My Tech Adventures

Hello Again! I wanted to write up this post a lot earlier, but, it got delayed somehow. Here it is now: The BT Home Hub 3.0 Type A originally from (Siemens) Gigaset seems to be a nice router given the specifications as shown on the OpenWrt Wiki page . However, it also does not accept username(s) without the allowed domains (like @btbroadband.com, @btinternet.com, @btclick.com, ...) making it a "locked" router (unless your ISP doesn't use the username to authenticate). Fortunately, it can be "unlocked" in a similar manner to the BT Home Hub 2.0 Type B  to accept any username and allow usage with other ISPs after its "retirement". Firmware Unlock: The guide as posted on now-defunct psidoc.com, relevant files and some firmware images are available here! Here is a video showing the process: Note: Video best viewed fullscreen in 1080p! Tweaks after Unlock: With SSH access, we can tweak some settings of the rout...

Hi! BT Home Hub 2.0B on the left and the BT Infinity Home Hub 2.0B on the right! Next up is the Home Hub 2.0 Type B router alongwith the Infinity Home Hub 2.0 Type B that is necessarily the same hardware as the first one but with different firmware and markings. It is quite a nice router from Siemens (some are 'Made in Germany' and some 'Made in Tunisia') and is one of my favourites. The openwrt wiki page provides all the details of the hardware. Unfortunately, the firmware prevents usage with other ISPs and as shown above in pictures some are found 'dumped' here in Pakistan in an unused condition so it is great that there is a method to 'unlock' these routers. Firmware Unlock: For the unlock of Home Hub 2.0 Type B as provided by the now defunct psidoc.com website: Note: The Infinity hub can accept firmware for the non-infinity normal hub and can be unlocked in such a manner! Then, one can re-flash the infinity hub with ...

Hello Again! This router ( User Manual , openwrt wiki ) is also found 'dumped' here in Pakistan. It is quite a good router, but, older firmware versions suffer from security flaws, so it's a good idea to use newer firmware (or to let it update automatically). Also, this router doesn't allow usage with other ISPs as it accepts only certain domain names for the 'username' setting, though it runs fine with services that don't care for the username and when configured as a Wireless Router (IPoE) with LAN port 4 used as the WAN port. However, there are some ways to use the username of our own choice. One such way is shown below thanks to http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=242301#post242301 : (To be continued...)

Hi! DANT-T and DANT-1 variants DANT-T and DANT-1 variants The Technicolor TG582n ( quick specs , user guide ) seems to be quite popular with ISPs and can be found in branded, sometimes locked*, form throughout. Fortunately, it works really well once properly configured and it is (usually) easy to unlock by flashing it with an unlocked firmware. One thing to take into consideration is that it comes in two main variants, the DANT-1 and DANT-T, with each variant only accepting it's own firmware (unless you are installing OpenWRT ). Firmware Update: Now, when it comes to flashing the firmware, we need: (Windows 7 is recommended) - Thomson Upgrade Wizard   - User privileges (username and password for user authorized to flash firmware ... for some branded ones we don't need one once router has been reset but for some like O2 we need the user SuperUser with password the Serial Number of router) - (Unlocked/Generic) Firmware for the ...

Hello Again! O2 Wireless Box III Note: I have put up stickers to cover the DSL port and mark the Ethernet port to use as WAN port O2 Wireless Box IV Next to a (relatively) generic model! This time it's the turn of 2 routers, the O2 Wireless Box III ( specifications , firmware ) and the O2 Wireless Box IV ( manual , firmware , openwrt ), both being locked to O2 as usual. Now, one may use jtag to try to 'unlock' these by replacing and/or editing the CFE in order to flash generic firmware for use with other ISPs but if you are just looking for a wireless router to add to an existing lan network, all it takes is the Configuration Wizard with custom templates (and the SuperUser account credentials). (To continue reading, please click on 'Read More')

Hi! Next we have the locked down version of the Thomson SpeedTouch TG585v7 ( Specifications , wikidevi ) router in the form of O2 Wireless Box II. Fortunately, one can install (compatible) firmware (apart from changing CFE via jTAG) by BE that is much closer to generic firmware allowing the router to be configured easily for other ISPs (and not only other ISPs, but, can also be configured differently such as a Wireless Router with one LAN port acting as WAN port and more). Here are some pictures of the router itself: Firmware Update: (To continue reading, please click on 'Read More')

Hello Again! Next up is the BT Home Hub v2* Type A home ADSL Wireless Router by Thomson/Technicolor (more info at OpenWRT wiki ). Again, this router accepts only BT specific/approved domain names for username of dsl and must be 'unlocked' to be used with other ISPs. Such 'unlocking' (thanks to btsimonh and Surreliz3) also allows more configuration options, though firmware upgrade options might become limited. As with the BTHH v1 & v1.5 , this router can be 'unlocked' via jTAG method but there is also the relatively easier software method provided the firmware version currently on the BTHHv2A is lower than version 8.1.H.U.  Unlock: I 'unlocked' mine via the software method a long time ago so I won't be able to post screenshots of the process (have yet to try the jtag method on one with newer firmware that I also happen to have), but, here is the process as described on the now defunct psidoc.com website (the links may...

Hello Again! Although the home hub (HH) routers can be both configured via the web interface and the configuration wizard software (see part 1  here ), there is another 'hidden' powerful tool in the form of CLI that not only provides configuration options but many extra options too. In order to use the CLI interface, one needs to have a Telnet Client in the form of the client built into WindowsOS or a separate utility like PuTTY . The CLI Reference, uploaded at http://1drv.ms/1NlbDf6 , shall also come in handy. An example for changing the DNS Server Addresses : telnet 192.168.1.254 dns server route ? dns server route list dns server route add dns = 199.85.126.20 metric = 5 intf = Internet dns server route add dns = 8.26.56.26 metric = 7 intf = Internet - I have used the DNS Server Address of Norton DNS and Comodo DNS respectively in this case as an example ... replace with your own  - The 'Metric' can be thought of as prior...

Hello Again! Some pictures of the BT Home Hub (version 1): And some pictures of BT Home Hub v1.5: And they also come in Black!!! The Home Hub v1 and Home Hub v1.5 are adsl wireless routers that were provided by UK ISP BT to their customers made by Thomson/Inventel (aka Technicolor/Alcatel) quite some time ago. The specifications are listed here  under the Hardware section. You can still find them 'dumped' here in Pakistan ... some packaged nicely in their boxes as shown above ... and more importantly, mostly in good working condition. I remember getting them both several years ago (when I didn't know anything about unlocking) and the disappointment when I realized that they were locked to BT*.  At that time, these were the most featured devices available here locally not to mention great looking as well. Sadly, had to be stored away. Unlike me however, other people didn't give up and when PsiDOC came along, a whole co...