WR703n

SoundMate M1

Purchased a couple of SoundMate M1’s for a great price to add wireless audio to area’s of our home. After a short time messing with it, I could only get iTunes to detect it as an audio source. While this is ok, I need it to work with DLNA sources from other devices. Also the web interface looked different from other images I had seen on the web. So I did a little poking around: Downloaded an older version of the firmware and did a string and hex dump to see if there was anything interesting in them. While the string dump was boring, the hex dump revealed: 00000000 01 00 00 00 4f 70 65 6e 57 72 74 00 00 00 00 00 |….OpenWrt…..| “OpenWrt” – Awesome start. Extracted the Root-FS using Firmware… Read More »SoundMate M1

WR703N v1.7 Warning

Kristian
February 3, 2019
Hardware, Tech, WR703N

I bought a few more TP-Link wr703N routers and proceeded to flash the firmware like I had done with previous ones…. Bricked one, but the other is fine. The models with version 1.7 firmware cant be flashed the same way as the older ones I have. It’s serial console or brick. I did solder the serial points on the first one, but couldn’t fine the hot glue gun to hold them, so when the cables moved it ripped the pads straight off, and no matter how well I scratched the tracks back I couldnt get the wires to solder to them well enough to de-brick it. So from now on it appears to be a better idea to hot glue your cables, then solder, then flash. This is the firmware I ended up using. Which… Read More »WR703N v1.7 Warning

WR703N Project Box’s

I’ve been inserting the WR703N’s into cases to make them more durable and less ‘touchy-feely’. The Serial to Wireless convertor – used when configuring Cisco switches, you an configure and upgrade the IOS on using it. This has been great for large installs then having to setup 20+ switches. Benefits include being able to sit comfortably at a desk while setting it up, and it runs off a phone backup battery so it doesn’t need to be plugged into a power outlet or USB – general run time is > 2-3hrs. The case/enclosure allows it to be hanging from a switch without caring a lot for it’s safety. It can take bumps and drops very well. The external connections are RS232, Ethernet, and the hole on the right is for a micro USB power cable.… Read More »WR703N Project Box’s

WR703N – 1.5inch Digital Photo Frame (DPF) x2

During this post, I bought an additional keychain (which I backed up the firmware first). Anyway… The model/manufacturer is: Zipp DP605. Found a modified firmware here, mirrored here fw_disp_delightdigi_black_NEW_Zipp, Cheers superelchi and mumianex. I’ve also change the python script and lcd4linux.conf for lower CPU usage and scrolls when more than 8 are detected. Available here, and the original firmware is here full_Zipp_original. Update: 9-6-2013 I have purchased 2 more DPF keychains, another Kasier Bass, and a generic one from Target. This is the original firrmware for the new Kaiser Bass (noticeable because the logo’s have changed) Cheers.

Close up with GPS & Mac address's blured

WR703N – 1.5inch Digital Photo Frame (DPF)

Please be aware this guide has incomplete information, and is very generalized. Ok, now I’ve got a reliable testing unit up and running – tested it for over a week. During that time I wanted to know if it had kernel panic’d or if the GPS had dropped out etc… So I looked into a few options: The easiest was to use telnet on from a laptop and just leave the screen open, this has other problems like battery life, bulky, heavy, and is over kill because you might as well just use the laptop. 16×2 character display LCD module, would work ok, although you’d have to convert it to use serial USB input. Total cost would be over $30 AUD or so. Possibly use bluetooth and connect to a tty through a virtual serial… Read More »WR703N – 1.5inch Digital Photo Frame (DPF)

WR703N – External Antenna

I wanted to extend the range of the WR703N to allow it to pickup more access points. My mini 4GB USB drives have also arrived in the mail, so this makes it the perfect time to start the mod. Here we have the devices used to complete the mod: 4 port unpowered USB hub, DLink external antenna, female SMA pigtail, 4GB Sandisk USB flash drive, and a WR703N running OpenWRT. Opened the case to see where the internal cable and mount can run. Decided off center of the 2 edges in the picture below. To start off open the WR703N case and drill a hole for the pigtail. Make sure the hole is low enough so that it doesn’t interfere with the lid. You might be able to see I also used a pocket knife… Read More »WR703N – External Antenna

WR703N – Wireless Serial Port

The following guide is what I’ve used (twice) to turn a WR703N into a wireless serial port for configuring Cisco network switches/routers. I have already installed OpenWRT onto it before this guide starts. Tap the reset button on the side while inserting the power cable and the status light should flash blue fast. Set you PC’s IP address to 192.168.1.* (last octet cant be 1). Telnet to address 192.168.1.1 and type the following: Setup LAN Networking uci set network.lan.ipaddr=<Ip Address> uci set network.lan.gateway=<default gateway> uci set network.lan.dns=<DNS-Server address> uci commit /etc/init.d/network restart Install Minicom and USB serial driver opkg update opkg install minicom opkg install kmod-usb-serial-pl2303 <- This is a very common driver but you may need a different one, check online or with the manufacturer to see what you should use. If it’s correct… Read More »WR703N – Wireless Serial Port

Insert PCB's back into the case and resolder leads

TP-Link WR703N USB Mod

Read this post on installing an internal USB hub into a WR703N. The main difference I have is the WR703N I’m currently working on is just for prototyping (I have 3 more in the mail), I want all USB ports external to allow for different device testing. I was able to find the same USB hubs on eBay. Found a post that explains how to safely open the case. Once open you can see this is version 1.6 of the router, although the main PCB has version 1.1 on it…?? Dismantled the USB hub and desoldered the USB leads. Used a pen knife to slice thin strips of plastic of the leads to make them fit in the USB hole that already exists. De-soldered the on board USB connecter and connected the USB hub PCB into… Read More »TP-Link WR703N USB Mod

TP-Link WR703N – Small packets, lots of options

The WR703N is advertised as a mini 3G/WIFI travel router. You can get for about $23 on ebay. There are 2 similar models: WR702N and WR700N, both not as good; WR700N requires mains power, and the WR702N has half the flash, to point out just a few differences. I’ve used OpenWRT in the last few posts and have been very happy with the package selection and setup options, so it was a pretty obvious choice and luckily it’s available for this device. Interfaces: 1x ethernet (10/100Mb), 802.11N wireless (150Mb), USB host. Features: Powered by 5v usb, 32MB RAM, 4MB flash, small foot print (5.7cm x 5.7cm x 1.5cm), CPU:Atheros AR9330 rev 1. I used to use a Nokia N95, then an E63 to do passive war driving (collected about 8000 AP’s), which is what I’m… Read More »TP-Link WR703N – Small packets, lots of options