I bought a BT HUB with slightly different hardware. There is no MiniPCI card and some components are in different places.
There was already verdsion 8.1.H.G so I started flashing using the first method. After flashing router does not start properly - keeps rebooting every time when Wifi LED starts blinking.
I flashed router again using the second (large) dump. After that, router boots up fine.
Well I'll be!
They did a few revisions of these didn't they? I'm impressed that you took the chance and went ahead with the flashing. I am glad you got it working with the bigger dump - that's one for the info files.
Any chance of a hi-res piccy of the photo and copy of the original firmware backup you did? If so can you email it to me?
Thanks
PSi
Thank you Cezar. Downloading the backup for a look now. Hopw you don;t mind I edited out the the download location as it contains some unique information to your router.
Hi a newbie here. A great site & keep up the good work. My HH also differs from that shown in the main 'how to', looking identical to to the pics posted by ceza91. Following ceza91's sucess (brave!) I will try this too but before I do has anyone worked out why the first method failed and whether there are any further pitfalls to look out for?
BTW, my router is brand new (supplied by BT Jan 2010) and is therefore likely to turn up in greater numbers.
Tony.
I am unsure why the first method failed as the backup I downloaded from Cezar91 was corect and it should have worked.
Any how the firmware in the any other firmware folder is basically a full repair flash so in the event you get a non boot situation after flashing the 1st method revert to the second.
Please let us know how it goes. Am very bust in work at the moment but I do intend to add this board revision to the tutorial.
Thanks PsiDOC, you've obviously put a lot of effort into helping this particular community. I am currently flashing my HH as I type having overcome a couple of snags on the JTAG front. I've posted a warning on the main thread but copy it here too for those with newer hardware (if it's confusing please feel free to delete/move modify as you see fit)
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I have a newer HH V2.0 type A (see http://www.psidoc.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=16&pid=162#post_162) and was initially having trouble with the JTAG and my experience may help others;
A) the photo in the main how to, "Hacking the BT Home Hub V2.0A" showing the 25 pin plug with resistors etc, appears to be flipped horizontally (although the text giving pin mappings etc is ok).
On the newer HH, the JTAG connector (or pads at least for it) are in a different place. Not a problem in itself but the silk screen printing of the pinout numbers are REVERSED to the earlier V2 model show in the 'how to'.
In this instance, 2 wrongs definatly don't make a right..
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Nice one. Thanks for helping out and giving it a go.
Am glad it worked.
Did you use the 81HJ file or the any other firmware one?
Also I take it that the connections are the same, just rotated 90 degrees anticlickwise - it seems I have the original pictures and pin designations in the tutorial backwards Ie: my 1 to 8 should be 8 to 1 on the PCB.
Hi PsiDOC, as ceza91 had problems I used the 'any other firmware' just in case (untill you subsequently explained, I didn't realise the smaller custom.bin was a 'slice' from the whole image and serves to speed up the flash).
I have attached some photos as follows;
#HH V2.0 type A - later PCB - JTAG connections.JPG = when compared to your photo from the earlier V2.0A hub, other than position & oriontation it is indeed the same. However, I have spotted that pins 1 & 8 are marked on my board but not yours BUT the order is back to front to the text (i.e pin 1 now pin 8, pin 2 now pin 7 etc). I've done some digging about and found (I think) the datasheet for the surface mounted header which fits the 1.0mm pitch of the copper lands (see http://docs-europ...0aaa00.pdf). As this defines pin one as being contrary to the pcb silk screening it looks like your numbering is probably technically correct. Perhaps however numbering is best avoided, instead I suggest you point people to look at the relevent photo!
#HH V2.0 type A - later PCB.JPG = zoomed out shot showing the revised JTAG connection location in context
# JTAG 25way male (LPT end).jpg = shows my PC printer port cable (which works ok) close up. Compare this to the one in the tutorial and you will see the 2 rows of pins are transposed (my resistors are in the forefront, yours to the rear). As a 25way connector is assymetrical I can only conclude that your photo has be flipped horizontally somehow?
