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inbox:toh:zyxel:nwa50ax [2022/07/16 16:10] – add device info foxtinbox:toh:zyxel:nwa50ax [2024/02/14 14:37] – [Opening the case] added info on PCB attachment to housing. valentijn
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 ====== ZyXEL NWA50AX ====== ====== ZyXEL NWA50AX ======
-~~NOTOC~~ 
  
 /* This template is intended to be used via https://openwrt.org/meta/create_new_device_page . */ /* This template is intended to be used via https://openwrt.org/meta/create_new_device_page . */
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 {{page>meta:infobox:construction&noheader&nofooter&noeditbtn}} {{page>meta:infobox:construction&noheader&nofooter&noeditbtn}}
  
-//The ZyXEL NWA50AX is ZyXEL's entry level SOHO 802.11ax/WiFi 6 access point, like many business class APs, it is designed for wall/ceiling mount, and includes a 12v1.5A power supply, and also PoE support, along side an easily accessible console port, reset button and multi-color LED.//+The ZyXEL NWA50AX is ZyXEL's entry level SOHO 802.11ax/WiFi 6 access point, like many business class APs, it is designed for wall/ceiling mount, and includes a 12v1.5A power supply, and also PoE support, along side an easily accessible console port, reset button and multi-color LED.
  
-/*****/ +{{:media:zyxel:zyxel_nwa50ax.png?500|ZyXEL NWA50AX}}
-/* How to add images ========> https://openwrt.org/meta/adding_images_to_openwrt_wiki */ +
-/*****/+
  
-{{ media:example:genericrouter1.png?200|Generic Router}} 
  
 +===== Supported Versions =====
  
-===== OpenWrt support =====+<!-- ToH: { 
 +  "source": "json", 
 +  "dom": "t", 
 +  "paging": false, 
 +  "rotate": true, 
 +  "shownColumns": ["brand", "model", "version", "supportedcurrentrel", "oemdevicehomepageurl", "forumsearch", "deviceid"], 
 +  "filterColumns": {"brand": "^ZyXEL$", "model": "^NWA50AX$"
 +} -->
  
-<color red>**Work in progress.**</color>+/If no unsupported functions known, comment out the following datatable or delete it. *
 +<!-- ToH: { 
 +  "source": "json", 
 +  "dom": "t", 
 +  "paging": false, 
 +  "shownColumns": ["unsupported_functions"], 
 +  "filterColumns": {"brand": "^ZyXEL$", "model": "^NWA50AX$"
 +} -->
  
  
-===== Supporting activities ===== +===== Hardware Highlights ===== 
-//Describe if there are any ongoing activities that might lead to OpenWrt support.// +<!-- ToH: { 
- +  "source": "json", 
-  * OpenWrt forum threadhttps://forum.openwrt.org/t/porting-to-zyxel-nwa50ax/132202 +  "dom""t", 
-  * [[commit>?p=openwrt/staging/blocktrron.git;a=commit;h=fad522f91ba3e32ec42ea3cbcf1ff5f3feef9540]] +  "paging"false, 
- +  "rotate": true, 
- +  "shownColumns": ["model", "version", "cpu", "cpumhz", "cpucores", "flashmb", "rammb", "wlanhardware", "ethernet100mports", "ethernet1gports", "ethernet2_5gports", "sfp_plus_ports", "modem", "usbports"], 
-/*** if info availableuncomment and fill in +  "filterColumns": {"brand": "^ZyXEL$", "model": "^NWA50AX$"} 
-===== Experimental firmware ===== +} -->
- +
-//List experimental firmware download links here.// +
- +
-//None at this time.// +
- +
-  * External image (add link) +
-  * trunk image (add link) +
-  * ... +
-***/ +
- +
- +
-===== Hardware highlights ===== +
-CPU                              ^ Ram         ^ Flash        ^ Network   ^ WLAN                           ^ USB  ^ Serial   ^ JTag   +
-| 4x Mediatek MT7621 @ 880 MHz    256M DDR3  |  128MB NAND  |  1x 1GbE  |  2.4/5GHz 802.11ax 2x2 (MT7915) |  No  |   Yes    |   ?    |+
  
  
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 === From factory WebUI === === From factory WebUI ===
  
-Upload the OpenWrt factory image to the factory's firmware+Upload the OpenWrt factory image to the factory's firmware. Normally, this should work right away.
  
