Sponsored Links

Help! Have I broken my MC801A?

eccles

ULTIMATE Member
Playing with Cell locking I inadvertedly entered a b32 cell. After a reset the router has failed to boot. It shows the on light for a few seconds then it is dead.
Any ideas?
 
Loads, but you may want to get in contact with @USER@555
If I could find a mc801a cheap I would try and install the modded firmware from the 4pda forums
 
Thanks for the reply. I've messaged user@555. I have no idea where to start on the 4pda forums.
 
Sponsored Links
There's over 103 pages of information, Google translate helps but as I do not have a mc801a to hand I cannot help.
 
Just be very careful with what you flash. I mean, I know it's technically inoperable now, but you could end up flashing with a firmware that brings it back to life but unable to connect to any cellular network.

I suppose my point being if you're going to attempt to revive the unit be sure to take the advise of members on that forum rather than flashing in various firmwares that you come across.
 
Sponsored Links
I'm afraid that's exactly what happened to me, were you in bridge mode by the way? I ended up having to bin the thing, ZTE didn't bother replying to me and Sotel in Germany who i brought it from were pretty unhelpful to be honest and just complained I asked them to get involved....
 
Thanks bon. I think I'm stuck. Did you ever find T-mobile firmware?
Nope. I tried everyone I could find including the tmobile Poland one merited mentioned but it would never get signal. I ended up binning it out of frustration as I was fed up of spending time on it.

It would appear there's some pretty knowledgeable people on the Russian forum these days so hopefully someone will be able to help with your specific case.
 
Sponsored Links
Playing with Cell locking I inadvertedly entered a b32 cell. After a reset the router has failed to boot. It shows the on light for a few seconds then it is dead.
Any ideas?
That's pretty rough! Is that all it takes to brick the router? I'll make sure not to mess with mine too much if that's the case. Good luck with your search for a cure but it might be easier to bin it and get another!
 
That's pretty rough! Is that all it takes to brick the router? I'll make sure not to mess with mine too much if that's the case. Good luck with your search for a cure but it might be easier to bin it and get another!
I can't remember who they were now, but there were another 2 users who 'bricked' their MC801A's by just using the cell locking script.

You certainly wouldnt think that would do any harm.

Needless to say when I had my ZTE, I was too chicken to give it a go after that happened to them. 😟

I do hope you can get somewhere eccles.🤞
 
I have been doing a lot of cell / band locking and never had an issue, weird! Anyone bricked the Three models? Most reports seem to be for Sotel and other variants.
 
I've also done a lot of cell-locking. It was the adding of b32 by mistake that caused it to brick. So be warned peeps.

Three models have been bricked by Three uploading firmware updates to unofficial Three based routers.
I'm tempted to order a new one with universal firmware. That way if it screws up in future I can download the official firmware.

Alternatively, can anyone recommend an alternative with cell locking?
 
Sponsored Links
You can't lock to a download-only band but I have no idea why that bricked it. Possibly it just simply failed.
 
@USER@555 pointed me here:
My router was bricked and the com port wasn't visible via USB,
It was therefore necessary to disassemble it to get at the test point contacts.
Disassembly was as follows:
Remove rubber footing and unscrew 6 screws in the base.
Prise off the top vent and unscrew 4 screws.
Prise off the strip surrounding Ethernet and antenna ports.
Pull off the outer case
Unscrew four screws holding the large heatsink. Note, the 5G antenna sits on top of this heatsink and removing it will unplug the antenna wire. It will need to be snapped back in place when reassembling.
I followed the above instructions on the Russian site. I have copied English translation below.

1 connect the USB data cable to the router
2 transfer the folder with firmware to the path C:\Program Files (x86)\Qualcomm\QPST\bin
3 shorten the name of the folder with the firmware as much as possible - for example, call the folder just the number "1", no characters, cyrillic, etc.
4 prepare the QFIL in advance and fill in all the necessary files from the new transferred folder (folder number 3 in the firmware)
5 port selection in QFIL is untouchable! the port should be determined in the QFIL as a result of the following actions (this is critically important)
7 Disassemble the router according to the step-by-step instructions (PDF file) that you will find at the end of the post (it's easy)
8 Keep device manager on the computer open
9 Remove the power cable from the router
10 close both contacts with tweezers at the same time as shown on the TEST POINT screen:
11 Insert the power cord into the router and only after a few seconds remove the tweezers from the test point
12 in the device manager will quickly appear a device QUSB_BULK almost like with a regular brick, but the name this time will be longer, as on the screenshot:

13 now act quickly - click in the manager "update hardware configuration", the device should ITSELF be picked up by the wood pre-installed on the computer for the 9008 mode and enter this mode, respectively in the QFIL - the port at the top should appear ALSO ITSELF at this stage. as soon as port 9008 appeared in QFIL - instantly press the DOWNLOAD button and see that the firmware of the router - has begun.

14 we are waiting for the end of the firmware, if we see everything as on the screen below - congratulations, you were to restore a complex brick.

This didn't work. I did manage to get com port 9008 active but the flash erase step failed.

@USER@555 offered to fix it. I needed to install Telegram and Teamviewer.

After about an hour of connected work the router is now working again.
He offered his paypal address and I sent him a small sum.

There was a bit of difficulty with resetting the login password but with 555's help it was resolved.

Sotel has just informed me by email that they have dispatched a replacement MC801A. Hohum... I may just keep it as our friend didn't leave instructions on how to fix it again.
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6026)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2721)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2146)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1901)
  10. 4G (1816)
  11. Virgin Media (1764)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1407)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules