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expired Posted by dailydealsforme • Jan 24, 2019
expired Posted by dailydealsforme • Jan 24, 2019

T-Mobile TM-AC1900 WiFi CellSpot Router (Certified Pre-Owned)

+ Free S/H

$40

$109

63% off
T-Mobile
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T-Mobile.com has T-Mobile TM-AC1900 WiFi CellSpot Router (Certified Pre-Owned) on sale for $49.99 - Extra $10 off w/ promo code CPOROUT (apply in cart) = $39.99. Shipping is free. Thanks dailydealsforme

Note, be sure to select the "No credit check" option before adding item to cart.

Includes
  • T-Mobile TM-AC1900 WiFi CellSpot Router
  • 3x External Dual-Band Detachable Antennas
  • Power Adapter
  • RJ-45 Cable

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
Be sure to apply your promo code while in cart to receive discount. Offer valid for online p purchase only - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by dailydealsforme
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Update: If item appears to show out of stock, you may try another web browser or try again later.

T-Mobile.com has T-Mobile TM-AC1900 WiFi CellSpot Router (Certified Pre-Owned) on sale for $49.99 - Extra $10 off w/ promo code CPOROUT (apply in cart) = $39.99. Shipping is free. Thanks dailydealsforme

Note, be sure to select the "No credit check" option before adding item to cart.

Includes
  • T-Mobile TM-AC1900 WiFi CellSpot Router
  • 3x External Dual-Band Detachable Antennas
  • Power Adapter
  • RJ-45 Cable

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
Be sure to apply your promo code while in cart to receive discount. Offer valid for online p purchase only - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by dailydealsforme

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Top Comments

If I had to write a full up-to-date guide, it would be this:
(Up to date as of 5/2/19 with suggestions in this and later threads)
How to flash TM-AC1900 to RT-AC68U:

Install WinSCP, Putty, and a file archiver (click this link to download all 3 [ninite.com]). Install the Asus Restore Utility [asus.com], mirror [filedropper.com].
Connect your computer to the *yellow* port on the router by way of an Ethernet (LAN) cable
Check if SSH can be enabled - if so, enable it and jump to step #15
Go to Administration > System > Enable SSH > Yes > Apply
Ezlink: http://192.168.29.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp
Create a folder on your desktop, name it "router".
Download this file [mega.nz] and extract it to the newly made router folder. It contains a firmware to downgrade to, a firmware to upgrade to, and mtd-write.
Download firmware version 3.0.0.4.384.20308 from here [softpedia.com] and unzip the file
Disconnect the cellspot router from the internet if you haven't already
Set static IP for PC.
start > run > ncpa.cpl > double click Ethernet > properties > IPV4 >
IP: 192.168.29.5
Subnet: Default (255.255.255.0)
Gateway: 192.168.29.1
Place router into Recovery/Restore mode
a. Hold reset button 10 seconds
b. Power off router (keep holding reset)
c. Wait 10 seconds, keep holding reset
d. Power on router holding reset for 10 more seconds
Go to 192.168.29.1 in a web browser - you should see ASUSTek CFE miniWeb Server
If Mini-CFE webpage won't load, try Chrome Incognito mode, else use Asus Restore Utility (linked in #1)
If having trouble with this step perform NVRAM Reset (see #24) and try #9 again
Flash TM-AC1900_3.0.0.4_376_1703-g0ffdbba.trx from the "router" folder you created (hit the choose button, select the file, hit upload)
Wait for reboot at least 5 mins – WiFi lights on router will turn on when boot is complete
Log in to router (admin:password)
Go to Administration > System > Enable SSH > Yes > Apply
Ezlink: http://192.168.29.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp
Open Putty and WinSCP and connect them to 192.168.29.1 using a admin:admin or admin:password
Tip: In WinSCP select SCP as file protocol, in Putty SSH
In Putty type:
cat /dev/mtd0 > original_cfe.bin
In WinSCP refresh the window on the right side and note that original_cfe.bin is present
Copy original_cfe.bin to a local drive
Download the new .bin
a. Upload original_cfe.bin to http://cfeditor.pipeline.sh/
b. Select 1.0.2.0 US AiMesh as Source CFE for Asus/Merlin builds, (1.0.2.5 recommended for DD-WRT or Tomato)
c. Click Download
Rename the new .bin file to "new_cfe.bin"
Through WinSCP, Upload new_cfe.bin & mtd-write & FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx to router
In Putty type:
chmod u+x mtd-write
./mtd-write new_cfe.bin boot
mtd-write2 FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx linux
Wait until the CRC OK message comes up
Perform NVRAM Reset
a. Power off router
b. Wait 10 seconds
c. Press and hold WPS button
d. Power up the router and continue to hold WPS button for 15-20 seconds until power LED starts blinking very quickly.
e. wait 5 minutes
Reset PC IP back to default
Log in to router using 192.168.1.1 and the router is now an RT-AC68U with 64MB jffs
username:/password is now: admin:admin
If router isn't showing RT-AC68U, try Chrome Incognito Mode
Enable SSH (see #14) Ezlink: http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp
Reconnect Putty (see #15)
In Putty, execute the code for fixing MTD5 partition.
cat /dev/mtd5 > /jffs/mtd5_backup.bin
mkdir /tmp/asus_jffs
mount -t jffs2 /dev/mtdblock5 /tmp/asus_jffs
rm -rf /tmp/asus_jffs/*
sync && umount /tmp/asus_jffs
ln -s /sbin/rc mtd-erase
In the router page, go to Administration > Firmware and upload RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_384_20308-gead790e.trx
This is the file you downloaded in step #6
Perform NVRAM Reset (see #24)
Enable SSH (see #14) Ezlink: http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp
When going back into the router at this point, it may prompt you to update the username/password, not allowing you to go directly to enable ssh
Make sure you don't forget what you change the username/password to
Reconnect Putty (see #15)
In Putty, execute the code for fixing MTD5 partition.
mkdir /tmp/asus_jffs
mount -t jffs2 /dev/mtdblock5 /tmp/asus_jffs
rm -rf /tmp/asus_jffs/*
sync && umount /tmp/asus_jffs
ln -s /sbin/rc mtd-erase
./mtd-erase -d asus
rm -rf /jffs/.sys/RT-AC68U
nvram unset fw_check && nvram commit && reboot
You now can (and should) flash an updated firmware, such as Asus, Merlin, Advanced Tomato, Tomato, and DD-WRT firmwares.
To flash newer Asus firmwares at this point, go to the router page, go to Administration > Firmware and upload the latest firmware from this page [asus.com].
At this point, for security purposes I'd recommend to either disable SSH or change it to 'LAN only". Also, definitely change both the default login id and password.