-If OpenWrt is installed to slot B, it will fail installation, and reboot to the stock ZyXEL firmware, in this case, simply install stock firmware [[https://www.zyxel.com/uk/en/support/download_library/product/nwa50ax_14.shtml?c=uk&l=en&pid=20201102200009&tab=Firmware&pname=NWA50AX&mtname=Firmware|from ZyXEL's site]], and then attempt to reinstall OpenWrt.+However, if your NWA50AX has had a firmware update since unpacking, then OpenWrt is installed to slot B and will fail installation. The NWA50AX will then reboot to the stock ZyXEL firmware. In this case, simply install another stock firmware image [[https://www.zyxel.com/uk/en/support/download_library/product/nwa50ax_14.shtml?c=uk&l=en&pid=20201102200009&tab=Firmware&pname=NWA50AX&mtname=Firmware|from ZyXEL's site]], and then attempt to reinstall OpenWrt.
  
 === From Serial === === From Serial ===
  
-The ZyXEL modified U-Boot has a restricted set of commands available, however more can be accessed by abusing the 'atns' command.+The modified ZyXEL U-Boot has a restricted set of commands available, howevermore can be accessed by abusing the 'atns' command.
  
-  Host the OpenWrt initramfs image on a TFTP server as 'openwrt-initramfs.bin' +Requirements 
-  - Attach an Ethernet cable to your machine with the TFTP server, with the IP 192.168.1.66 & Netmask 255.255.255.0 +  Local area network with 192.168.1.0/24 subnet  
-  - Attach the UART console to the device, and press keys while the device is booting to interrupt the boot process.+  - A TFTP server hosting the [[https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/22.03.3/targets/ramips/mt7621/openwrt-22.03.3-ramips-mt7621-zyxel_nwa50ax-initramfs-kernel.bin|openwrt-initramfs.bin]] image running on the arbitrary IP address: e.g. 192.168.1.20 
 +  - [[https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/22.03.3/targets/ramips/mt7621/openwrt-22.03.3-ramips-mt7621-zyxel_nwa50ax-squashfs-ramboot-factory.bin|ramboot-factory.bin]] image (you'll download this image later via wget from the console) 
 + 
 +Go through the following steps 
 +  - Connect the serial cable to the console port 
 +  - Connect the router to your LAN using ethernet cable 
 +  - Start the terminal emulator and connect to the serial port 
 +  - Connect the power cable which starts the router and you see the following\\ <code> 
 +U-Boot SPL 2018.09 (Jan 22 2021 - 07:42:43 +0000) 
 +Trying to boot from NAND 
 + 
 +Initializing NMBM ... 
 +Signature found at block 1023 [0x07fe0000] 
 +First info table with writecount found in block 960 
 +Second info table with writecount 0 found in block 963 
 +NMBM has been successfully attached 
 +</code> 
 +  - Interrupt the boot sequence with the keyboard to enter the UART console\\ <code> 
 +gpio: pin 24 (gpio 24) value is 1 
 +Hit any key to stop autoboot: 
 +=> 
 +</code> 
 +  - Check the active slot:\\ <code>atds</code> 
 +  - Read the output to find the active slot\\ <code> 
 +Image0 status           :success [Slot A] 
 +Image1 status           :success [Slot B] 
 +Boot Image              :Image1  [Slot B is active] 
 +</code>
   - Boot the OpenWRT initramfs image using the commands:\\ <code>   - Boot the OpenWRT initramfs image using the commands:\\ <code>
 atnf openwrt-initramfs.bin atnf openwrt-initramfs.bin
-atna 192.168.1.1 +atna 192.168.1.10 
-atns "192.168.1.66; tftpboot; bootm"+atns "192.168.1.20; tftpboot; bootm" 
 +</code> 
 +  - Wait until the text below appears and then press Enter\\ <code> 
 +Press the [f] key and hit [enter] to enter failsafe mode 
 +Press the [1], [2], [3] or [4] key and hit [enter] to select the debug level 
 +Please press Enter to activate this console. 
 +</code> 
 +  - You have successfully booted OpenWrt\\ <code> 
 +BusyBox v1.35.0 (2023-01-03 00:24:21 UTC) built-in shell (ash) 
 + 
 +  _______                     ________        __ 
 +       |.-----.-----.-----.|  |  |  |.----.|  |_ 
 +     ||  _  |  -__|     ||  |  |  ||   _||   _| 
 + |_______||   __|_____|__|__||________||__|  |____| 
 +          |__| W I R E L E S S   F R E E D O M 
 + ----------------------------------------------------- 
 + OpenWrt 22.03.3, r20028-43d71ad93e 
 + ----------------------------------------------------- 
 +=== WARNING! ===================================== 
 +There is no root password defined on this device! 
 +Use the "passwd" command to set up a new password 
 +in order to prevent unauthorized SSH logins. 
 +-------------------------------------------------- 
 +root@OpenWrt:/# 
 +</code> 
 +  - Once OpenWrt has booted, you'll have to configure the network to get Internet access 
 +  - Edit the file /etc/config/network\\ <code> 
 +vim /etc/config/network 
 +</code> 
 +  - Configure router's IP address, gateway, dns server\\ <code> 
 +(...) 
 + 
 +config interface 'lan' 
 +        option device 'br-lan' 
 +        option proto 'static' 
 +        option ipaddr '192.168.1.10' 
 +        option netmask '255.255.255.0' 
 +        option ip6assign '60' 
 +        option gateway '192.168.1.1' 
 +        list dns '192.168.1.1' 
 + 
 +</code> 
 +  - Apply the changes with\\ <code>/etc/init.d/network restart</code> 
 +  - Verify the Internet connection\\ <code>ping www.google.com</code> 
 +  - If slot B is active, you'll have to install zyxel-bootconfig package\\ <code> 
 +opkg update  
 +opkg install zyxel-bootconfig
 </code> </code>
-  - Once OpenWrt has booted, set the correct image slot using the commands\\ <code>+  - ...and make slot A active (you don't have to do this is slot A is already active)\\ <code>
 zyxel-bootconfig /dev/mtd10 get-status zyxel-bootconfig /dev/mtd10 get-status
 zyxel-bootconfig /dev/mtd10 set-image-status 0 valid zyxel-bootconfig /dev/mtd10 set-image-status 0 valid
 zyxel-bootconfig /dev/mtd10 set-active-image 0 zyxel-bootconfig /dev/mtd10 set-active-image 0
 </code> </code>
-  - Copy the ramboot-factory image to the device, using for example SCP or wget.+  - Download  the ramboot-factory image to the device, using for example SCP or wget\\ <code> 
 +cd /tmp 
 +wget --no-check-certificate -O ramboot-factory.bin https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/22.03.3/targets/ramips/mt7621/openwrt-22.03.3-ramips-mt7621-zyxel_nwa50ax-squashfs-ramboot-factory.bin 
 +</code>
   - Install the image to the NAND\\ <code>   - Install the image to the NAND\\ <code>
 mtd write ramboot-factory.bin firmware mtd write ramboot-factory.bin firmware
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 **Insert photo of backside label** **Insert photo of backside label**
  
