05/01/2019 OpenWrt Project: TP-Link TL-WA901ND

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Welcome to the OpenWrt Project » Table of Hardware » TP-Link » TP-Link TL-WA901ND English (en)

toh:tp-link:tl-wa901nd
Welcome to OpenWrt
Supported Devices
Packages TP-Link TL-WA901ND Ta b l e of Contents

Downloads TP-Link TL-WA901ND

The TL-WA901ND is a lowcost b/g/n wireless access point, capable of running OpenWrt. Supported Versions
Documentation
Hardware Highlights
Submitting patches Installation
v1.x v2.x v3.x v4.x v5.x
Reporting bugs Version 1.x
Features
Wiki contribution guide
Serial console
OpenWrt Forum Installation
FAQ Version 2.x
Features
Serial console
About OpenWrt/LEDE
Installation
Rules Bootlogs
Supported Versions Version 3.x
Infrastructure
Features
Trademark Policy Model ↓ Current OEM Info Forum Topic Technical
Install OpenWrt
About this site Version Release Data
Serial
TL- v1 18.06.1 http://www.tp- View/Edit Bootloader
link.com/en/products/details/cat- data
Contact Us WA901ND Recovery
12_TL-WA901ND.html
Bootlogs
TL- v2 18.06.1 http://www.tp- View/Edit Version 4.x
link.com/en/products/details/cat- data
WA901ND Features
12_TL-WA901ND.html
Serial Console
TL- v3 18.06.1 https://www.tp- https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php? View/Edit
Bootlogs
link.com/en/products/details/cat- id=46990 data
WA901ND Version 5.x
12_TL-WA901ND.html
Features
TL- v4 18.06.1 http://www.tp- https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php? View/Edit
link.com/en/products/details/cat- id=60117 data
Serial Console
WA901ND Bootlogs
12_TL-WA901ND.html
Tags
TL- v5 18.06.1 http://www.tp- View/Edit
link.com/en/products/details/cat- data
WA901ND
12_TL-WA901ND.html

Version 1.x of this device is fully supported since r22353.

Version 2.x of this device has been reported to work fine with r29330 (no earlier versions tested).
Version 3.x is supposed to work since 14.07 ( https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?pid=276512#p276512).
Version 4.x of this device is fully supported since r49158 ( trunk )
Version 5.x most recent version, hardware seems identical to v4, but the PCB layout has changed.

Hardware Highlights
Model ↓ SoC CPU Flash RAM WLAN WLAN2.4 WLAN5.0 100M Gbit Modem USB
Version MHz MB MB Hardware ports ports
TL- v1 Atheros AR7240 400 4 32 Atheros b/g/n - 1 - - -
WA901ND AR9285
TL- v2 Atheros AR9132 400 4 32 Atheros b/g/n - 1 - - -
WA901ND AR5416
TL- v3 Atheros AR9341 533 4 32 Atheros b/g/n - 1 - - -
WA901ND AR5416
TL- v4 Qualcomm Atheros 750 4 32 Atheros b/g/n - 1 - - -
WA901ND TP9343 AR9380
TL- v5 Qualcomm Atheros 750 4 32 Atheros b/g/n - 1 - - -
WA901ND TP9343 AR9380

Version CPU Ram Flash Wireless LAN Network USB Serial

V1 Atheros AR7240 400MHz 32MiB 4MiB Atheros Atheros 1 No Yes
AR9285 AR5416

V2 Atheros AR9132 rev 2 32MiB 4MiB Atheros Realtek 1 No Yes

400MHz AR5416 RTL8201

V3 Atheros AR9341 535MHz 32MiB 4MiB Atheros Atheros 1 No Yes

AR5416 AG71xx

V4 Atheros AR9343 750MHz 32MiB 4MiB Atheros ? 1 No Yes (but needs solder
AR9380 bridges)

V5 Atheros AR9343 750MHz 32MiB 4MiB Atheros ? 1 No Yes (but needs solder
AR9380 bridges)

Note: these are single port devices and may have certain practical limitations.

