Comments on: Building a Wifi Radio – Part 3, Hacking the Asus WL-520GU http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/ Join the resistance. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:16:27 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeff http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5377 Jeff Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:20:17 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5377 Sorry to hear that, Jack!!! The +3.3V pin has a fat trace connected to it on both the 500gP and the 520gU (despite the connector being flipped). I always double check to make sure I am plugging the USB-serial adapter in the right way, but now that I know a polarity reversal can fry the adapter I'll be extra careful. :-( Sorry to hear that, Jack!!! The +3.3V pin has a fat trace connected to it on both the 500gP and the 520gU (despite the connector being flipped). I always double check to make sure I am plugging the USB-serial adapter in the right way, but now that I know a polarity reversal can fry the adapter I’ll be extra careful. :-(

]]> By: Jack http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5376 Jack Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:07:31 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5376 Hey guys, just to note, im trying this with the asus WL500gP model because i couldnt find the 520GU availbale in the UK. Anyway the WL500gP has same 4 way header but check ground and positive!! they are the other way around on the WL500gP model, i learnt hard way and fried my first usb-ttl cable. Hey guys, just to note, im trying this with the asus WL500gP model because i couldnt find the 520GU availbale in the UK. Anyway the WL500gP has same 4 way header but check ground and positive!! they are the other way around on the WL500gP model, i learnt hard way and fried my first usb-ttl cable.

]]> By: Jeff http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5176 Jeff Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:22:50 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5176 It's possible that I goofed or that the FTDI adapter's labels are reversed, but based on the lack of other complaints about this I'm pretty sure I labeled the pins correctly. I'll check it again the next time I have the radio apart. It’s possible that I goofed or that the FTDI adapter’s labels are reversed, but based on the lack of other complaints about this I’m pretty sure I labeled the pins correctly. I’ll check it again the next time I have the radio apart.

]]> By: Murrkf http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5153 Murrkf Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:44:02 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5153 Could be that my ttl adapter information was incorrect though! Could be that my ttl adapter information was incorrect though!

]]> By: Murrkf http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5152 Murrkf Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:39:50 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5152 Hi: Thanks for posting this. It was very useful to me. However, I understood that the TX on the board should go to the RX of the serial adapter, and RX on the board should go to the TX of the adapter. When I hooked up my adapter that way, it would not work. So I think you have the labels for TX and RX reversed on the board side....correct for what leads you hook up to the adapter though. Hope that make sense. Here's what I did with this information: http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=338441 Thanks! Hi:

Thanks for posting this. It was very useful to me. However, I understood that the TX on the board should go to the RX of the serial adapter, and RX on the board should go to the TX of the adapter. When I hooked up my adapter that way, it would not work. So I think you have the labels for TX and RX reversed on the board side….correct for what leads you hook up to the adapter though. Hope that make sense. Here’s what I did with this information:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=338441

Thanks!

]]> By: Jeff http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5104 Jeff Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:17:00 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5104 No, the serial levels are not compatible. You will need an RS232 to 3.3V TTL level shifter, there are some mentioned here and on the forums. No, the serial levels are not compatible. You will need an RS232 to 3.3V TTL level shifter, there are some mentioned here and on the forums.

]]> By: karthik http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-5101 karthik Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:43:26 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-5101 Insted of using USB to serial adapter cable can it be connected directly to the serial port of the PC. Insted of using USB to serial adapter cable can it be connected directly to the serial port of the PC.

]]> By: PaulieG http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-4830 PaulieG Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:28:50 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-4830 I used a $5 line driver mini-board from Futurlec that I had around (http://www.futurlec.com/Mini_RS232_TTL_3V.shtml http://www.micropik.com/PDF/MINIRS2323v.pdf). I powered it up from the router's 3.3V pin, i.e. Pin 1 (+3V3) to +VCC, Pin 2 (RX) to RX0, Pin 3 (TX) to TX0 and Pin 4 (GND) to GND. On the RS232 side, I hooked up the DB9F connector to RS232-0 header as follows: Pin 5 (SG) to GND, Pin 2 (RD) to TXD and Pin 3 (TD) to RXD. Useful interfacing info is here http://www.beyondlogic.org/ Note that the +VCC remains unconnected on the serial port side. I used a Nexxtech USB Serial adapter (2613297) but hookup to a regular COM port also works well. I used a $5 line driver mini-board from Futurlec that I had around (http://www.futurlec.com/Mini_RS232_TTL_3V.shtml http://www.micropik.com/PDF/MINIRS2323v.pdf). I powered it up from the router’s 3.3V pin, i.e. Pin 1 (+3V3) to +VCC, Pin 2 (RX) to RX0, Pin 3 (TX) to TX0 and Pin 4 (GND) to GND. On the RS232 side, I hooked up the DB9F connector to RS232-0 header as follows: Pin 5 (SG) to GND, Pin 2 (RD) to TXD and Pin 3 (TD) to RXD. Useful interfacing info is here http://www.beyondlogic.org/ Note that the +VCC remains unconnected on the serial port side. I used a Nexxtech USB Serial adapter (2613297) but hookup to a regular COM port also works well.

