Ask HN: Flash Open WRT to TP-Link WR703n v1.7

[gillis]

I've recently received multiple TP-Link WR703n routers which I intended to flash Open WRT onto. However, in v1.7 of the stock firmware, a checksum validation is preformed and only allows TP-Link firmware to be flashed to the router.

I've seen 2 or 3 work-arounds based off of the "Parental Control" bug found by BugBlue but haven't had any luck when executing the instructions provided by these tutorials.

If anyone has any thoughts I would very much appreciate to hear them.

[noonespecial]

Unfortunately, your best bet is to treat it as a bricked unit and go after it with the tiny little serial pads inside.

I made a little pogo-pin fitting for mine so I can just pop the covers off and stick the rig down into it and send new firmware over serial.

[chatmasta]

The checksum happens when you upload the firmware to flash. OP did not brick router.

[chatmasta]

I faced a similar problem with a different model recently. This forum post [0] helped me. You can probably do something similar, or maybe even used the linked binary blob.

[0] https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?pid=206667#p206667