Hi Graham,

Whilst I'm no expert, OpenWRT is modular, ie you plug in the packages you require for your application.

That is not quite the case with our version as it non-standard and heavily modified to provide space for the additional fast modem drivers. The fast drivers are not currently in the OpenWRT builds, but our programmer can build any package into his image if there is space and system resources.

Not even sure if OpenWRT has what you want, but have a look here.

These additional modem protocols (required for the later faster modems) is no doubt providing a headache for the TPLINK programmers, as only slow PPP is currently supported. I suspect it may be a Ram space issue? Some newer modems like the E3276 don't even use PPP AFAIK.

Cheers

John k

Here is a Beta MR3420 V2 firmware from TPLINK, which I have just received after months of nagging TPLINK for a solution to the 25Mbps limit problem.

mr3420v2_en_3_13_30_up_boot(130227)Beta.rar

I cannot test it at my current location; so any Beta testers out there that can put it through the hoops?

My latest message read:

Hi,

I have reported this problem (which is the same for all TPlink usb modem routers), a number of times, with no resolution.

Is there a Beta software version available that fixes the speed problem?

25Mbps is the maximum download speed in the TP-LINK routers, despite the same usb modem in a laptop doing 60 – 70Mbps download.

Also support for the Huawei E3276.

The TPLINK Beta software is useless, albeit harmless.

No fix for the E3276.

No fix for 25Mbps speed limiting.

Hi John

Any updates on the OpenWRT release for the E3276?

Lotus49 wrote

Hi John

Any updates on the OpenWRT release for the E3276?

Hi,

Yes good news.

We now have a BlackWidow release that fully supports the MR3420 V2 and the E3276.

Follow the links from the Whirlpool WIKI.

A couple of words of warning for users with the E3276 (other late model 3G/ 4G modems), that we have found along the way:

1. The E3276 may under some conditions (generally low signal levels), draw more power than the router can provide. This may lead to unstable performance and connection. The solution is a USB Y - Cable and an additional USB 5v supply.

2. The E3276 may under certain conditions require a USB cable with ferrite bead 'interference isolation' to ensure stable operation.

Cheers

John k

PS Please report back with your performance results and please drop into the BlackWidow support thread HERE as there are many exciting developments on the way. We know there are many downloads of this software from all over the world, so we would love to hear the feed-back.

Any updates on this? Will the E3276 be supported by TP-Link? If so, when?
Anyone tried the BlackWidow with the MR3420 V2 and the Huawei E3276?

brainshutdown wrote

Any updates on this? Will the E3276 be supported by TP-Link? If so, when?

If you ask me?

TPLINK will be unable to fit the supporting software in the 4Mb of flash ram available in this device, unless they drastically rewrite their software and perhaps discarded some of their current features.

Anyone taking bets?

Anyone tried the BlackWidow with the MR3420 V2 and the Huawei E3276?

Yes it works fine; except for those that communicate via a web interface ie Telenor Sweden E3276

Hi John

Finally did it.

Although the E3276 isn't being seen by Black Widow at all, the MF668 is going like the clappers! I haven't seen anything move that fast since Grandma tried Granddad's curry! I've always wondered why the MF668 ran much faster on the laptop than in the router, and for the first time it's running at the same rate. The E3276, on the other hand, runs nearly twice as fast as the MF668 on the laptop, so now I'm really keen to get it working on the router.

Although I'm not inside the LTE testing area, I think the E3276 may be a lot more stable in holding connection than the MF668, so I'd like to get it working (although I suspect that the MF668 may now be an entirely different animal, running on OpenWRT).

I've tried the 30/30/30 reset, and also reinstalled Black Widow (R36226 version). If I get a chance later today I'll reinstall TP Link software, then reinstall Black Widow (Seems somebody on Whirlpool did that to good effect).

If you have any other ideas on how to approach this I'd be interested in hearing them.

Thanks
Graham

Hi Graham,

I see you've joined the Whirlpool thread.

We'll sort you out there. :)

WIKI

Cheers

John k

There is a brand new website providing detailed information for the alternative ROOter software for many TP-Link routers.

http://ofmodemsandmen.com/index.html

Enjoy