-**Insert photo of PCB**+Photo of the PCB
 + 
 +{{:media:zyxel_nwa50ax_pcb.jpg?400|}}
  
 ==== Opening the case ==== ==== Opening the case ====
  
-On the bottom side of the device, there are 4 PH1 screws, remove them, flip the device over and pry the top cover off from the ridge around the edge.+On the bottom side of the device, there are 4 PH1 screws, remove them, flip the device over and pry the top cover off from the ridge around the edge. There are no plastic clips, the device should come apart without problems. You will see a large antenna ground plate that also serves as a heat sink, seemingly attached with 4 screws. However, it is also attached to the PCB with some sort of tape. See photo: {{:media:zyxel:zyxel_nwa50ax_heatsink_sideways.jpg?200|}} Should you decide to rip off the heat sink, a photo of the resulting mess may be helpful. 
 + 
 +The PCB is held down with 4 little plastic clamps on the corners, and is also attached to a heat sink with double sticking tape. Taking the PCB out should be easy.
  
 ==== Serial ==== ==== Serial ====
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 How to connect to the Serial Port of this specific device:\\ How to connect to the Serial Port of this specific device:\\
-Turn the device over, so you are looking at the ports, with the ports at the bottom, The order of the pins is.+Turn the device over, so you are looking at the ports, with the ports at the bottom, The order of the pins is:
  
-<12v> <LAN> GND, RX, TX, VCC (do not connect VCC!). There will also be an arrow pointing at the VCC pin.+<12v> <LAN> GND, RX, TX, VCC (do not connect VCC!). See picture: {{:media:zyxel:zyxel_nwa50ax_connections.jpg?200}} There will also be an arrow above the word ''CONSOLE'' **▴** pointing at the VCC pin.
  
 +Note RX needs to be connected to TX on the connecting device and TX to RX.
  
 ^ Serial connection parameters\\ for ZyXEL NWA50AX | 115200, 8N1, 3.3V | ^ Serial connection parameters\\ for ZyXEL NWA50AX | 115200, 8N1, 3.3V |
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 ===== Tags ===== ===== Tags =====
-{{tag>unsupported ramips MT7621 4core 128nand 256ram 1port GigabitEthernet wlan 802.11ax InternalAntenna 2Ant Serial ceiling 12v_powered PoE }}+{{tag>ramips mt7621 mt7915 4core 128nand 256ram 1port GigabitEthernet wlan 802.11bgn 802.11ax InternalAntenna 2Ant Serial ceiling 12v_powered PoE }}
  • Last modified: 2024/08/21 07:34
  • by nokius