[Commotion-discuss] Chilling effect, TP-Link locking their routers against 3rd party firmware

Thu Feb 18 14:36:32 EST 2016

Ben, unfortunately there is no hair-splitting according to the chat record
I have pasted below from 2 days ago. TP-Link is locking down all devices
due to FCC regulations.

Chat transcript

*Name:* Adam Longwill

*E-mail:* adam.longwill at metamesh.org

*Choose Product Category:* Wireless Router

*Please Describe Your Model No. and Problem* WDR3600

  Camille Tue, 02/16/16 09:05:00 pm America/New_York

Hello. How may I help you?

  Adam Longwill 09:05:15 pm

I cannot view my support tickets
my support tickets were closed because I could not view or reply to them

  Camille 09:05:34 pm

may I have the ticket number?

  Adam Longwill 09:05:34 pm

and my original support issues were not resolved.
I wish I knew- but because the support site is broken I have to check my
e-mail.
194265 is one
195288 is the other regarding your broken site

  Camille 09:07:07 pm

regarding ticket issue, please follow steps below to have a try
1. Make sure you have clean up all the history of the web browser. 2.
Please try different computers and web browser.Did you have the same
problem? 3. Try to refresh by pressing the Ctrl+F5. 4. What is the
operating system and version of your computers? Is that 32bit or 64bit? 5.
What is the version of the web browser you have tried?

  Adam Longwill 09:08:24 pm

I have tried multiple computers multiple browsers, and cleared cookies
I'm using Chrome current and have tried firefox and IE

  Camille 09:09:12 pm

did you clear history of web browser?

  Adam Longwill 09:09:17 pm

yes

  Camille 09:09:36 pm

OK
Dear Adam, Many thanks for your valuable reply. If you cannot replace the
firmware with a third party firmware, then please try to downgrade the
firmware to the older version to see whether it can work. Sorry that we
don't have the information about the unlocked firmware. This has to be
tried by yourself. Sorry again for the inconvenience caused and your great
cooperation & Patience will be highly appreciated.
this is my colleague reply

  Adam Longwill 09:10:01 pm

downgrading does not work
I get an 18005 errror
upon attempting to downgrade
I want to know if this is because of the FCC's rules regarding broadcast
strength and DFS control. Has TP-Link complied with these rules and locked
down its firmware and if so, for what models
I need to know if I am going to continue purchasing devices from you.

  Camille 09:13:25 pm

wait one moment please
Thanks for your waiting, right now only these products has limitation on
firmware: Archer C7 V2 Archer C1900 V1 Touch P5 V1 Archer C2600 V1 Archer
C3200 V1 Archer C2 V1 Archer C5 V2 Archer C8 V1 Archer C9 V1 TL-WR841N V11
TL-WDR3500 V1 TL-WR940N V3.0 TL-WR1043ND V3.0 TL-WR710N(USA) TL-WR841N V9.0
and all products will also limite firmware in the future.

  Adam Longwill 09:26:19 pm

Wow. Thank you. I'm impressed with your digging
And this limitation is due to FCC rule clarifications in 2015?
And not some other reason

  Camille 09:28:15 pm

Right, due to FCC

  Adam Longwill 09:28:50 pm

Thank you very much. Can you explain why the WDR3600 appears to be locked
down? Is it possible that your list is not totally updated?
And do you have a method or avenue that people who wish to use other
firmware have?

  Camille 09:34:02 pm

Yes, wdr3600 as dual band wifi router, is also locked down. And there is no
other way to use other firmware. Sorry for that

  Adam Longwill 09:34:19 pm

Thank you very much, Camille. You've been very helpful.

Duration: 29m 32s
Chat started on: http://www.tp-link.us/support-contact.html#Hotline-Support
Referrer: http://www.tp-link.us/
Visitor geolocation: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States / 96.89.42.102
Chat group: US
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On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 11:10 AM, Ben West <ben at gowasabi.net> wrote:

> Presently, Commotion is being built for TP-Link WDR3600 and WDR4300, among
> others.
> https://commotionwireless.net/docs/guides-howtos/recommended-hardware/
> https://commotionwireless.net/download/routers/
>
> Please be advised people have confirmed these very TP-Link products and
> plenty others are now appearing in the field with 3rd-party firmware
> upgrade locked out.  I.e. Commotion's install instructions will no longer
> work.
>
> The particular conversation with the TP-Link support rep quoted below also
> mentions 2.4GHz products being locked too, with FCC rulemaking cited as
> (incorrect) reason.
>
> http://ml.ninux.org/pipermail/battlemesh/2016-February/004379.html
> https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11122966
>
> https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/46c0t0/tplink_begins_router_lockdown_due_to_fcc_proposed/
> https://www.gofundme.com/save_wifi_round_2 (funding campaign started in
> response)
>
> I read some hair-splitting about whether TP-Link started doing this in
> response to the FCC proposed rulemaking re: 5.8GHz operation, or whether
> they had their own reasons.
>
> Precise details of the lockdown are still sketchy, but it looks like a
> serial console is needed to override it.
>
> --
> Ben West
> http://gowasabi.net
> ben at gowasabi.net
> 314-246-9434
>
> _______________________________________________
> Commotion-discuss mailing list
> Commotion-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/commotion-discuss
>
>
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