Difference between revisions of "Ubiquiti NanoStation 5AC Loco"

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(→‎From Stock Firmware: Added more complete instructions & seperate the downgrade from the Mass Mesh image install.)
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== Flashing ==
 
== Flashing ==
 
=== From Stock Firmware ===
 
=== From Stock Firmware ===
# Download the Stock Firmware Image v8.5.0.36727 from above as well as the MassMesh '''Factory''' image file
+
==== Downgrade Ubiquiti AirOS ====
# Power on the NanoStation via a PoE injector and connect the other side of the PoE injector to a computer
+
# Download the [https://dl.ubnt.com/firmwares/XC-fw/v8.5.0/WA.v8.5.0.36727.180118.1314.bin Stock Firmware Image v8.5.0.36727].
 +
# Power on the Nanostation via a PoE injector. (This is the **red** ethernet port on your injector.)
 +
{{ Warning| Do not connect your computer to the PoE injector's red port!!! You will break your computer's ethernet port.}}
 +
# Connect the LAN side of the PoE injector to a computer.
 
# Assign a static IP/netmask of <code>192.168.1.25/24</code> to the computer
 
# Assign a static IP/netmask of <code>192.168.1.25/24</code> to the computer
 +
## <code>sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.25/24 dev eth0</code>
 
# Use a browser to visit http://192.168.1.20/
 
# Use a browser to visit http://192.168.1.20/
 
# Login using the set password or default credentials <code>ubnt / ubnt</code>
 
# Login using the set password or default credentials <code>ubnt / ubnt</code>
 
# Navigate to settings and downgrade the stock firmware to v8.5.0.36727 using the downloaded image file
 
# Navigate to settings and downgrade the stock firmware to v8.5.0.36727 using the downloaded image file
# Follow the instructions for enabling updates to the firmware [https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/ubiquiti_nanostation_ac_loco on OpenWRT's website.]
+
==== Install The Mass Mesh Open WRT Image ====
 +
{{ Note| Additional instructions are available [https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/ubiquiti_nanostation_ac_loco on OpenWRT's website].}}
 +
# Download the latest Mass Mesh firmware [https://github.com/MassMesh/meta-imagebuilder-artifacts/raw/master/massmesh/meshradio/ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco/openwrt-massmesh-meshradio-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin here].
 +
# Copy the firmware onto the nanostation. (We like to put it in the <code>/tmp/</code> directory.)
 +
# Open a secure shell on the Nanostation. <code>ssh ubnt@192.168.1.20</code>
 +
# Patch the fwupdate.real binary a la the instructions [here https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/ubiquiti_nanostation_ac_loco]
 +
# <code>/tmp/fwupdate.real -m /tmp/openwrt-massmesh-meshradio-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin</code>
  
 
=== From OpenWrt ===
 
=== From OpenWrt ===

Revision as of 18:20, 5 January 2020

NanoStation 5AC Loco

The NanoStation 5AC Loco is a directional, weather resistant, PoE powered radio with a beam width of 90 degrees and a secondary omnidirectional radio. This makes it useful for simultaneously meshing on one radio while providing an access point for client devices on the other.

If you're in a pickle, and need to download opkg files for an offline NanoStation, the architecture is MIPS 24KC.

Files

Stock Firmware v8.5.0.36727

MassMesh Firmware (Factory) (Latest)

MassMesh Firmware (Sysupgrade) (Latest)

Flashing

From Stock Firmware

Downgrade Ubiquiti AirOS

  1. Download the Stock Firmware Image v8.5.0.36727.
  2. Power on the Nanostation via a PoE injector. (This is the **red** ethernet port on your injector.)
Warning: Do not connect your computer to the PoE injector's red port!!! You will break your computer's ethernet port.
  1. Connect the LAN side of the PoE injector to a computer.
  2. Assign a static IP/netmask of 192.168.1.25/24 to the computer
    1. sudo ip addr add 192.168.1.25/24 dev eth0
  3. Use a browser to visit http://192.168.1.20/
  4. Login using the set password or default credentials ubnt / ubnt
  5. Navigate to settings and downgrade the stock firmware to v8.5.0.36727 using the downloaded image file

Install The Mass Mesh Open WRT Image

Note: Additional instructions are available on OpenWRT's website.
  1. Download the latest Mass Mesh firmware here.
  2. Copy the firmware onto the nanostation. (We like to put it in the /tmp/ directory.)
  3. Open a secure shell on the Nanostation. ssh ubnt@192.168.1.20
  4. Patch the fwupdate.real binary a la the instructions [here https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/ubiquiti_nanostation_ac_loco]
  5. /tmp/fwupdate.real -m /tmp/openwrt-massmesh-meshradio-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin

From OpenWrt

  1. Download the latest MassMesh Sysupgrade firmware file from above
  2. Connect to the device and navigate to the IP address of the device
    Note: MassMesh MeshRadio firmwares use an IP of 192.168.2.1. To access the administration UI, set an ip/netmask of 192.168.2.10/24 and browse to http://192.168.2.1/
  3. Navigate to System → Backup / Flash Firmware → Actions: Flash new firmware image
  4. Choose the sysupgrade file previously downloaded and click Flash
  5. Wait for the device to complete and reboot

With an external programmer

When your nanostation is bricked, or if the stock firmware won't let you flash our custom firmware, you can use the In-System Programming (ISP) technique to reflash the device (see also the Flashrom wiki. You're going to need:

  1. a Pomona 5252 test clip (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pomona-electronics/5252/501-2059-ND/745103), ~$16
  2. a raspberry pi (e.g. a zero w) ~$10
  3. some header pins and prototyping wires to connect everything

The Nanostation has a Macronix MX25L12835F rom chip (datasheet), which is an SPI chip with 16 connectors good for 128 Mbit of storage.

We can use Flashrom running on a raspberry pi to read and write that chip, if we hook up the Pomona 5252 test clip to the MX25L12835F and connect it to the correct SPI pins on the pi:

raspberry pi GPIO pinout

A Raspberry Pi Zero W with SPI headers populated:

A Raspberry Pi Zero W with SPI headers populated

Useful resources:

Condensed Command-list

Flash The Stock Ubiquiti Firmware via TFTP

wget https://dl.ubnt.com/firmwares/XC-fw/v8.5.0/WA.v8.5.0.36727.180118.1314.bin
cp https://dl.ubnt.com/firmwares/XC-fw/v8.5.0/WA.v8.5.0.36727.180118.1314.bin firmware.bin
sudo apt install tftp
tftp
tftp> connect 192.168.1.20
tftp> rexmt 1
tftp> timeout 60
tftp> binary
tftp> put firmware.bin

Flash The Mass Mesh Firmware

wget https://github.com/MassMesh/meta-imagebuilder-artifacts/raw/master/massmesh/meshradio/ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco/openwrt-massmesh-meshradio-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin
scp openwrt-massmesh-meshradio-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin ubnt@192.168.1.20:/tmp
ssh ubnt@192.168.1.20
hexdump -Cv /bin/ubntbox | sed 's/14 40 fe fe/00 00 00 00/g' | hexdump -R > /tmp/fwupdate.real
chmod +x /tmp/fwupdate.real
/tmp/fwupdate.real -m /tmp/openwrt-massmesh-meshradio-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin