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Introduction

Are you ready to unleash the full potential of your HH5A router? If you’re looking to install OpenWrt or recover from a failed u-boot flash, we’ve got the juiciest secrets to share with you. Get ready to dive into the world of OpenWrt and make the most out of your device!

Booting via UART (Serial Console)

To get started, you’ll need to boot your HH5A device via UART (serial console). But don’t worry, it’s easier than you might think. You have two options:

  1. The download table above provides a step-by-step guide to gain serial access in just 10 minutes without any soldering. It’s quick, hassle-free, and perfect for those who prefer a solder-free solution.

  2. If you’re comfortable with a bit of soldering, you can solder a few wires to SMD solder points. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to securely glue or fix the wires to the PCB to avoid any damage. Moving the router can put stress on these tiny soldering joints, so be cautious.

Remember, the baud rate you’ll need is 115200. Once you’ve prepared everything, it’s time to boot u-boot via UART.

Troubleshooting Serial Adapter Issues

If you encounter any issues, it’s crucial to check that your serial adapter is functioning correctly. A simple loopback test can help you determine if transmission or reception is broken. Connect the tx and rx pins on your adapter and check if your keys are echoed back to you when typing in the console.

For Windows users, we recommend downloading and studying the “Serial console instructions using MS Windows” and “LEDE Installation Guide for BT Home Hub 5A” documents from the Downloads section of this page. These resources will provide you with all the information you need.

If you’re a Linux user, don’t worry! You can connect using picocom. Simply enter the following command:

picocom -b 115200 /dev/ttyUSB0 -send-cmd="cat"

In picocom, press Ctrl-a followed by Ctrl-s, and enter the full path to the lede-lantiq-bthomehubv5a_ram-u-boot.asc file to send the bootcode. Please note that you should not use the u-boot.asc found on the OpenWrt downloads page, as TFTP doesn’t work.

Alternatively, if you prefer, open another terminal and execute the following command to send the bootcode:

cat lede-lantiq-bthomehubv5a_ram-u-boot.asc > /dev/ttyUSB0

Now, behold! The BTHOMEHUBV5A# u-boot prompt should appear, signaling that you’ve successfully booted via UART.

It’s important to note that operating in this mode is atypically slow. The CPU clock, which usually runs at 500MHz, and the buses, operating at 250MHz, will run at 125MHz for some reason. However, don’t fret – the installed system will run at full speed.

(Keep in mind that the slow speed is partly due to the cache being turned off for the serially loaded u-boot build.)

There you have it – the secrets to installing OpenWrt on your HH5A router. Get ready to explore the endless possibilities that await you, and enjoy the enhanced performance and features that OpenWrt brings to the table. Happy tinkering!