take some time :/
I ordered another RB-1132 today; should be here in Kuwait in 2 weeks
Conjur, which version of the RB-1132 are you building this for? Will it make a difference? I currently have the RB-1132v2. Appreciate you working on this man!
