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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
Be sure to apply your promo code while in cart to receive discount. Offer valid for online p purchase only - Discombobulated
Top Comments
(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
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
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.pipeli
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
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
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
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.
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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The item keeps going in and out of stock, that's why people seem to think the browser makes a difference when they switch to another browser it becomes available. I use chrome and keeps checking periodically I can see it go in and out of stock. It's luck you just have to keep refreshing the browser periodically to check inventory.
The hardest part of the steps of achievement of going from TM-AC1900 to RT-AC68U is the first achievement. That is why there are so many complaints and answers from that.
The Google Document Guide is another way to get the downgrade done.
This downgrade is only 1 achievement needed to complete the change over to RT-AC68U.
Even if you do the Google Document, you still have to merge over to Bayareatechpros style of Guide.
You have to have the files downloaded as in Step 1 and 3 of that Guide.
So I advise trying the Guide first and reading the Wiki up top.
Even watching the video at the top of Bayareatechpros Guide.
Because the Google Doc Guide is tricky. There is not much 'talk' about doing it .. only photos linked in the Community Wiki. Unless you go over to Whirlpool forums.
Only thing that kept me from doing it is that my upstairs setup is using AP with another FIOS router using MOCA network. I have to run an ethernet line up there to replace that setup but have been lazy since it works.
EDIT: Corrected with below suggestions as of 1/30/19
In step 7 you mention the Asus Restore Utility, perhaps you should include that in your links in case someone needs it. One of my two routers had a hard time getting into recovery mode, but fortunately I got it after multiple reboots.
After step 19, wait until the CRC OK message comes up before continuing.
After step 22, you have to re-enable SSH for Putty again, same as step 28
Also, I would code your links for the 192.168.29.1 and 192.168.1.1 tasks, ie:
Again, thank you for your detailed instructions/guide!
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In step 7 you mention the Asus Restore Utility, perhaps you should include that in your links in case someone needs it. One of my two routers had a hard time getting into recovery mode, but fortunately I got it after multiple reboots.
After step 19, wait until the CRC OK message comes up before continuing.
After step 22, you have to re-enable SSH for Putty again, same as step 28
Also, I would code your links for the 192.168.29.1 and 192.168.1.1 tasks, ie:
Again, thank you for your detailed instructions/guide!
Bayareatechpros & Lazymocha's Guide Step 4 and Step 11
Step 4 LEFT photo
Set static IP for PC. FOR TM-AC1900
start > run > ncpa.cpl > double click Ethernet > properties > IPV4 >
IP: 192.168.29.5
Subnet: Default (255.255.255.0)
Gateway: 192.168.29
Step 11 CENTER photo
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
- Putty.
After you have enabled SSH in the Router:
As seen in the left side of the photo below, in the blank space you type in 192.168.29.1 under:
"Host Name (or IP address)"
192.168.29.1
Make sure SSH is checked, and click Open.
Note:
For those that have RT-AC68U and want a guide how to use Putty, maybe they chose Telnet... So I have included the right side of the picture for that.
Far right picture is:
If you want to check temps
To check if your on CFE 1.0.2.0 or CFE 1.0.2.0 US AiMesh
NOTE: If your here looking at the photos for other posts (not related to the cellspot RT-AC1900), the Set static IP for PC on RT-AC68U should be:
*Obtain an IP address Automatically
*Obtain an IP address Automatically
Since RT-AC68U uses 192.168.1.1
It comes and goes, just about 4 days ago, it went live again.
So this is one of those posts that really shouldn't be closed right away even if out of stock.
You got to look over this please... tell me what you think.
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