Installation
Model ↓ Current Firmware OpenWrt Install Firmware OpenWrt Upgrade
Version Release
TL- v1 18.06.1 http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/targets/ar71xx/tiny/openwrt- http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/t
18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin 18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v1-squashfs-sysupg

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WA901ND
TL- v2 18.06.1 http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/targets/ar71xx/tiny/openwrt- http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/t
18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v2-squashfs-factory.bin 18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v2-squashfs-sysupg
WA901ND

TL- v3 18.06.1 http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/targets/ar71xx/tiny/openwrt- http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/t

18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-factory.bin 18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-sysupg
WA901ND

TL- v4 18.06.1 http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/targets/ar71xx/tiny/openwrt- http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/t

18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v4-squashfs-factory.bin 18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v4-squashfs-sysupg
WA901ND

TL- v5 18.06.1 http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/targets/ar71xx/tiny/openwrt- http://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/18.06.1/t

18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v5-squashfs-factory.bin 18.06.1-ar71xx-tiny-tl-wa901nd-v5-squashfs-sysupg
WA901ND

See also → Install OpenWrt (generic explanation)

Version 1.x

Features

Atheros AR7240 CPU

4 MB flash memory
32 MB RAM
Atheros AR9285 wireless chip

Serial console

The serial console connector has the usual TP-Link pinout: RX - TX - GND - +5V (Power connector)

However, as with other TP-Link models, a little hardware mod is required in most circumstances to get the serial console working
properly. Without this mod, you might see garbled chars when using a Prolific PL2302-based level shifter. This is because TP-Link
employed some sort of voltage divider as has been reported for the TL-WR741ND as well: RX will have a high level of only 1,7V,
whereas the CPU pin itself has the usual 2,5V.

To fix this, you must remove the 2x 5k6 resistors R249 (→ 3.3V) and R251 (→ GND) as well as the capacitor C278. You might want to
replace it with a 1K resistor to protect the CPU pin, otherwise bridging the pads will do the job but offers the risk of damaging the CPU
port.

After this, the console will be accessible at 115200bps 8N1. Type “tpl” to escape automatic boot and reach U-boot's prompt. Note this is
a crippled U-boot: you can not modify the environment settings permanently which is why OpenWrt kernels ignore the kernel command
line.

Comment: The WR741ND had the same serial connection, and I fixed it without altering the board, by simply placing a 10k pullup
resistor between the TX and 3.3V pins.

Installation
via Web Interface

You can install OpenWrt factory image via the web interface (System > Firmware Upgrade)

via Bootloader and Ethernet port

Using the serial console, new firmware versions can be loaded via TFTP and flashed as follows. This assumes your TFTP server is
reachable at 192.168.1.100. You can change IP addresses with:

setenv ipaddr a.b.c.d

setenv serverip e.f.g.h

TFTP loading and flashing is done by issuing:

tftpboot 0x80000000 openwrt-ar71xx-tl-wa901nd-squashfs-factory.bin

erase 0x9f020000 +0x3c0000
cp.b 0x80000000 0x9f020000 0x3c0000

If successful, the firmware can now be started with

bootm 0x9f020000

Version 2.x

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Features

Atheros AR9132 CPU

4 MB flash memory
32 MB ram
Atheros AR5416 wireless chip
RTL8201 Ethernet chip

Serial console

The serial console connector has the usual TP-Link pinout: RX - TX - GND - +3.3V (Power connector)

It's 115200 8N1, software flow control. It's a TTL serial port, so don't plug it directly into a RS232 port. You have to build a TTL-RS232
adaptor to attach your WA901ND to your computer:

With that, you can now use a null modem cable to attach it to your PCs COM port.

To access the boot menu, type “tpl” (without quotes) when you see “autobooting in 1 seconds”.

The ethernet port is not enabled in the boot loader. Because of that, TFTP cannot be used to transfer the firmware.

Installation

The default image for this device (tested with v2) has no LuCI at all and no room to install it. So, no web config nor web revert. Be
advised! The version OpenWrt Chaos Calmer 15.05 LuCI (git-15.248.30277-3836b45) seems to work and seems to have a
working LuCI, your mileage may vary

via Web Interface

You can install OpenWrt via the TP-Link web interface, select the firmware upgrade and browse to your local copy of the pre-compiled
binary images below.