]]> By: Jeff http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-4532 Jeff Wed, 20 May 2009 01:23:47 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-4532 You could do this to add a second serial port, but it won't replace the router's internal serial port. By default the router sends all console messages to the internal serial port only. Because a USB-serial adapter requires Linux drivers to function, I don't think you could redirect the console output to the USB-serial adapter before Linux is actually running, which is when the console is most useful. You could do this to add a second serial port, but it won’t replace the router’s internal serial port. By default the router sends all console messages to the internal serial port only. Because a USB-serial adapter requires Linux drivers to function, I don’t think you could redirect the console output to the USB-serial adapter before Linux is actually running, which is when the console is most useful.

]]> By: Parsnip http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-4531 Parsnip Tue, 19 May 2009 19:37:55 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-4531 Thanks for the reply Jeff, but I am thinking more simply, use a USB hub plugged into the back USB port and use one USB slot for the Audio "card" and the other for a USB-Serial converter. I assume that this eliminates the voltage issue since the original USB port should be 5V anyway right? Thanks for the reply Jeff, but I am thinking more simply, use a USB hub plugged into the back USB port and use one USB slot for the Audio “card” and the other for a USB-Serial converter. I assume that this eliminates the voltage issue since the original USB port should be 5V anyway right?

]]> By: Jeff http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-4530 Jeff Tue, 19 May 2009 16:13:51 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-4530 Parsnip - You could use a USB-serial converter, but you would need to add an RS-232 to TTL level translator like the MAX232 to get the right voltage levels for the router. Parsnip – You could use a USB-serial converter, but you would need to add an RS-232 to TTL level translator like the MAX232 to get the right voltage levels for the router.

]]> By: Parsnip http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-4529 Parsnip Tue, 19 May 2009 12:03:38 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-4529 Anybody know if I could use a USB-Serial adaptor instead of the TTL cable? I happen to have a couple of these and have no other use for them. If it is possible any idea how? Anybody know if I could use a USB-Serial adaptor instead of the TTL cable? I happen to have a couple of these and have no other use for them. If it is possible any idea how?

]]> By: Hacking the ASUS router for the Tweet-a-Watt - iteknologi - Technology Buzz http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-3808 Hacking the ASUS router for the Tweet-a-Watt - iteknologi - Technology Buzz Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:43:40 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-3808 [...] power via the hacker-friendly ASUS WL-520gU wireless router. Cited as reference is MightyOhm's wifi radio tutorial. Hmmm … anyone for a third antennae? Read more of the project over at Adafruit Industries. Read [...] [...] power via the hacker-friendly ASUS WL-520gU wireless router. Cited as reference is MightyOhm’s wifi radio tutorial. Hmmm … anyone for a third antennae? Read more of the project over at Adafruit Industries. Read [...]

]]> By: Jeff http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-3782 Jeff Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:05:40 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-3782 Patrick, The serial levels on the WL-520gU are not RS-232, so you can't just connect them to a DB-9 and run a serial cable to your laptop. You need to use a 3.3V TTL level serial adapter like the FTDI TTL-232R USB-serial cable or a 3.3V version of the MAX232 chip (I forget the actual part #). Patrick,

The serial levels on the WL-520gU are not RS-232, so you can’t just connect them to a DB-9 and run a serial cable to your laptop. You need to use a 3.3V TTL level serial adapter like the FTDI TTL-232R USB-serial cable or a 3.3V version of the MAX232 chip (I forget the actual part #).

]]> By: Patrick http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-3-hacking-the-asus-wl-520gu/comment-page-2/#comment-3771 Patrick Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:28:00 +0000 http://mightyohm.com/blog/?p=480#comment-3771 I soldered on-board serial port directly to a DB9 male pin using wire. board - DB9 GNd - GND (DB9 pin5) TX - RX (DB9 pin 2) RX - TX (DB9 pin 3) 3v3 - empty baudrate set to 115200 8N1 However, I'm getting a mess printed on screen (cutecom/minicom under linux) it looks like the board is booting. Any idea why? I soldered on-board serial port directly to a DB9 male pin using wire.

board – DB9
GNd – GND (DB9 pin5)
TX – RX (DB9 pin 2)
RX – TX (DB9 pin 3)
3v3 – empty

baudrate set to 115200 8N1

However, I’m getting a mess printed on screen (cutecom/minicom under linux) it looks like the board is booting. Any idea why?

]]>