Additional Notes:

Yes, step 34 is partially redundant, but this is the way I did it twice and it caused no issues.
If you complete all the steps successfully, but you plug in the router to your network and there is no internet, your cable/fiber modem may coincidentally be on the same default IP as the router is. To fix this, go to the router webUI and on the status page you'll see an error stating an IP conflict which you can click so the router will change itself to a different IP
if you want to set up AiMesh, follow these steps


Feel free to message me if you get stuck, I may not respond immediately but I will try to help
No, it is something Tmobile would issue to customers who had bad reception in their home. This doesn't broadcast mobile wireless signal, just regular wifi. Since TMobile uses wifi calling the idea is stronger wifi in your house will alleviate their weak network.

It does not connect to the Tmobile network, and does not require Tmobile service. It will not give you internet if you don't have an ISP. It is just a regular modem, but branded.
Seems you're mixing your metaphors. You "pulled the trigger", not the plug. And you have to jump through hoops, not over them. You jump over hurdles.

Good luck with the conversion - it's not easy but it isn't rocket surgery! (Didya see what I did there?)

873 Comments

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Jan 24, 2019
51,177 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
Jan 24, 2019
dzap
Jan 24, 2019
51,177 Posts
Heh. I just returned the one T-Mobile "loaned" me, yesterday. Hardest part was flashing it back to TM-AC1900 firmware, but got it done. Whoever gets it; the built-in firmware update doesn't seem to work, so you're free to flash it easily to the AC68U. laugh out loud
Jan 24, 2019
2,471 Posts
Joined May 2014
Jan 24, 2019
RigTheFix
Jan 24, 2019
2,471 Posts
Quote from tanktank :
This is not the lowest price, the lowest was $37.50 in Aug 2018.
Yup, that's when I got mine and flashed them. They were okay but I wound up going back to my vortex flashed r7000 and converted r6900, which seem to do a better job with my 49 devices. PS before you go ai mesh or add access points, best to try moving/optimizing your current router location. With 2 AP signals, cellphones don't roam well, and the roaming assistant is garbage
Jan 24, 2019
129 Posts
Joined Jan 2009
Jan 24, 2019
res0a9mn
Jan 24, 2019
129 Posts
Thanks for the post. I was able to order one early this morning. This is my third try placing an order. Hopefully this one ships.
On my last two orders they did the $1 authorization charge on my card but I didn't get the phone call confirmation.
Jan 24, 2019
198 Posts
Joined Sep 2017
Jan 24, 2019
geede
Jan 24, 2019
198 Posts
Quote from merah :
I have ordered this item 3 times. It was never sent out by Tmobile
Same. And I missed it this time
Jan 24, 2019
8,225 Posts
Joined Aug 2003
Jan 24, 2019
ElDorito
Jan 24, 2019
8,225 Posts
Quote from babytrissi_19 :
sorry its an asus ac1750.
Had the same and upgraded to this. Night and day. So many issues with the ac1750....