The current (2015.11.29) trunk is the .bin file openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v2-squashfs-factory.bin

The current (2015.11.29) stable release is at openwrt-15.05-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v2-squashfs-factory.bin

You will want to configure your new OpenWrt by:

1. set your static IP to 192.168.1.x (some of the images already have dnsmasq running so this step may not be required)

2. telnet (some versions only support SSH try both) into the device either through putty or unix terminal:

telnet 192.168.1.1

Full guide found here: First Login

3. Then you will want to secure your router:

root@openwrt:~$ passwd
Changing password for root
New password:
Retype password:
Password for root changed by root
root@openwrt:~$

4. then you will want to configure your router to your liking, I suggest starting here Dumb AP

5. then you will want to configure your router with LuCI: (the v2 AP is not able to support LuCI so skip this section)

opkg update

opkg install luci

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/etc/init.d/uhttpd enable
/etc/init.d/uhttpd start

(the full guide can be found here LuCI Essentials)

via Bootloader and Serial port

ar7100> loady

Now send the file openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v2-squashfs-factory.bin using the Ymodem protocol with your terminal emulation.

After the filetransfer has been completed type:

ar7100> erase 0xbf020000 +0x3c0000

ar7100> cp.b 0x81000000 0xbf020000 0x3c0000
ar7100> reset

re-install via sysupgrade

If you have to load the current (2015.11.29) stable version from inside OpenWrt you need the sysupgrade version at openwrt-15.05-
ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v2-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin

Bootlogs
Factory Bootlog

U-Boot 1.1.4 (Feb 24 2012 - 16:48:46)

AP81 (ar7100) U-boot

DRAM:
sri
32 MB
id read 0x100000ff
flash size 4MB, sector count = 64
Flash: 4 MB
Using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
Net: ag7100_enet_initialize...
No valid address in Flash. Using fixed address
bsingle_phy = 0
eth0: 00:03:7f:09:0b:ad
eth0 up
eth0
Autobooting in 1 seconds## Booting image at bf020000 ...
Uncompressing Kernel Image OK

OpenWrt Bootlog (Attitude Adjustment)

U-Boot 1.1.4 (Feb 24 2012 - 16:48:46)

AP81 (ar7100) U-boot

DRAM:
sri
32 MB
id read 0x100000ff
flash size 4MB, sector count = 64
Flash: 4 MB
Using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
Net: ag7100_enet_initialize...
No valid address in Flash. Using fixed address
bsingle_phy = 0
eth0: 00:03:7f:09:0b:ad
eth0 up
eth0
Autobooting in 1 seconds## Booting image at bf020000 ...
Uncompressing Kernel Image OK

Version 3.x

Features

Atheros AR9341 CPU

4 MB flash memory
32 MB ram
Atheros AR5416 wireless chip
Atheros AG71xx Ethernet chip

Install OpenWrt

A discussion around the version 3.x is in Openwrt forum.

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Flashing via Web GUI fails with installed stock FW. A workaround is to use the firmware file from here (including LuCI admin GUI):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dyjxbohh85na0qs/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-factory-12.09.bin DEAD
LINK and use it to get OpenWrt running.

Images for the 3.x version can be obtained from here:

Stable release (Barrier Braker, LuCI included):

openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-factory.bin (to flash through the tp-link default webgui)

openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin (to upgrade an existing openwrt installation)

Oxxion repository:

openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-factory.bin (to flash through the tp-link default webgui)

openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin (to upgrade an existing openwrt installation)

Serial

→ port.serial general information about the serial port, serial port cable, etc.

How to connect to the Serial Port of this specific device:

Serial port layout is:

(1) VCC (3.3V)
(2) GND
(3) RX
[4] TX

Settings: 115200 8N1

There is NO hardware modification needed.

Bootloader

The bootloader is uboot with enabled ethernet network device. To access uboot console type quickly tpl if you see
Autobooting in 1 seconds.

Recovery
uboot + tftp

You can do recovery using uboot and tftp. Prepare a tftp server at 192.168.1.100 containing
openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-factory.bin.

erase 0x9f020000 +0x3c0000

tftpboot 0x81000000 openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wa901nd-v3-squashfs-factory.bin
cp.b 0x81000000 0x9f020000 0x3c0000
bootm 0x9f020000

Now OpenWrt should be installed and run.

I got problems when loading image to ram and after that I try to clear the flash range for the os image. This is the reason why to
clear first.

