Install OpenWRT on TP-Link Archer C5 — Notes

I have long been wanting to run an OpenWRT-powered router. However, never had compatible hardware to spare.

I recently stopped using ACT-Fibernet, so the router that came with it (Free with a 6M plan) was lying unused. And this particular version (Archer C5 v4) indeed supports OpenWRT build.

Remember OpenWRT has performance issues with Archer C5 v4 hardware for the 2.4 GHz WiFi AP. So I turned off the 2.4GHz radio and use only the 5GHz one and LAN ports.

I did the install via a TFTP server that I ran on my Mac by connecting the router to Mac using a LAN Cable. TFTP server is built-in into the Mac.

Refer https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/archer_c5_v4 for details.

Tips:

1. If possible don’t use a windows TFTP server, somehow it never worked for me, even after stopping the windows firewall. The TFTP GET from the router always ended up getting timed out. You might find better luck with a Linux machine.
2. You don’t need to disconnect from your WiFi serving you the internet. You just need to attach a thunderbolt LAN connector to the archer using one of its LAN ports.

I now have a fully functioning OpenWRT-based router, Which I set up with a router-based VPN and some other interesting settings.