I know at one point, if updated, you cant use it as an ac1900 and need to reflash. Is this still the case, or are they safe to update?
Jan 25, 2019
7,445 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Jan 25, 2019
KMan
Jan 25, 2019
7,445 Posts
Quote from pdp76 :
What you've been told isn't "wrong", especially if you get the cheapo bottom of the barrel routers (this one is not one of those), then yeah, I can see an average joe buying a new one every year or so for some of the reasons you mentioned. But if you have good security practices and an old router with slower performance is within your use case, why would you need anything faster or newer? Even a cheap one can last you more than 2 or 3 years, barring any hardware failures.

But a router like this should last an average joe well more than 2 or 3 years, again barring any catastrophic hardware failures, with its frequent FW updates and really good performance. That said, since this router has already been around for several years, it may not last THAT much longer from a features point of view, but I can still see myself using it for AT LEAST 2 or 3 more years from today.
It's hard for me to tell what a cheapo router is, quality-wise. I have 2 WD N750 routers that came out around 2012 or 13 and haven't had firmware updates in 4-5 years. For all I know they were long ago stealthily recruited to serve as a botnet node and I don't know about it because all the stolen traffic occurs uptream from my devices, between the router and the internet.

Or not. I just know that I've not noticed anything unusual in terms of performance or malware and such, and am happy with their performance for our needs. I have one set up as the gateway and the other as an access point in another room. Coverage is excellent with this setup and there's rarely any lag on any of our many devices, including 4k streaming over 5Ghz.

Are there tools that can tell you if your routers have been taken over by botnets or such, ideally an online tool that I don't have to install, or perhaps one that I can install and run for several days to see if anything's going on, then uninstall? Does Norton Security have this feature?
Jan 25, 2019
248 Posts
Joined Dec 2011
Jan 25, 2019
Stephen16
Jan 25, 2019
248 Posts
Just a warning that it seems ASUS put in some protection last year on its firmware. You have to do more steps now to get the latest Merlin updated. Merlin firmware creator is not supporting these hack jobs. So, its kind of a shot of dark if you get this router. I',m using it without a problem but you never know in the future what they might do to lock these down even further.

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Jan 25, 2019
227 Posts
Joined Aug 2005
Jan 25, 2019
cheaptardis
Jan 25, 2019
227 Posts
Has anyone actually received a confirmation #? I see some people saying they have ordered it previously and the order didnt go through.
Jan 25, 2019
242 Posts
Joined Nov 2018
Jan 25, 2019
ChildishGambino
Jan 25, 2019
242 Posts
Just a heads up, I ordered mine in the morning (PST) and was waiting for the confirmation e-mail.

I got nervous as the router went OOS officially, so I called T-mobile and they told me the credit card was declined and asked for another one.

When I gave them the info, they couldn't process the order because the stocks were already depleted.

So If you have not received a confirmation email already, it's highly likely that your card did not go through and won't receive the order. T-mobile's got some serious issue of accepting card for some reason.
Jan 25, 2019
131 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
Jan 25, 2019
dizM0nkey
Jan 25, 2019
131 Posts
I thoroughly endorse this router after converting to RT-AC68P/U ... and if you don't want to jump through all of the hoops to get it setup on Merlin (which Merlin's developer is not supporting), FreshTomato is running perfectly on this after conversion... getting faster LAN and WAN speeds than on default ASUS or Merlin software with CTF (Cut-Through Forwarding) on.

http://freshtomato.org/
Jan 25, 2019
37 Posts
Joined Sep 2015
Jan 25, 2019
rwu2567
Jan 25, 2019
37 Posts
Quote from hairycub84 :
Has anyone actually received a confirmation #? I see some people saying they have ordered it previously and the order didnt go through.
No confirmation yet
Jan 25, 2019
62 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Jan 25, 2019
Silly_String
Jan 25, 2019
62 Posts
Last time I ordered I got the initial email me nothing else. This time I used different browser and got the 1st email and a second "Service Agreement" email with order #, we'll see what happens.
Jan 25, 2019
227 Posts
Joined Aug 2005
Jan 25, 2019
cheaptardis
Jan 25, 2019
227 Posts
Quote from Silly_String :
Last time I ordered I got the initial email me nothing else. This time I used different browser and got the 1st email and a second "Service Agreement" email with order #, we'll see what happens.
I just checked and it seems my card was charged. No confirmation yet though =/
Jan 25, 2019
203 Posts
Joined Apr 2008
Jan 25, 2019
zippy55513
Jan 25, 2019
203 Posts
I checked my order status and it says it's backordered with no estimate on the ship date Frown

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Jan 25, 2019
42 Posts
Joined Jul 2009
Jan 25, 2019
labrat321
Jan 25, 2019
42 Posts
Quote from hairycub84 :
Has anyone actually received a confirmation #? I see some people saying they have ordered it previously and the order didnt go through.
Ordered this today and just now received UPS notification for delivery tomorrow.

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