Re-Using New ISP WiFi 6 and 7 Routers.

[MiserableCurmugeon]

Hello. I suppose I should post this query in either the Linksys or TP-Link sub-forums, but it's a question about both so here goes......

I have two brand new routers, both supplied by my new ISP but not up to meeting my networking requirements, for which I'm using my own Asus model instead. I'd like to make them re-usable for other purposes. One is a TP-Link HB610 V2 WiFi 7, the other is a Linksys SPNMX42CTF WiFi 6. Both have USB 3 ports.

Unfortunately, they are both quite tightly locked down, with fixed IP (in one case) and no access to the WAN info page or some other settings on the advanced menu(s). I hate waste and these two are now useless. I've offered to send one back to the ISP (saving the other in case we get any speed or connection problems to diagnose further down the line) but they're not interested.

Can anyone advise on how to flash / hack / crack either or both of these routers to install fully functional firmware and make them some use for a wider purpose please?

For example, I've got quite a big network and keep meaning to create sub-nets. A couple of spare routers would be dead useful.

 

[fruitcornbread]

TP-Link HB610 v2 is using Qualcomm IPQ5322 chipset and it's not supported by Openwrt (and not for a while).

Linksys SPNMX42CTF seems to be a UK ISP version of MX4200 (Qualcomm IPQ8174 chipset) so you might be in luck as it is supported by Openwrt and DD-WRT. However, I'm not sure if it's HW V1 (512MB RAM) or V2 (1GB RAM). Anyways, it's best to head over to their respective forums to double check if it's possible to flash.

 

[MiserableCurmugeon]

TP-Link HB610 v2 is using Qualcomm IPQ5322 chipset and it's not supported by Openwrt (and not for a while).

Linksys SPNMX42CTF seems to be a UK ISP version of MX4200 (Qualcomm IPQ8174 chipset) so you might be in luck as it is supported by Openwrt and DD-WRT. However, I'm not sure if it's HW V1 (512MB RAM) or V2 (1GB RAM). Anyways, it's best to head over to their respective forums to double check if it's possible to flash.

Thanks for that. I'm not that well into this stuff yet, before I cross post please help me understand what Openwrt and DD-WRT are, or point me at somewhere I can self educate a little.

I was hoping it might be as simple as putting fully functional firmware on a USB and forcing an incorporation of it somehow at reboot. Not so lucky, I suppose.

Cheers