Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 2:37 Post subject: Unable to use 3G USB dongle on TL-MR3220 version 2
Hi everyone,
I'm new to using DD-WRT, so bear with me on my concern.
I'm trying to revive an old TP-Link MR3220 version 2 so I can put it to good use again. I decided to flash DD-WRT since this model is no longer supported by TP-Link. The flash was successful, but the problem is I couldn't use it as a 3G router since it is not detecting the USB dongle. The USB dongle I am using is a D-Link DWM-156.
I read through the documentation/wiki and found that the firmware for this model probably does not have the USB modules included by default due to the low flash. I enabled SSH so I can connect to it and run ipkg in an attempt to install the relevant packages to use USB dongles. The SSH connection was successful, but ipkg does not work. It appears that the command is not available for some reason.
Can someone help with this? The firmware version I have flashed is r42747.
did you enable "Core USB Support" in dd-wrt under [Services] / [USB] / [USB Support] and configure [Setup] / [Basic Setup] / [WAN Setup] / [Connection Type] to "Mobile Broadband" in the web ui?
Then reboot the router.
via ssh
Code:
lsusb
should give you the VID:PID for your usb modem hardware revision.
you should see the detection steps in the messages log file with
Code:
tail -f /var/log/messages
on the router.
hope this helps ... _________________ ZTE MC801A - 5G bridge mode
R7000 - router, AP 2.4Ghz / 5Ghz
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 6:36 Post subject: Unable to use 3G USB dongle on TL-MR3220 version 2
Hi hackler756 and kernel-panic69,
Thank you for replying to my post.
I'll recheck the settings in webUI. But if I recall it correctly, I don't remember seeing USB support under Services and Mobile Broadband under Connection Type when I was playing with the configuration. I'll check that again in a bit and revert back after.
I went to the Wiki on USB Modem as WAN connection and found a link to forum thread. When I read through it, there was a mention that Mobile Broadband is only available in mega builds. The build I was playing with at the time I posted here in here (r42747) came from this link:
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 16:08 Post subject: Re: Unable to use 3G USB dongle on TL-MR3220 version 2
markLopez9 wrote:
.. there was a mention that Mobile Broadband is only available in mega builds. The build I was playing with at the time I posted here in here (r42747) came from this link:
Hi.
Not true ( at least for older builds ). I use a mr3220 v1 as backup for 3g connection, and it´s running:
Code:
Router Name
DD-WRT
Router Model
TP-Link TL-MR3220
Firmware Version
DD-WRT v24-sp2 (03/25/13) std - build 21061
Kernel Version
Linux 3.5.7 #6149 Mon Mar 25 09:36:32 CET 2013 mips
tl-mr3420-webflash.bin 25-Mar-2013 16:23 3932188
I know, old build, but for the needs as backup, still just fine.
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 22:05 Post subject: Re: Unable to use 3G USB dongle on TL-MR3220 version 2
arssant wrote:
markLopez9 wrote:
.. there was a mention that Mobile Broadband is only available in mega builds. The build I was playing with at the time I posted here in here (r42747) came from this link:
Hi.
Not true ( at least for older builds ). I use a mr3220 v1 as backup for 3g connection, and it´s running:
Code:
Router Name
DD-WRT
Router Model
TP-Link TL-MR3220
Firmware Version
DD-WRT v24-sp2 (03/25/13) std - build 21061
Kernel Version
Linux 3.5.7 #6149 Mon Mar 25 09:36:32 CET 2013 mips
tl-mr3420-webflash.bin 25-Mar-2013 16:23 3932188
I know, old build, but for the needs as backup, still just fine.
And as you can see:
hi arssant,
Thanks for the input.
I think this old build you are referring to is from the stable builds. I actually browsed through that when I was searching for builds as I prefer stable versions over betas, but I decided against it because I did notice that they are old as you mentioned (like more than 3 years old).
I'm concerned with the stable builds not receiving patches, so I went with the beta builds. I am looking for an actively maintained firmware in the first place since TP-Link no longer supports the model, so it kind of defeats the purpose to use DD-WRT if I use an old build which no longer receives patches.
Unless I am wrong with my assumption. Do the stable builds get patched?
did you enable "Core USB Support" in dd-wrt under [Services] / [USB] / [USB Support] and configure [Setup] / [Basic Setup] / [WAN Setup] / [Connection Type] to "Mobile Broadband" in the web ui?
Then reboot the router.
via ssh
Code:
lsusb
should give you the VID:PID for your usb modem hardware revision.
you should see the detection steps in the messages log file with
Code:
tail -f /var/log/messages
on the router.
hope this helps ...
hi hackler756,
I went back to the webUI settings you mentioned before and after I updated the firmware.
1. For Services > Services > USB > Core USB: that setting is not there for both r42747 and r43334.
2. For Setup > Basic > WAN > Connection Type: there is no Mobile Broadband option for both r42747 and r43334.
As for number 2, there was a mention in documentation that someone tried leaving it to Auto Config DHCP and the dongle worked, which I tried to set for both builds but neither worked.
I am able to connect to the router via SSH.
1. For lsusb: the router returns "not found" for both builds.
For tail -f /var/log/messages: the logs did not show any indication that the router detected the USB dongle (I am positive that the dongle works though as it was working with the outdated TP-Link firmware prior to flashing DD-WRT).
I also noticed that, for both builds, the router model displayed in Status is WR741ND v4, which is similar to MR3220 except for the USB (per zapple's post in https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=275660 ). I'm sure I downloaded the binary for MR3220 yet it keeps saying that. Is it possible that the DD-WRT build for both models is one and the same? Because if it is, that could explain why the USB part is missing.
I'm not sure if I am missing something. Any thoughts?
Last edited by markLopez9 on Wed Jun 10, 2020 22:34; edited 2 times in total