Bootlogs
OEM Bootlog

U-Boot 1.1.4 (May 3 2013 - 11:32:12)

U-boot AP123

DRAM: 32 MB
Flash Manuf Id 0x1, DeviceId0 0x2, DeviceId1 0x15
flash size 4MB, sector count = 64
Flash: 4 MB
Using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
Net: ag934x_enet_initialize...
No valid address in Flash. Using fixed address
No valid address in Flash. Using fixed address
wasp reset mask:c03300
WASP ----> S27 PHY
GMAC: cfg1 0x80000000 cfg2 0x7114
eth0: ba:be:fa:ce:08:41
s27 reg init

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Version 4.x

Features

Qualcomm QCA956x SOC

4 MB flash memory
32 MB RAM
Atheros AR9380 wireless chip

Serial Console

Warning!
This section describes actions that might damage your device or firmware.
Proceed with care!

Two tiny resistors (R162, R164) that connect the serial console pads towards the CPU are not placed, you need to solder two tiny
bridges for the serial to work from the pads! See the detail picture below. It is possible that these were intended as voltage
dividers, but R0 bridges Worked For Us™. Hint: solder the bridges before soldering pins onto the pads.

115200 8N1, software flow control, TTL levels.

The serial console pin order is identical to v3:

3V3 (do not connect)

GND (plug your TTL UART's “GND” cable here)
RX (plug your TTL UART's “TX” cable here, so the UART's Transmit line is connected to the TP-Link's Receive line)
TX (plug your TTL UART's “RX” cable here)

…where TX is the square pad, closest to the front side with the LEDs, as seen in this picture:

Bootlogs
Factory Bootlog

U-Boot 1.1.4 (Apr 8 2015 - 10:25:45)

ap151 - Dragonfly 1.0

DRAM: 32 MB
Top of RAM usable for U-Boot at: 82000000
Reserving 139k for U-Boot at: 81fdc000
Reserving 192k for malloc() at: 81fac000
Reserving 44 Bytes for Board Info at: 81fabfd4
Reserving 36 Bytes for Global Data at: 81fabfb0
Reserving 128k for boot params() at: 81f8bfb0
Stack Pointer at: 81f8bf98
Now running in RAM - U-Boot at: 81fdc000
Flash Manuf Id 0xef, DeviceId0 0x40, DeviceId1 0x16
flash size 4MB, sector count = 64
Flash: 4 MB
Using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial

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Version 5.x

Features

Atheros AR9343 CPU @750MHz

4 MB flash memory
32 MB RAM
Atheros AR9380 wireless chip

Serial Console

Warning!
This section describes actions that might damage your device or firmware.
Proceed with care!

Same as in v4 but different, two tiny resistors (R162, R164) that connect the serial console pads towards the CPU are not placed, you
need to solder two tiny bridges for the serial to work from the pads! See the detail picture below.

115200 8N1, software flow control, TTL levels.

The serial console pin order, as seen in the picture below:

TX (plug your TTL UART's “RX” cable here)

RX (plug your TTL UART's “TX” cable here, so the UART's Transmit line is connected to the TP-Link's Receive line)
GND (plug your TTL UART's “GND” cable here)
not annotated: 3V3 (do not connect!)

Bootlogs
Factory Bootlog

U-Boot 1.1.4 (Sep 29 2016 - 10:14:46)

ap151 - Dragonfly 1.0

DRAM: 32 MB
Top of RAM usable for U-Boot at: 82000000
Reserving 141k for U-Boot at: 81fdc000
Reserving 192k for malloc() at: 81fac000
Reserving 44 Bytes for Board Info at: 81fabfd4
Reserving 36 Bytes for Global Data at: 81fabfb0
Reserving 128k for boot params() at: 81f8bfb0
Stack Pointer at: 81f8bf98
Now running in RAM - U-Boot at: 81fdc000
Flash Manuf Id 0xc8, DeviceId0 0x40, DeviceId1 0x16
flash size 4MB, sector count = 64
Flash: 4 MB
Using default environment

In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial

Tags
How to add tags

4flash, 32ram

toh/tp-link/tl-wa901nd.txt · Last modified: 2018/07/25 07:40 by tmomas

Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

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