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Wireless router hack

T

TandyMan100

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Jan 7, 2009
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At my computer
I'm looking to hack a wireless router so that it has a serial port, and a version of UNIX with a telnet client, Lynx, and a text-based menu that selects one of those two on bootup, and it needs to foward all information in plain ASCII out the serial port at 9600 or 19000 baud. (88n1e or 98n1e on a m100).

I am wanting to use this so that my TRS-80 Model 100 can act like a dumb terminal to it, and I can telnet and check the forums (wifi) in 40-column mode. There is termcaps for the Model 100 for linux, but I have no idea what to do with it or how to get linux on a router.

Does anyone know of the best router to do this with, what to put on it and how to configure it? I have never used command line UNIX before, and so any replies will have to be like talking to a baby :).


Thank you very much.
 
Something you may want to think of is not using a wireless router, but a wireless access point, and connect it to a server or switch that has serial on it. I'm thinking something like an older Cisco router, and any wireless access thing, since they're basically dumb devices.

Also, unix/linux doesn't really have a problem talking to them through a terminal or command line interface.

A serial-ethernet converter may work, but you'd have to configure it iirc from a win/linux/Apple machine to talk to the Tandy. After that, you may be able to go Tandy->ser-eth converter->wireless point->internet.

Interesting ntworking question! Thanks for asking, and I hope this wasn't too confusing an answer :)

Nathan
 
Have you looked into the WRT series routers from Linksys and all the stuff people have done with them? I vaguely recall a serial port being added to one of the models. Looking up info on the DDWRT firmware would be a good learning experience too. Although a lot of the WRT series had small flashes so you might not be able to get everything on there. Ever thought about something like buying a Atom based board from Intel and using it? Those aren't very expensive and might be easier than trying to get a router's NPU to do all the work.
 
If you're in Qwest-land it's not hard to find an Actiontec GT-701WG DSL modem/router for cheap. The basic model comes with 10/100BaseT and wireless and USB. In addition, there's a hack to attach a serial terminal to a couple of unconnected pads onboard.

The thing runs BusyBox Linux as delivered, but can be loaded with other versions. Actiontec used to (and may still yet) post source for the thing as part of the GPL.

There's plenty of information on these things

and here and here too.
 
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Vlad said:
Have you looked into the WRT series routers from Linksys and all the stuff people have done with them? I vaguely recall a serial port being added to one of the models. Looking up info on the DDWRT firmware would be a good learning experience too. Although a lot of the WRT series had small flashes so you might not be able to get everything on there. Ever thought about something like buying a Atom based board from Intel and using it? Those aren't very expensive and might be easier than trying to get a router's NPU to do all the work.
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That's actually what I'm leaning towards using, because I found a kit for it ($7) that will let you install a DB9 serial interface. I took a glance at DDWRT, and a more thourough search into another. The 'other' (i forget the name) had documentation that was definitely intended for someone with UNIX and wireless com. expirience. I have none. What I use might be decided by what router I end up getting. I'm just going to craigslist and garage sale-ing, so I might find something. Those linksys routers are common around here, so i might get lucky.
 
Another firmware is Tomato. Never messed with it and all I really know is it looks easier on the eyes than DDWRT. The other one you looked at sounds like the one they based DDWRT off of, its a bit more in depth than the others. If you do go that route Version 5 and higher of the WRT routers DID NOT use linux, they used a nice RTOS called VxWorks but you can still flash Linux over them. For a project like this, try to find one of the older models. The older ones tended to have bigger flash chips and more RAM than the later ones so they would allow more room to work with.
 
Vlad said:
Another firmware is Tomato. Never messed with it and all I really know is it looks easier on the eyes than DDWRT. The other one you looked at sounds like the one they based DDWRT off of, its a bit more in depth than the others. If you do go that route Version 5 and higher of the WRT routers DID NOT use linux, they used a nice RTOS called VxWorks but you can still flash Linux over them. For a project like this, try to find one of the older models. The older ones tended to have bigger flash chips and more RAM than the later ones so they would allow more room to work with.
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Good advice, thanks. An older one might be found cheaper than a brand-new model .
 
Them amount of memory was an issue a while back. They changed the firmware to work (sort of) on much less memory but they kept the model number the same, so beware. Their solution was to market an expensive wrt54GL (L for linux) which had the same amount of memory as the older versions. There's lots of info on that scam on the net, but an overview of models can be found on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series Basically you want a 54GL or an older version 4.0 or less.
 
Ole Juul said:
They changed the firmware to work (sort of) on much less memory but they kept the model number the same, so beware.
Click to expand...

Yes, they left the Linux based one in favor of a customized version of an RTOS.

There's lots of info on that scam on the net,
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How is changing and refining their product to run more efficient and secure a scam? Netgear, Dlink and Trendnet have done the exact same thing.
 
Vlad: How is changing and refining their product to run more efficient and secure a scam?
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I don't know anything about the 54G running more efficiently or securely and so I can't (won't and didn't) comment on whether that would be a scam or not. :) I do know that they went from 4MB to 2MB without changing the model number (or price) and then reissued the older 4MB version at twice the price. Whether or not that is a "scam" could be discussed, I guess. :) Many people certainly felt they got fooled until the facts got cleared up.

PS: I just research what the issues are as discussed on the net and that is what I have to report on that issue.
 
I was under the impression that the model number stayed the same and the version number changed is all. Not trying to come across as trying to start a flame war or something just confused. Like the WRT54GS Version 4 was Linux based but then Version 5 was VxWorks (The RTOS). Either way it is confusing what model and version had what specs, Linksys was all over the place with the internals.
 
I have been using DD-WRT v24 RC-5 (11/22/07) micro
(SVN revision 8420)
for the last 120 days. On my Linksys WRT54Gv8 / GSv7. As you can tell from the 120 days figure, works like a charm. I must have lucked out on which one I happened to own or something. Going to send DD-WRT people some money even (donation).
 
funny i see this thread now, as i just installed DDWRT onto my linksys WRT54G v2 tonight since i've replaced the router with a P3 running clarkconnect. i haven't had a chance to mess with it much yet, but it seems pretty interesting so far.

look into it! it can work on many different types of routers as well.
 
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