Hopefully you can make sense of all this, feel free to PM me if you want me to talk you through it if it's not clear.
eeerrr, how do I attach a photo? I browsed to the jpgs and selected them (or so I thought) but although a (mofied) path was shown (e.g. C:\fakepath\HH V2.0 type A - later PCB - JTAG connections.JPG) they fell off when I actually posted)? Sorry if I'm being thick
Tony the pic probably didn't load because of the file size. I have upped it to 1.5 meg now. If it's any bigger than that could you be so kind as to resize it down? Thanks.
The smaller custom.bin "slice" as you call it is good if the router is already on the latest firmware.
The LPT plug shown in the tutorial was a generic one that was just to demonstrate how to solder the resistors in lin on the LPT port. I never looked to see if it was flipped or not. I will update the tutorial with the new board details when work turns down to a dull roar as am working 12 hours a day 6 days a week at the moment.
Thank you for all the information as well it is really appreciated and very much in the spirit of shared help I hoped to create on the forum.
Hi Psi, I had already resized the photos (only 150KB max each)? I think the problem is an IE permissions issue. Origionally, on browsing to an attachment the resulting path was modified to FAKE (e.g. C:\fakepath\HH V2.0 type A - later PCB - JTAG connections.JPG) which I assumed was to obfuscate the true path to prevent info leakage.
I have found however that if I change the security settings to add www.psidoc.com to the 'trusted zone' the correct path is shown. Hopefully the photos will stay attached this time.. Plan B - if not could perhaps PM me your email addresss and I'll send them to you to post? Cheers, Tony
I have been struggling all last evening trying to get access to the hub through the Jtag cable. I could not manage to communicate with the router whatsoever... I gave up on soldering the wires to the board afraid not to damage it. I was wondering if you have any pictures of the soldered pins / pins mapping?
Regards, Peter.
Peter, untill I can get the jpgs to upload PM me an email address & I'll send you the jpgs. I expect you've worked it out already but a very fine wire & a small tipped soldering iron bit are essential. Of course the elegent solution would be to fit a 'header' to the PCB which means you would only have to get the soldering right once. The JTAG cable would then plug into this allowing safe & easy disconnection and reconnection if subsequently needed. I've only done limited research but RS Components & Farnell have items I think would be suitable (i.e. http://uk.farnell.com/jst-japan-solderless-terminals/sm08b-srss-tb-lf-sn/header-r-a-8way/dp/1679124?Ntt=1679124). Good luck, Tony
Thanks for your help Tony, as of last night I am running the hub with Orange
PsiDOC: I was wondering if there's an unbranded firmware out there? maybe the manufacturer's default? If so, is there much difference in functionality?
Yay! Another happy non BT home hub!
Thank you to Tony 2 Shoes for helping out on this. It is really appreciated mate. I owe you one.
Have attached the pics you sent me via email and, if you don't mind I am using your 25 pin D plug pic in the tutorial now so everything is 100% correct in the tutorials now.
@pisicos,
Yes there is an unbranded firmware. The Home hub is a Thomson TG797n with a curvy black body. Problem is I don't know anyone with a TG797n as I don't think they were brought to the UK market. I'd need a JTAG dump of the firmware to get going as I am 99% sure the .bli will not work as a flashable update. That said the.bli flashable update has never been released by thomson.
If I could get a dump I can make it fit!
Hi
I have the newer version of HH V2.0 A and somehow i didnt get the identical backups in the first try. I used 1/4 resistors can this might be a problem. I need some suggestions which can help me with the backup thing what could possibly be creating a problem with identical backup and Can i bypass the backup and flash it. Guys i need your expert opinion. Waiting......
If the backups are not taken back to back and the router is allowed to boot in between it has been known for some of the data in the "user save area" to have changed eg: Boot logs etc.
So try again and this time do not allow the router to beoot in between.
if that does not work then start a new thread and we'll take it from there.
Psi
Thanks I will try that. So that means flashing the router without having identical backup can create a problem. My first backup is about to finish will get back to you after the results. Cheers Doc
Many thanks.... I'm looking forward to the time in between now and the stroppy teenager lol..... fingers crossed... my HH2 is packed away as it was too unstable on my current ISP (i tried two
slightly different motherboad- UNLOCKED
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