After a automatic web gui fw update the router is very much bricked. No LED lights on power.
Having nothing to loose and being curious I opened the case to check out the serial interface possibilities. I have attempted the USB method unsuccessfully. I could not make the PC recognize the serial com device.
Here are some observations:
When I power on the device, I see two of the LED, 1 and 3 looking from the front, lights up while briefly.
After trying this a while, I now see when I hold down the reset button while power on, the same thing happen but is deferred about 10-12 seconds.
My plan is to try to reset using serial, unless someone has a better idea.
Update 1:
Tried to connect usb a to my pc with the serial usb driver installed. I did not see a device presented to the PC leading me to believe that the device is bricked for the usb recover method.
I am waiting for a serial USB UART device, and in the meantime checked if the board is delivering on the pins. I soldered pins on the gnd/tx/rx/3v3 output on the board. Then I connected a 3v LED on the 3v3/gnd pair and put power on, and nothing… I guess I need to find my multimeter to confirm. I fear that the serial method will fail because the board is dead.
Question: does it mean anything that led 1 and 3 flash white once when the device powered on?
When connecting the router serial interface to the PC, you need to install the USB-serial driver first. After it installed, you can see the COM port on "Device Manager", and then use the serial software tool (putty, etc.) to open the COM port, and the router prints, the serial software tool displays the serial port information.
Can the router enter uboot mode in the current state?
The serial usb driver was installed. Do not see the device in Device Manager when I power up the router.
I am getting a serial USB UART device this week so I will try the serial method.
When I put power on LED 1 and 3 flash once and that is all the reaction i get. So no, I cannot go into Uboot mode.
What worries me is that I do not see 3v on the pins related to uart (3v plus gnd) enough to light up a 3v led.
If the hardware of the device is damaged, I think it needs to back to the factory if need to deep inspection. I cannot provide this kind of technical support, very sorry.
I have tried an USB serial debugger and the board indeed appears to be dead. I have absolutely no idea how this could happen. I have used different power sources over the USB-C connector, from the supplied one to powerbanks. Is it possible that the board could have accepted a higher voltage somehow? Sounds far fetched but I am grasping for possible explainations for how this could happen. I am worried about buying another unit now. I am looking for a really low power consumption wifi router for my travel kit.
Please let me know if you want me to send the unit for investigation.
@bruce i just had a look at specs for the new router (Slate 7) that says support type C power with PD, while Slate AX says type C powersupply.
I did for my Slate AX use the included powersupply, a powerbank delivering PD-20W (DC 5V/3A, 9V/2.22A, 12V/1.67A) and also a powersupply with multiple PD type ports ranging from 65W to 100W.
Could the wrong input have fried the board? Is the Slate AX vulnerable to incorrect power without any protection? And more importantly: what about the Slate 7, assuming that that will be my next purchase. I always assumed that the receiving unit negotiated with the power source not to send too much…? Please clarify. Summer is coming and I need a travel router.