Sorry, this offer has expired. Set up a deal alert and get notified of future deals like this. Add a Deal Alert

Expired Hot Deals

Sorry, this offer has expired.
Set up a deal alert and get notified of future deals like this.
Set up a Deal Alert
Amazon.com

Refurbished T-Mobile RT-AC68U Dual-Band Gigabit Router US$48 + $15 to ON

  • Last Updated:
  • Jan 9th, 2022 11:02 pm
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: Which firmware is on the router? You're running CFE 1.0.2.0?

After flashing the Asus firmware over the TMO firmware using this command: mtd-write2 FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx linux, cleared the NVRAM, booted into the GUI, and set up the router using the Asus set up routine. I then flashed Merlin firmware from the Asus gui.
2.1.2.7

This is what I ended up with after flashing the current version.

Do I need to flash CFE 1.0.2.0 back on it?
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
Does anyone know what website rules I would need to put in on my edge router-Firewall(pFsense) to block any chance of updates?
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
You can disable automatic firmware updates in the Asus and Merlin gui too.
Images
  • Untitled.jpg
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: You can disable automatic firmware updates in the Asus and Merlin gui too.
I looked pretty hard and could not find those settings.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: I looked pretty hard and could not find those settings.
Tools --> Other settings.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: 2.1.2.7

This is what I ended up with after flashing the current version.

Do I need to flash CFE 1.0.2.0 back on it?
The CFE is 2.1.2.7? Mine is still at 1.0.2.0 with the latest Merlin release.
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: The CFE is 2.1.2.7? Mine is still at 1.0.2.0 with the latest Merlin release.
Wonder if I did something wrong? And if it matters much?
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: Wonder if I did something wrong? And if it matters much?
Run this ssh command to get the CFE: nvram get bl_version

Which firmware is running on the router? I've gone from the stock Asus firmware to the latest Merlin with no change in the CFE.
Images
  • Untitled.jpg
  • Untitled.jpg
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: Run this ssh command to get the CFE: nvram get bl_version

Which firmware is running on the router? I've gone from the stock Asus firmware to the latest Merlin with no change in the CFE.
2.1.2.7

3.0.0.4.384_21045

Does it matter what the Bootloader is?
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: 2.1.2.7

3.0.0.4.384_21045

Does it matter what the Bootloader is?
Your router seems to be running the latest Asus firmware from here: https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTAC ... Desk_BIOS/ which is a good thing.

I suppose the bootloader version does not matter if everything is working fine. I don't recall but the "Tools" option may be limited to Merlin's firmware.

Edit: I found a post on the Whirlpool forum about CFE version 2.1.2.7: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... 8&p=2&#r37
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: Your router seems to be running the latest Asus firmware from here: https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTAC ... Desk_BIOS/ which is a good thing.

I suppose the bootloader version does not matter if everything is working fine. I don't recall but the "Tools" option may be limited to Merlin's firmware.

Edit: I found a post on the Whirlpool forum about CFE version 2.1.2.7: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... 8&p=2&#r37
Maybe I should try to Flash the bootloader again?
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
I'm not an expert with this router so I can't make any recommendations as to what you should do.

If everything works fine, the router home page is still 192.168.1.1, and the router is still recognized as an rt-ac68p or rt-ac68u, you may be fine.

Even though people have deleted the T-Mobile partitions, me included, and successfully updated to the latest Melon or Asus firmware doesn't mean we are in the clear to flash future updates.
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: I'm not an expert with this router so I can't make any recommendations as to what you should do.

If everything works fine, the router home page is still 192.168.1.1, and the router is still recognized as an rt-ac68p or rt-ac68u, you may be fine.

Even though people have deleted the T-Mobile partitions, me included, and successfully updated to the latest Melon or Asus firmware doesn't mean we are in the clear to flash future updates.

What do you mean by recognized as rt-ac68u? Nothing on mine says that. The firmware at the top left in the GUI says TM-AC1900. On browsing my Network in windows it shows as TM-AC1900 as well.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: What do you mean by recognized as rt-ac68u? Nothing on mine says that. The firmware at the top left in the GUI says TM-AC1900. On browsing my Network in windows it shows as TM-AC1900 as well.
When the T-Mobile router is converted to an Asus router using the bay area tech pro instructions, it should say rt-ac68u or rt-ac68p, depending on the cfe that was flashed during the conversion process.

Look at the image from this post: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac ... led.45676/

Is the GUI home page still 192.168.1.1?
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: When the T-Mobile router is converted to an Asus router using the bay area tech pro instructions, it should say rt-ac68u or rt-ac68p, depending on the cfe that was flashed during the conversion process.

Look at the image from this post: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac ... led.45676/

Is the GUI home page still 192.168.1.1?

Mine never showed that in the upper lefthand corner. Continued looking like a TMO box.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: Mine never showed that in the upper lefthand corner. Continued looking like a TMO box.
After flashing the initial Asus firmware (mtd-write2 FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx linux), an NVRAM reset is required to clear out all of the T-Mobile settings so the home page GUI becomes accessible at 192.168.1.1 instead of 192.168.29.1 and the router will show RT-AC68P (CFE 1.0.2.0) or RT-AC68U (CFE 1.0.2.5) in the top left corner of the GUI.

Did you perform any firmware updates after the initial Asus firmwre flash?
Newbie
Jun 25, 2018
14 posts
audit13 wrote: After flashing the initial Asus firmware (mtd-write2 FW_RT_AC68U_30043763626.trx linux), an NVRAM reset is required to clear out all of the T-Mobile settings so the home page GUI becomes accessible at 192.168.1.1 instead of 192.168.29.1 and the router will show RT-AC68P (CFE 1.0.2.0) or RT-AC68U (CFE 1.0.2.5) in the top left corner of the GUI.

Did you perform any firmware updates after the initial Asus firmwre flash?
I did the NVRAM reset. The IP address changed. I then went to the most current Asus FW 3.0.0.4.384_21045.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Feb 24, 2003
22155 posts
10318 upvotes
Toronto
LesG97945 wrote: I did the NVRAM reset. The IP address changed. I then went to the most current Asus FW 3.0.0.4.384_21045.
Did you erase the T-Mobile information before updating to the latest firmware?

There may or may not be an issue if the router's home screen never changed from TM-AC1900 to RT-AC68P/U. I just don't know enough about the router to provide an answer.

When I first flashed the router, I used the 1.0.2.5 US CFE and my router appeared as an RT-AC68U according to the home page after an NVRAM reset. After reading about the Asus lockdown/conversion in the latest firmware, I went back and flashed the 1.0.2.0 CFE, reset NVRAM, and my router appeared as an RT-AC68P on the gui home page.

I'm not sure what to tell you except that it is the CFE that appears to determine the router model #.

In an effort to prevent users from reversing the lockdown/conversion, Asus removed all firmware that did not have the lockdown/conversion code.
Member
User avatar
Jan 26, 2004
381 posts
232 upvotes
Georgetown
audit13 wrote: Did you have any luck? Did the router come with firmware 3199?

Naah man... spent hours following the instructions. may be because i was using a MAC with no ethernet port ( i was using adaptor), it just didnt work. so finally gave up.

Now im using the router as a TM router, which is working ok with basic functionalities etc.

Top