I've tried the following:
-flash via web interface from stock to openwrt sysupgrade as adviced here, but got error 4506;
-flash this brand new lede factory snapshot for c50, but got same error.
Just now I was about to try the tftp method, but after reading the last post, I became afraid to brick the device.
I don't know if a EU device can flash general firmware but i post my general recovery firmware here if you need. After flash my firmware using my TFTP can you try my advise again ?
This recovery is for openwrt, right?
It's stock firmware (for TFTP method). I've used it several times and it's ok for my router.
Sorry, but I'm not folowing... How can this recovery help me install openwrt or lede?
It's first firmware released and the only one accepts openwrt firmware while laters doesn't. I think it's worth to try 
Oh, I see! I'll give it a try!
It worked! Flashed stock, then upgraded to openwrt and then to lede.
Thanks to all of you, especially @danghuy1994. Your help was much appreciated.
I was able to reproduce @danghuy1994 's recovery firmware by taking the original version of the Archer C50_V1_150325 and stripping the first 512 bytes (0x200). That's the recipe if for some reason the dropbox file becomes unavailable.
You're welcome 
But I hope someone will optimize and have a deep look at this device because its hardwares are pretty great (except for 100Mbps ports 
)
Why are they putting 100Mb/s ports in 2017?
I'd like to update my second post "TL;DR". So just to confirm, you:
- Downgraded original firmware using TFTP danghuy1994 firmware (ArcherC50v1_tp_recovery.bin)
- Then from the downgraded original firmware using standard firmware upgrade page, you used openwrt-ramips-mt7620-ArcherC50-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
- Then from OpenWrt you used lede-17.01.1-ramips-mt7620-ArcherC50-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
Yes, these were the steps I followed.
I have 5 Archer c50 that i'm trying to use with LEDE,
now I have this behavior, after some wifi (about 10) 2.4Ghz connection
the ip packets stops over this radio1.
After some minutes the router restart and this appens again and again.
This is little better then before with OPENWRT also I have this hangs
but I have to restart the router manualy.
Whit LEDE the 2.4Ghz low power level is solved, but we still have this
problem.
Any other have this behavior?
@manu69x Since your problem is not related to installation instructions, please open a new topic for your question.
My experience with Archer C50 V1 and stock firmware (looking old, uses frames): downloaded the factory image, upgrade using stock and everything just works. No TFTP etc. was needed.
Thanks for the awesome experience!
1 Like
Hi everyone!
just bought an Archer C50 (EU) V1.
The firmware revision is 0.9.1 3.0 v0045.0 Build 160411 Rel.42416n
The hardware revision is: Archer C50 v1 00000002
It fails to webupgrade to the corresponding lede-17.01.2-ramips-mt7620-ArcherC50-squashfs-factory image with Error code: 4506
Tryed then the 3 step TFTP first, then sysupgrade to openwrt, then sysupgrade to LEDE, but i'm stuck in TFTP
I'm using linux mint 18.2 mate, 64-bit.
Instaled tftp with:
sudo apt-get install tftpd-hpa
copied the recovery image from the polish forum
sudo cp ~/uboot/arch/arm/boot/ArcherC50v1_tp_recovery.bin /var/lib/tftpboot
tested it with:
tftp localhost
tftp> get ArcherC50v1_tp_recovery.bin
tftp> quit
cmp /var/lib/tftpboot/ArcherC50v1_tp_recovery.bin ArcherC50v1_tp_recovery.bin
# no output other then a prompt means it worked correctly
After that, disconnect the wan cable, and leave only the LAN1 to laptop ethernet cable.
Powered on the router holding the WPS/reset button, as stated in step 5 of both @danghuy1994 and @steel_rat methods... and first the power led turns on, then the circular two-arrows turns on (I guess they are the WPS)... and I have tryed releasing WPS button when it turns on... also tryed to release some seconds later... and soooome second later.
The only results I get are one of the following two:
- The router continues to boot (probably a time out of TFTP) and nothing changes
or - The WPS and power leds stays on...for ever, in which case I wait 15 minutes before cycling power... only to discover that the firmwares stays the same (as all my configured settings, and I can't do webupgrade... I am back at square one.
I openwrt wikis they suggest to put a switch in the middle to guarantee that the links is UP when booting the router, but I don't wan't to go that far, seems risky and maybe outdated to use in this router.
Please, help. If there is another test cases for this router. I only found this one in my region... supported by LEDE and with USB, and bougted precisely for that reason (using LEDE). i come from 7 happy years using ASUS RT-N16 with a modifyed tomato (called merlinwrt) and entware installed on ir (which cames originale from openwrt and now from LEDE). Used to have owncloud (now nextcloud) on it, also transmission, aria2, nginx and other nice apps running there, accesible from outside, but the old router finally burns out his wifi radio (some capacitors) and is almos useless (not RIP yet, but without wifi)
Any suggestions are wellcomed.
Can you try to flash an older stock TP-Link firmware from the Web Interface, like this one:
If it works then try from step 2.
I assume that you've set your laptop IP to 192.168.0.66/255.255.255.0.
This test from localhost is almost a sure bet. Are you sure that your firewall is not blocking you on UDP 69 ?
The EU version of the C50v1 needs the following PR for flashing from stock firmware's web interface: https://github.com/lede-project/source/pull/1251
It might, I have to try to tftp from other PC to be sure