Aug 18, 2013

TP-Link TL-WR702N clones and English firmware upgrade (FAST FWR171, Mercury MW151RM)

TP-Link
TL-WR702N		 57×57×18mm
34g
FAST
FWR171		 56×56×18mm
32g
Mercury
MW151RM		 56×56×18mm
32g

TP-Link's TL-WR702N is essentially a TL-WR703N without the USB port, and with less memory (2M+16M vs 4M+32M). The international version is blue colored and has English firmware. The Chinese version comes in either lime or pink. Rebranded models are sold in China as FAST FWR171 and Mercury MW151RM; these obviously only come with Chinese firmware.

There is no DD-WRT or OpenWRT for these routers, due to the small flash rom size. However, it is possible to flash the official English firmware of the blue TL-WR702N to the lime/pink Chinese models, or to the FWR171 and MW151RM clones. This can be done easily without opening the case. To see what the firmware looks like, please visit this page. Below are some screenshots I took with the latest 702N firmware (130528) running on my FWR171.
The English WR702N firmware downloaded from TP-Link's website must be modified, in order to fool the stock Chinese firmware into accepting the update. Details can be found in this forum thread. As usual, I have created English firmware files for the Chinese 702N and the Fast/Mercury clones. I will be making them available to my customers through email.

The method of flashing the modified firmware is by a combination of the web configuration page and TFTP. You must have a TFTP server to host the firmware file. Windows users may use tftpd32. Once the TFTP server is up and running, enter its IP address and the filename of the firmware into the router's admin page, and click upgrade. The router will fetch the firmware from your TFTP server, flash it, and then reboot. If everything goes well, you should get the green TP-Link status page at the router's new IP address (192.168.0.254). From that point on, you will no longer need to worry about TFTP or firmware modding. The router will behave exactly as an English WR702N, and any official 702N firmware updates can be flashed directly via the web interface.
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12 comments :

  1. UnknownSeptember 10, 2013 at 3:42 PM

    Need more details setting the tftp program please.

    ReplyDelete
  2. scwksSeptember 11, 2013 at 2:10 PM

    Are you referring to tftpd32 on Windows? It's pretty straight-forward, the only thing that requires setting up is the Current Directory, i.e. the path where the firmware file is stored. Of course the Windows PC must be reachable from the router, which means no firewall blocking incoming connections.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 19, 2016 at 1:48 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 19, 2016 at 11:50 AM

      My device came with the newest CN firmware (v5.03.02 - build 140818 Rel.37254n) and the patched En firmware from this thread do not work (Error code: 18005).

      I have tried to load stock firmware but get Err18003... also the new firmware screen (page) interface does not have the TFTP IP box... don't know if its matter ?

      What am I missing ? Can anyone help ?

      Delete
  3. UnknownSeptember 12, 2013 at 1:22 PM

    Thought I did that but get Error Code: 18000
    Upgrade is not successful, check if you upload a file on a TFTP server, and whether the appropriate directory.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. scwksSeptember 15, 2013 at 11:36 PM

      Any activities in the tftp server log? Like what I had in the screenshot?

      Delete
    2. UnknownSeptember 16, 2013 at 1:28 PM

      After reading more carefully the above post, I must state I did not purchase my 702n from you and probably don't have the proper bin file. I am willing to pay via PayPal for the file or if you desire I will purchase another wr702n from you.
      Paul
      Email pmhopp@Gmail.com

      Delete
  4. Luis Olavo DantasFebruary 4, 2014 at 8:52 PM

    Hello. I'm in much the same situation as Paul Hoppe, and have much the same request.

    Mine is a lime 702N, and I get an 18002 error message. Apparently due to some mistake in configuring TFTPD64.

    If you think we can agree on a price for your assistance, please drop me a line at luisdantas@hotmail.com - thanks a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  5. scwksFebruary 7, 2014 at 10:57 PM

    Paul did get it to work at last. What does the 18002 error message say?

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 20, 2014 at 9:12 AM

    Hi scwks,
    I'd appreciate if you sent me the details on English firmware files for the Chinese 702N at r.moldova at gmail.com
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. scwksDecember 20, 2014 at 9:55 PM

      Someone already posted the firmware in that openwrt forum thread...

      Delete
  7. geertFebruary 18, 2016 at 7:19 PM

    I accidentally flashed the "latest" firmware on my TL-WR702N:
    The TP-LINK site now shows version 141203. I cannot find the original
    130528 version. Do you have a copy? Or is it indeed older? Thanks.
    (Everything works fine though).

    ReplyDelete

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