TP-Link TL-WA701ND

Similar to the TP-Link TL-WR741ND but with PoE and a smaller antenna.

* My v2.0 was the EU version which had firmware lock, error 18005 is displayed when trying to flash. Unlocking is explained below.

→ Install OpenWrt (generic explanation)

Please add the installation procedure here.

Stock firmware

0x00000000-0x00020000 : “boot”
0x00020000-0x00120000 : “kernel”
0x00120000-0x003e0000 : “rootfs”
0x003e0000-0x003f0000 : “config”
0x003f0000-0x00400000 : “art”

Firmware 3.16.9 has a different check mechanism than other versions and doesn't allow anything to be flashed (error 18005).

A firmware must have this string at address 0x120 in order to be flashed: 00000000;45550000;

This can be added using a hex editor. Checksum must be recalculated using mktplinkfw tool in the image builder after editing. There's a thread in the forums about that

Main PCB v1

The unpopulated pin header SJ1 provides a 3.3 V serial port. See photo for pinout.
Serial connection parameters: 115200, 8N1

• In v1 USB can be added with a MOD.
• In v2 USB is present but no pinouts are available on PCB to solder USB socket.

For the v1 USB mod you need to solder wires to the following resistors: R100 (Pin 73) and R101 (Pin 74). The side that is soldered is facing the LED'S. The side facing the RJ45 jack is ground. I recommend using a thin gauge wire so as not to detach the resistors. You can solder directly to the CPU but i recommend you solder directly to the back of the above resistors as this is easier. (Please remember to orientate your board correctly.) A 5 Volt regulator is also needed to power the USB port.(You can add a filter capacitor.) You will not need to add any additional resistors. I do not recommend using the USB port with the PoE unless you upgrade the power supply. The way the USB port has been powered will only work when the power supply is plugged directly into the access point.

The TP-Link TL-WA701ND and other TP-Link AP devices do not support standard passive POE voltage (48V) but instead they supports an unusual 9V or 12V DC input. If you plug the AP in a standard passive POE injector at 48V this results in damaging the capacitors and ultimately shorting out the board. If this happens and you have a decent brick power supply, it limits the output current and you save the board, otherwise the board could be damaged irreversibly. You can easily circumvent this limitation by replacing the electrolytic capacitors on the board with the appropriate ones rated at least 63V. Replacing them is pretty straightforward, because the solder mask is quite self explanatory and the capacitors have the capacitance value written on the side. In the board there`s plenty of room to place the caps:

How to add tags