Unlocking The Router

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If you have a BT badged router and need to replace the firmware to make it a 'proper' router again...read on.

REMEMBER CHANGING THE FIRMWARE WILL INVALIDATE THE BT TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IF YOU HAVE A BT CONTRACT REMEMBER THAT YOU ONLY 'HIRE' THE ROUTER NOT 'OWN' IT, SO THEY ARE QUITE WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO ASK FOR IT BACK....IN THE SAME CONDITION AS THEY GAVE IT TO YOU!

This is not a 'idiots guide to unlock the router' so some technical knowledge is required ;-)

The first thing to do is to gather all the equipment you need:-

• A console cable. This is needed to convert your DB9S plug on your COM port to a RJ45 for the console input of the router. Check the menu above for details if you haven't got one.
  
• Software. You need the latest firmware and the Configuration Manager. Extract the firmware to a folder and install the configuration Manager.
  
• A PC. Always handy!!

Plug the console lead in and now you can proceed!!

1. First assign your PC a static IP address of 192.168.254.1

2. Use HyperTerminal with it's default settings (COM1, 9600bps) and connect to the router. Switch on the router you will probably see lots of info scrolling by, just note the serial number as it may be needed later. When it has finished press the return (enter) key and it should reply with LOGIN: so type the default password which is admin.

If you get a 'wrong password' error then all is not lost! At the back of the router next to the console port there is a small hole, with the router still on press this in with a paperclip or something similar for 3 seconds. The router should then enter a 10 minute 'recovery mode' where the password is the serial number, drop the letter prefix though (you did remember to look??). Change the password to admin by typing:-

system admin admin
save
sync

3. Now you are into the router! Time for removing the BT access blocking, type the commands:-

system snmpport default
system telnetport default
system deltelnetFilter 194.72.0.0 194.72.32.255
system deltelnetFilter 194.74.75.0 194.74.75.255
del autoexec.old
remote del bt
save
sync
reboot

4. After you have rebooted, connect an Ethernet cable, start the Configuration Manager and connect (admin is the password, remember!!).

If you cannot connect to 192.168.254.254 and you suspect that the IP address of the router has been changed, reconnect using HyperTerminal and reset the IP address and try again using:-

eth ip addr 192.168.254.254 255.255.255.0
save
sync

Once connected click tools, upgrade/backup, firmware, open the firmware file you saved earlier and confirm all prompts. If you cannot see the firmware file or it cannot load it, then rename it to a DOS format 8.3 filename (i.e. KERNEL.F2K).
This should copy the updated files to the router and reboot.

5. When this is complete change the PC to 'automatically obtain an IP address' and you should be able to connect to http://192.168.254.254 and see the Efficient web interface.

6. Download the configuration script (autoexec.bat), then go to http://192.168.254.254/tools/upload.html and upload it to the router (remember to unzip it first!!), finally go to http://192.168.254.245/tools/reboot.html to reboot the router.

This will configure it for NAT operation.

That is basically it!!