Uboot on AX1800 does not work!

Technical Support for Routers
21

I did not understand how you did a uboot, please describe with steps, i need to revert the expressvpn to its original openwrt (uboot) but i cant do that with reseting the modem. thank you.

22

There is two ways of doing this.

Serial:

  1. With Serial UART connected (Your going to need to solder headers) power on the device
  2. When the prompt comes up with press xv, press xv this will put you in a uboot shell
  3. In That uboot shell type httpd 192.168.132.1
  4. Now in a web browser type http://192.168.132.1/uboot.html
  5. Now Download and Flash this file UBOOT
  6. Then Repeat the first 3 steps then open browser to `http://192.168.132.1’ and flash gl-inet firmware

Reset Pin Method:

  1. With device powered off press and hold the reset pin hole
  2. Re-insert power to the device still with reset pin held and look at the lights it will flash a few times then go solid.
  3. Now in a web browser type http://192.168.132.1/uboot.html
  4. Now Download and Flash this file UBOOT
    Then Repeat the first 3 steps then open browser to `http://192.168.1.1’ and flash gl-inet firmware

Please make sure you have ethernet set up as static with the following IP 192.168.132.66 and Subnet as 255.255.255.0 Leave everything thing else BLANK. On the reset pin one the IP will change after uboot is flashed to 192.168.1.1 so please adjust your static ip to 192.168.1.66 after.

2 Likes
23

it finally worked (option 2). I had to do this several times for some reason. The very last time, I let process (4) take as much time as it needs (several minutes). Not sure whether that was the reason.

24

Glad you manage to solve the issue.

1 Like
25

now it’s time to flash the router with your openwrt build :slight_smile:

26

Good timing as there was a new build just made and pushed LOL.

2 Likes
27

I dont know how to do first method (serial) but i did try the second method but no luck!
after reseting the device and setting ip static on my mac it wont go to http://192.168.132.1/uboot.html and instead it forwards to expressvpn’s setup.

28

If its forwarding to the ExpressVPN setup your not pressing the reset pin hole down, using a sim eject tool is the perfect size for the little hole.

If you want DM me and i can teamviewer in and assist you.

1 Like
29

@daariush while @solidus1983 is helping you out, the following might help you:

  1. I had to reset it multiple times. ExpressVPN claims at least three times for normal reset.
  2. Not sure if it helps, but I flashed it through the WAN port (probably unrelated)
  3. You want to make sure you get solid white. A solid blue after solid white means normal operation.
1 Like
30

Might I ask how your experience with ExpressVPN’s software was? As someone who mainly uses the modem for global VPN coverage, I might be interested in flashing Aircove OS myself😄

31

works really well. However you will get limited functionality. For example you won’t be able to run OpenVPN/Wireguard clients anymore. I don’t think you can even set up ddns… etc

2 Likes
32

Ended up flashing it on one of my flints last night. Indeed works very well. The VPN grouping options are amazing😄

Sadly it will limit the VPN speed to 180mbps, even with their lightway (wireguard variant) protocol. Used to get 700mbps xD

It’s very stable & looks professional, but the limits it imposes are definitely not worth it. I’ll also be reverting back to GL.iNet’s firmware tonight.

1 Like
33

I’m actually unable to do this now😂

My flint doesn’t want to stay in uboot. I set the static IP to 192.168.132.66 & subnet to 255.255.255.0

Holding the reset button & plugging in the flint, the led stays white for about 3 seconds, then goes back to blue. It seems to just reboot after entering uboot. As soon as the led turns white I try to access uboot.html, but it’s to slow, router is already rebooting before I can get in :smile: :man_shrugging:

34

Guess its time to crack open the case and solder the UART connectors on and do it the proper way to recover the device.

1 Like
35

About time I suppose, never had to do it with the flint before, so should be fun :smile::ok_hand:

36

Its not that hard to do, much easier to do so on Flint then Slate AX. Use 2.5mm pitch headers.

From the side of the LED is GND → RX → TX → V which we don’t use.
A good tip is to remove the heatsink from both back and front should give you nice access.

1 Like
37

Try to reset at least three times and maybe release the reset button as soon as you see the first white LED (When it’s flashing!). I had to do this several times and it finally worked.

38

I finally got to the uboot screen!!
After trying 3-4 times reseting, the last try i did let go of reset button as soon as i saw the first white light and it stayed on the white light :raised_hands:t3:
I uploaded the file you guys mentioned above but do you know how long does it take to finish? Will it say its finished or no? Thanks a lot

1 Like
39

If you are flashing the uboot it should take seconds and reboots again, so you will need to repeat the steps again for it to go back into uboot webgui but this time just use the ip alone, then flash the factory image.

40

Yes case closed for me :grinning: thanks to you guys, helped me a lot.

3 Likes