TP-Link TL-WR720N

TP-Link TL-WR720N

This device is NOT RECOMMENDED for future use with OpenWrt due to low flash/ram.
DO NOT BUY DEVICES WITH 4MB FLASH / 32MB RAM if you intend to flash an up-to-date and secure OpenWrt version onto it! See 4/32 warning for details.

1) This device does not have sufficient resources (flash and/or RAM) to provide secure and reliable operation.
This means that even setting a password or changing simple network settings might not be possible any more, rendering the device effectively useless. See OpenWrt on 4/32 devices what you can do now.

2) OpenWrt support for this device has ended in 2022.
19.07.10 was the last official build for 4/32 devices.

Very closely related to TL-WR700N, TL-WR702N, TL-WR703N and TL-WR710N

Note: TP-Link also markets a very different router under the same name.

Even though it is marketed as a “3G travel router”, the TL-WR720N does not include a 3G modem. It simply means that the OEM firmware and GUI support a certain range of USB 3G modems. OpenWrt supports USB 3G modems, too. The router is powered through either a AC source (100-240V, Chinese-style foldable plug, i.e. two prongs without hole), or a micro-USB socket stub (5V).

The domestic Chinese/Asian versions and those for the European and American markets differ significantly. Only the rectangular version available from China has been tested, so far.

Supported Versions

Model Version	Model Specific Notes
v1.1	USA version (rectangular), only 2MB flash → unsupportable
v3.0	Chinese version (rectangular)
v4.0	Chinese version (rectangular)

Hardware Highlights

Installation

→ Install OpenWrt (generic explanation)

Please add the installation procedure for v3 and v4 here.

As from 28 April 2013, support for the TL-WR720N is present in the Trunk version of OpenWrt, see this thread on the forum for further reference.

Failsafe mode

→ failsafe_and_factory_reset

Note that the mount_root command will not work. (You can use the netcat method to install a fresh copy of the system if necessary.)

Hardware

The hardware of v4.0 is almost the same as v3.0 and the firmware id for it is 0x07200104 (0x07200103 for v3.0).

USB ports

It appears the hardware switch must be set to “3G” to make the USB port work. Otherwise the port has power output but devices connected can't be detected by OpenWrt.

Serial Console

TP_IN is RX, TP_OUT is TX, and you may solder a ground above R323. The connection speed is 115200, N, 8, 1.

user: root pass: 5up

To access the u-boot bootloader, enter 'tpl'+<enter> when the 'Autoboot in 1 sec' message is displayed.

Internal Pictures

V1.1

Somebody please uplad the pictures, i can't because not have permission.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/xRJ1wanyXrHb5Ptv5

V3.0

With thanks to mveplus who posted these pictures in the forum thread.

Bootloader Mods

Read about bootloader in general and about Das U-Boot in particular.

U-Boot 1.1.4 modification for routers

Forum member pepe2k made a modification of U-Boot 1.1.4 for Qualcomm Atheros SoCs based devices (the project is still being developed, so new devices and SoCs will be supported in the future). Up to date information, binary images and sources can be found on official GitHub repository.

This modification started from wr703n-uboot-with-web-failsafe project, but supports more devices, all modern web browsers, has a lot of improvements and other modifications (like U-Boot NetConsole, custom commands, overclocking possibilities etc.).

More information:

Official repository on GitHub: U-Boot 1.1.4 modification for routers
Discussion about this project on OpenWrt forum
An article (in Polish) about one of the first version of this project on www.tech-blog.pl

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