TP-Link WR1043ND router & connectivity

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steve_o
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:09 am

TP-Link WR1043ND router & connectivity

Post by steve_o »

After daily wireless dropouts using the manufacturer's firmware on my TP-Link WR1043 router (many different versions in the last year), I decided to try Gargoyle on it. The router (purchased Aug 2011) I have shows it is hardware version 1.8, which according to TP-Link, is considered "V1".

I thought I had followed Gargoyle instructions correctly, but have an issue that I have not been able to resolve. The install went smoothly & I was able to get in to the new firmware & start making it look like my old one. I downloaded this version:

gargoyle_1.5.9-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin

which I thought was the appropriate one for my router.

I had taken screenshots from the factory firmware configurations before making any changes, and proceeded to migrate them over to the new Gargoyle firmware. Everything went smoothly and works except for one thing - nothing can get out to the internet. All the devices can see the network, and can use it, but any call outside fails.

When I got the router, the firmware on it was
TL-WR1043ND_V1_110429 (2011-05-06)
after finding a couple issues (DST) with it, I then changed that firmware to their next version
TL-WR1043ND_V1_120210 (2012-02-20)
and changed to the newest version
TL-WR1043ND_V1_120405 (2012-04-05)
when they added the print via USB capability to it. Throughout each of those versions, I had experienced the intermittent dropout of wireless to some or all devices. (Note - the issue would have the router lit up like it was busy, but no wireless device could see it, and if it did, when you tried to connect, the router would prompt for a password which it would not accept. Also, any wired connection would also fail to access the router's menu. The only resolution was/is to power it off & back on, at which time it will function normally - for a while). When I kept reporting the issue on my router, they had me to install another firmware, now moving to:
wr1043nv1_en_3_13_12_up_boot(121210)_UN_beta (2012-12-10)
It was from this latest version that I migrated to the Gargoyle version listed above.

I know that any wired or wireless devices can see & use anything on the internal network. However, one thing I noticed is that the WAN isn't picking up an IP address from the ISP (Time Warner Cable). Another thing I noticed was that in the manufacturer firmware setup, there was a menu item under Network called MAC Clone. I recalled that I had to have both of those (the WAN MAC address & my PC's MAC address) to match to be able to get the router to work.

Is there a similar setting in Gargoyle that I need to enable to get it to function as before? I am hoping that it's something simple & stupid I've overlooked & would appreciate any help.

Thanks! :shock:

Slacker
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:00 pm

Re: TP-Link WR1043ND router & connectivity

Post by Slacker »


steve_o
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:09 am

Re: TP-Link WR1043ND router & connectivity

Post by steve_o »

Thank you for the link. I read thru the info there. I had also found it earlier, but wasn't sure it applied.

Instead of directly applying the german firmware, I followed the instructions from "Revert Back Original Firmware" from Gargoyle's Install Guide page for the WR1043ND router.

http://www.gargoyle-router.com/wiki/dok ... l-wr1043nd

I assumed that that modified file would allow me to get back to a stock firmware, which I could then apply the German version onto. However, when I did this, the router immediately locked up, and I am unable to see it from anything on the system.

I think the Power and/or the SYS light, along with the 1,2,3 & 4 WAN lights are all flashing off & on in unison. I've been unable to get it to do anything beyond this. I've tried hitting the reset button on the back of the unit. I've also tried pressing the QSS button on the front. None of it makes any difference - no matter if they are depressed when powered on, or powered on & then pressed and held. All those lights just flash.

Ping doesn't see it. My PC tells me that whatever it is connected to is no longer there.

Any ideas if this is recoverable?

Thanks!

:?:

Slacker
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:00 pm

Re: TP-Link WR1043ND router & connectivity

Post by Slacker »

I forgot to add "BE CAREFUL"...
Look at the failsafe mode instructions and go from there.

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