Cannot flash back to stock ASUS firmware

[spt]

I love the merlin firmware. But unfortunately, I have moved and I need more coverage. Unfortunately, Merlin's firmware does not support AiMesh, and the repeater is slower than molasses.

Current Setup: ASUS RT-AC68U, Asuswrt-Merlin firmware version 384.5

Attempting to flash: RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_384_45149-g467037b
Have also tried to flash: RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_384_32738-gc9a116a

I have attempted to flash the following methods many times:
1) Through the Administration > Firmware Upgrade
2) From the recovery mode: (Holding down the reset button. Powering on the device. Uploading the firmware via the recovery page)
3) Recovery + recovery tool: (Holding down the reset button. Powering on the device and using the asus firmware restoration tool

I have also cleared nvram from both the Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting and from the recovery mode.

Each time it appears that everything has gone fine the router reboots me into the wizard. I go through the wizard to find I am still running the same Asuswrt-merlin 385.4 firmware.

I'm at a loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Is this a genuine Asus router or a modified T M model?

 

[Klueless]

... and the repeater is slower than molasses

So while you and Colin work the router tell me more about the repeater. If configured properly many of today's dual-band repeaters/extenders can perform as well as mesh.

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

Is this a genuine Asus router or a modified T M model?

Not modified enough, apparently.

 

[spt]

Is this a genuine Asus router or a modified T M model?

It is a TM-AC1900.

 

[spt]

So while you and Colin work the router tell me more about the repeater. If configured properly many of today's dual-band repeaters/extenders can perform as well as mesh.

I max my internet connection out on my main router. On the repeater I'm at 2-3Mbps when I do a speedtest. But there also seems to be some packet loss or something as half way through a page loading it will just hang.

I haven't diagnosed it too much because I'd rather just have 1 SSID that I just connect to and have it auto swap me to the strongest.

 

[ColinTaylor]

@spt You are running illegal software on your router which is why you can't update the firmware (more recent firmwares block the update process). There are numerous sticky posts at the top of this forum about this, one in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Please don't ask for help circumventing this block as you posts will be deleted.

 

[spt]

@spt You are running illegal software on your router which is why you can't update the firmware (more recent firmwares block the update process). There are numerous sticky posts at the top of this forum about this, one in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Please don't ask for help circumventing this block as you posts will be deleted.

Oh, I bought this used off eBay. I was treating it as an RT-AC68U, since that's what I thought I bought, and that's what the firmware was telling me. I hadn't even thought to look at the back until you asked.

Guess I'm SOL. Thanks for the help. At least I can stop banging my head on the table over this.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Oh, I bought this used off eBay. I was treating it as an RT-AC68U, since that's what I thought I bought, and that's what the firmware was telling me. I hadn't even thought to look at the back until you asked.

Guess I'm SOL. Thanks for the help. At least I can stop banging my head on the table over this.

Well now at least you can concentrate on solving the actual problem you were having.

 

[spt]

yeah SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!! No WIFI in the bathroom... no good man.. no good.

 

[ColinTaylor]

yeah SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!! No WIFI in the bathroom... no good man.. no good.

PSA: Taking electrical devices into the shower can be hazardous to your health.

 

[Klueless]

yeah SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!! No WIFI in the bathroom... no good man.. no good.

<lol> Us old guys have it made, we simply bring the newspaper : -)

On the repeater I'm at 2-3Mbps when I do a speedtest. But there also seems to be some packet loss or something as half way through a page loading it will just hang.

I've a cheap ($75) ol' dual band Netgear 6150 with "fast lane" and I'm getting 50 to 75 Mbps from the building across the alleyway. What are you using? BTW; with some to many repeaters you can use a single SSID ... not that you'd always want to but ...