[BrechREiZ]

Hello everyone!

On advice of user @VSparxx I decided to open a separate thread for the TL-WA860RE devices.

This thread is based on my post I made in the WA854RE thread. All files and references mentioned in the following quote are referenced to this WA854RE thread.

[iTmd]

I followed you steps. I had openwrt working succesfully.

I couldn't find the 'factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin' file. (i wasn't logged in)
So I've did a sysupgrade with 'ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2016/10-06-2016-r30731/tplink_tl-wa901ndv3/tl-wa901ndv3-webflash.bin'

Now I don't see the DD-wrt wireless network and wired doesn't work either. I guess it's bricked.

Now that i've logged in to this forum I see the correct file.

[wdesponts]

First let me just state that the instructions posted by @BrechREiz where great and made the process of flashing this neat little Range Extender a relative breeze. I'd like to share some of the extra steps that I needed to undertake to do the update via MS Windows.

1) As stated in the original instructions, it is advisable to download all the necessary files before starting.

A)openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa860re-v1-squashfs-factory.bin
B)factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin
C)tl-wa901ndv3-webflash.bin

2) Download and install Bitvise SSH Client

A) Used to copy the Factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin file

3) Flash the router to Openwrt as per instructions
4) Connect to the router (Now with Openwrt) as per instructions
5) Set password as per Instructions
6) Launch and configure Bitvise

A) In the login Tab enter:

1) Host (192.168.1.1)
2) User Name (root)
3) Set Initial method to password
4) Enter your password (you set in step 5)

B)In the SFTP Tab

1) Enter C:\ in the Initial Directory (Local)
2) Enter / in the Initial Directory (Remote)
3) Set Upload mode to Binary in local

7)Click on Login

A) The system will open a terminal in Opwnwrt but not open the File tranfer screen.
B) This is ok as Openwrt does not have SFTP installed.

Install SFTP on the router by typing the following commands:

A) opkg update
B) opkg install openssh-sftp-server
C) Retun to the Bitvise screen and click on logoff

9) Transfer the file factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin to the router

A) Click on Logon (This time the transfer window will open)
B) Navigate within the window to the location of the file "factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin"
C) Transfer the file to the /tmp folder

10) Launch the system upgrade to dd-wrt

A) Activate the terminal window
B) Type

Code:

sysupgrade -F factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin

to launch the firmware update process
C) Wait and be patient..it take a moment
D) When you see a WIFI router named dd-wrt return to the Bitvise window and click on Logoff

11) Follow the remainder of the instructions as per @BrechREiZ's post above.

PS: To save you time here are some of the high level steps I needed to complete the install and config.

1) Navigate to Admin -> Firmware Upgrade and upgrade using the following "tl-wa901ndv3-webflash.bin"
2) Configure the router as a repeater as per instructions in here:
A) [url]"http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge#Qualcomm_Atheros[/url]"
B) Make sure to follow the instruction for Qualcomm Atheros (section 4)
3) Change the IP address of the router/repeater

A) This is dependent on your configuration but I have my main router at 192.168.2.1 and wanted to be able to access the repeater from that network.
B) To make this happen in Setup -> Basic Setup I set the following:

1) Local IP: 192.168.2.3
2) Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
3) Gateway: 192.168.2.1

C) Now I can access the router/repeater from anywhere in the network.

Best of luck.

PPS: The current build does not have functioning lights/LED. For me this is a non-issue but if this is critical for you this hack is not for you. Try keeping your reouter on Openwrt. I noticed when I was playing around in there to activate SFTP that there where set-ups for the lights.

[IIMezII]

Thanks for the help.
But I am a rookie in this area and need some hand holding.

I am not sure what to put in 6B after C:\
what should I be putting for "in the Initial Directory"

Also my router's IP is 192.168.1.1 and so now that my range extender (via OpenWRT) has the same IP I can't connect to the internet and the range extender. So therefore can't connect to the bitvise servers to get the downloaded files to install sftp.

What can I do?

[TassaDarK]

Hi! Google brought me here

Question for people who have this wifi extender: can you use it as 'access point' with DD-WRT installed on it?

I mean, using ethernet port for connection to router (with stock firmware ethernet port works only for giving access to a client, connection to router has to be wifi only).

Thank you!

[plahh]

Can confirm this still applies and works like a charm.

[mindfreez]

I started this process.. to find that the file is no longer on the original post. Is there an updated file? I'm trying to find factory-to-ddwrt-wa854rev1.bin or whatever has taken it's place. Thank you for any help!

[dantease]

Installed successfully on my WA860RE, much better than the stock TP-Link firmware.

Has anyone had success flashing any build newer than 31791? Someone on the original WA854RE seems to have successfully fllashed 38937, but I'm wary of flashing any untested build on such an essential home device.

[pfromero]

[pfromero]

You will be paid!
Via Skype or other multimedia chat.
$35/hr. min $35

Thanks,

Paul ............paul at redstonenv dot com

ps need access point to provide dhcp wifi behind a cellular router and connect everyone to internet. (i.e. use the WA860Re antennas to connect to cellular modem and then connect via cat5 to wifi router.

[dantease]

Got LED status indicators working with a custom script I made myself.

Wi-Fi is green for good signal, amber for poor signal, off for no signal.
Power is green for normal operation, amber for Wi-Fi disconnected.
Ethernet is green for connected and off for disconnected, though I haven't tested this yet.

Code is here for anyone who wants it. To use:

1. Go to Administration > Commands
   
2. Paste the script code at the end of this post into the Commands textbox
   
3. Hit Save Custom Script
   
4. To make it run every time the extender reboots: Clear everything in the Commands textbox and type:
   
   

   Code:

   sh /tmp/custom.sh &

   
   
   
5. Hit Save Startup
   
6. To make it run now: The textbox should still contain "sh /tmp/custom.sh &" after the page reloads, if not paste it again. Then hit Run Commands.
   

[dantease]

[pfromero]

Hi There,

Thank you for your great and instructive post. This morning, I talked with my wife, and she is having the cable company install a modem. IF I could rewind the clock a few weeks, it would be great! The Cellular companies should have offered us an unlimited both in users and bandwidth home internet product and service by now. Their greed is the root cause of this issue.

Paul

[j911]

[nhwebforge]

Thanks for this guide. Followed it to the letter and it worked great, including the LEDs. Thanks everyone who contributed.

As an update...

r38937 from here:

https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2019/02-23-2019-r38937/tplink_tl-wa901ndv3/tl-wa901ndv3-webflash.bin

appears to be working. So far so good.