NETGEAR EX3700 / EX3800

→ Install OpenWrt (generic explanation)

1. Connect your computer to the Wireless Extender
2. Login to the extender via http://mywifiext.net
3. Look for “Firmware Update/Upgrade”
4. Select browse and look for the OpenWRT image you downloaded, and select it.
5. Click Start/Begin
6. It will now say that the firmware is being updated.
7. Wait for the process to complete
8. Once it says the firmware has been updated, close the page, connect your computer to the Ethernet port on the extender, and SSH to 192.168.1.1, The default user is “root” and there is no password set.

Installation Completed

Access to the serial port is useful for debugging etc. Instructions are as follows:

1. Remove the two external screws on the enclosure and pull of power supply unit (connected via 2.54mm headers)
2. Pull up the two antenna cables under the black fabric tape
3. Undo the phillips screw holding the heatsink in place
4. Pry up on the screw side of the heatsink (take care, as it is stuck down with a thermal pad)
5. With the heatsink off, the PCB should pry up from the opposite side of the ethernet port
6. On the bottom of the PCB are test points labeled TX,RX,GND,3V3 - this is the serial port header
7. Solder small wires onto the test points and tuck the wires through one of the cooling holes in the enclosure for easy access
8. Reverse the disassembly process to put the device back together, being careful with the serial port wires, and remembering to re-attach the antenna cables

The serial port configuration is 8 data bits, one stop bit, and a baud rate of 57200.

If you have disassembled your device, take care when re-installing the antenna cables. It is possible that when twisting the antenna around, you can pop out one of the cables. To remedy this, I put some epoxy resin on the connectors to lock them in place. Only do this if you aren't planning on re-disassembling your device (to get access to the serial port).

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