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ZTE Framework that converts a Three UK branded MF286d to Nordic B11

The modem was on b12 and flashing b11 caused it to report as b02 SVN 12 however turning it off at power for half a minute then delta flashing b02 to b05 worked using at commands and adb push on openwrt. The power off for half a minute thing was fairly important. It then returned b05 SVN 05 so I delta flashed up to 11 then nand erase and reinstall root_uimage Nordic on the router side. That still failed the b11 to B12 fota update on Nordic web login so framework Nordic to Nordic which the router was happy with as it could see the router was now on Nordic so that synchronised it all back to b02.

Then I did the tried and tested fota upgrade process from b02 up to b12 and it was fine.

What I've learned from all of this is the simplest, most reliable and safest way to upgrade is open it up and spend a couple of pounds on a serial interface, framework from stock to Nordic which will put it on router b11 and modem b02, then framework Nordic to Nordic which will put router and modem on B02 so they're in sync, then from a serial terminal extract the web password and set the fake temp IMEI to Nordic variant for flashing fota b02 to b05, and b05 to b06, then faking not needed after this point so the terminal can be disconnected and fota it up to b12 (which has all been described earlier on this thread).

Trying to update without opening it sounds like a good idea but it so isn't worth it. I've lost literally hours trying that and soft bricked the router twice. There are some very helpful people but language is a barrier as most of the help is in Polish or Italian language, Google translate is good but it doesn't help searching for terms in English when searching those forums. I'm pleased to have the router back up and running now. The other consideration is openwrt isn't ready for this device, I would consider all versions to be treated as bleeding edge. The way qmi is handled on wrt is unstable, I could set my clock to it going from fast to snail speed each evening in line with congestion, stock Three and Nordic deals with this without any problems. WRT looks good but in reality I am getting better speeds with consistency and reliability using Nordic over wrt. I live around 1.2km line of sight from the mobile tower and usually get speeds at the very least 65mbps, usually 75-80mbps, occasionally peaking just over 90.
 
Hi, sorry I'm new to the forum but have been reading a lot of the MF286D posts for a while. I've just tried the Three to OpenWRT framework but it only went as far "Update initializing" (no progress bar) then eventually showed as disconnected. I've restarted it a few times but I don't seem to be getting much back from the device, just a few seconds of ping responses from 192.168.1.1 and then even that drops out. Assume there's nothing else to try except opening it up, soldering serial pins etc?
 
Hi, sorry I'm new to the forum but have been reading a lot of the MF286D posts for a while. I've just tried the Three to OpenWRT framework but it only went as far "Update initializing" (no progress bar) then eventually showed as disconnected. I've restarted it a few times but I don't seem to be getting much back from the device, just a few seconds of ping responses from 192.168.1.1 and then even that drops out. Assume there's nothing else to try except opening it up, soldering serial pins etc?
Did you use an ethernet cable and disabled the firewall and antivirus?
 
Did you use an ethernet cable and disabled the firewall and antivirus?
I didn't disable the firewall athough I did unblock the ZTE app when prompted. I'd spent ages trying on a Windows 10 machine (where I had disabled firewall) and then last minute moved to a different laptop (XP) and forgot to disable the firewall there. I was using an ethernet cable the whole time, that's where I'm seeing the few seconds of ping responses.
 
Should I still be trying to connect with ZTE framework at this point? I assumed that it'd started the update on the first attempt and failed and that the router was probably soft bricked now?
 
Should I still be trying to connect with ZTE framework at this point? I assumed that it'd started the update on the first attempt and failed and that the router was probably soft bricked now?
which lan port are you in, as openwrt changes lan1 to wan.
 
which lan port are you in, as openwrt changes lan1 to wan.
I plugged the router in again this morning and bizarrely it was working fine. The update hadn't gone ahead and the stock firmware was working fine. I tried the framework again, this time with the firewall off. However the same thing happened as yesterday, framework said intializing but didn't get as far as a progress bar but eventually showed as disconnected. I tried a few different things and could only get the same results as yesterday, e.g. a few seconds of ping responses at router boot and no web UI. I tried a few resets (including 30/30/30) but still no change.

I left the router unplugged for 30 minutes and then went back to it and it was all fine again, albeit still on the stock firmware. I don't really have an explanation for it but seems like if anyone thinks they've bricked it then it's worth waiting half an hour with it unplugged to see if that helps.

In the end I got framework working, I was using a VM with Windows XP and had left it with the wrong network settings - it needs to be bridged but I had it set as NAT.

I now have OpenWrt running, thanks to all those that have contributed to this thread! Next step is to go through the various modem upgrades to get B12. Once that's done I think I'll stick on Wrt (rather than try to flash to Nordic in order to have bridge mode available).

Is the framework Three to OpenWrt version a snapshot? Is it worth moving to an IceG build at this point?
 
No but I can recreate it from the three to openwrt if you need me to.
If I understand correctly, for a Three branded MF286d, I need to first use the "Play to Nordic B02" framework, then the "Nordic to Nordic B11". Is that right?

If that's correct, then I would be extremely grateful if you could recreate the Play to Nordic one?
 
Nevermind!
I didn't realise the Three to Openwrt framework also flashes the modem to Nordic B02. I wanted to use OpenWRT anyway, so used the "Three to OpenWRT" framework to get to B02, and then used the adb/serial console method to update all the way to B12.

Thank you!
 
Nevermind!
I didn't realise the Three to Openwrt framework also flashes the modem to Nordic B02. I wanted to use OpenWRT anyway, so used the "Three to OpenWRT" framework to get to B02, and then used the adb/serial console method to update all the way to B12.

Thank you!
Is this the case if I just want to use Nordic B11? i.e to unbrand 'three'. I don't want to use OpenWRT.

If not, @meritez Would you be able to upload the Play_to_Nordic_zte_mf286d_192.168.32.1_pw_- to the Mega folder?

Thanks
 

still hunting down what the new password is, but this framework will convert Three B04 to Nordic B02.
Play to Nordic zte mf286d 192.168.32.1 pw


The link to this file is not working.
 
No but I can recreate it from the three to openwrt if you need me to.
Hi @meritez, as noted above the mediafire link is no longer working. I'm hoping to get a Three ZTE MF286D sometime during the week and want to move to the Nordic firmware. I'm not really interested in Open WRT at the moment, so don't want to go down that route. I've searched online but all links are for mediafire.
If you or anyone has the Play to Nordic Framework, please can you link it?

Thanks

Update, after a lot of searching around on the Polish forum, I found this:

See post 5, I've left this untranslated as it's at your own risk...
 
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