Xiaomi routers are a budget solution for the most sophisticated Internet and local network users. Model Xiaomi Router The 3G will likely satisfy you in every way as a super-fast wireless network router.
Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 3G review
It looks like a regular enlarged (due to non-removable antennas) packaging.
Xiaomi 3G router: it comes with a power adapter and instructions
The LAN and WAN interfaces are separated from each other by one of the antennas - just like USB port from all Ethernet ports.
Ethernet/USB sockets are located between the router antennas
Like Xiaomi Router 3/Mini, Xiaomi Router 3G has only one blue LED.
One LED is a proprietary feature of the Xiaomi router display
Nothing superfluous: there are no buttons or switches on the side of the Xiaomi 3G router.
There are no physical controls on Router 3G
Taking a closer look: indication of Ethernet traffic exchange on site (a pair of LEDs). There is a reset button (small hole on the left).
The Ethernet indication is more varied than that of the Xiaomi Router 3
Ventilation in Xiaomi Router 3G, like its counterparts, is almost ideal: the lower surface of the case is a sieve with long holes.
The Xiaomi 3G router is well ventilated during operation
The adapter is standard - for American sockets. An adapter for European sockets is purchased separately.
Adapter for router plug is not included
Externally, Xiaomi 3(G) routers are indistinguishable: they only show the number of Ethernet ports (Router 3 has two) and the color of the USB port.
The differences are only visible when viewed from behind.
General indication of the operation of Ethernet ports on the Xiaomi 3 and the presence of an indication of traffic exchange via Ethernet on the Xiaomi 3G.
The differences are also visible on the LAN/WAN display of both routers
Xiaomi Router 3G is slightly more compact than Router 3. It is also easy to hang on the wall by drilling a couple of elongated holes in order to install the case on pre-fixed screws (there is more than enough space inside). PCB with a radiator it is located as compactly as possible, leaving room for cooling the device during operation.
The radiator is massive and dissipates heat well
Under the heatsink there is a processor, RAM, a Wi-Fi radio subsystem (excluding output stages for amplifying the signal to the antenna) and flash memory. Ethernet chips do not require additional cooling. It is possible to install a pair of miniature fans from a non-working PC or laptop inside.
Leading Xiaomi 3G chips are hidden under the heatsink
The MediaTek-7621AT processor will “pull” up to 4 LAN ports - but this is already the prerogative of Xiaomi Router Pro (in the future - and higher models, when they are released).
Before the MT-7621AT processor reaches its end of life - before the MediaTek-7621x CPU series (MT-76xx processor family) is updated - new versions of the Xiaomi Router will still prove themselves.
Table: characteristics of the Xiaomi Router 3G router
| Parameter or characteristic | Value (tolerance) |
| CPU | SoC MediaTek MT7621AT (MIPS32 1004K, 2*880 MHz) |
| RAM | 256 MB (DDR-2) |
| Flash drive | 128 MB (SLC) |
| Standard, Wi-Fi range | 2.4 and 5 GHz, IEEE 802.11ac |
| Antenna parameters | 4, omnidirectional, non-removable |
| Number of LAN/WAN ports | 2 LAN ports, WAN port |
| File sharing speed on LAN between PC and gadgets | up to 1 Gbit/s |
| Speed local network WiFi | up to 1167 Mbit/s |
| Protocols for encrypted access to the Network via WAN/LAN | PPTP, PPPoE, L2TP, IPSec |
| USB ports | one, 3.0 |
| Local servers | DHCP |
| Encryption, Wi-Fi network protection | from Open to WPA-2 |
| Additional functionality | DMZ, NAT, firewall, SPI, Firewall |
| Device operating modes | access point, repeater mode |
Using third-party firmware (modified firmware from Asus, TP-Link, ZyXEL, free software OpenWRT/DD-WRT/Padavan), previously unavailable functions are implemented, such as: repeater and (hybrid) bridge modes, WiFi2LAN client mode, additional guest networks and etc.
Video: Xiaomi 3G router review
Setting up a Xiaomi 3G router using the MiWiFi program
Beginners generally start setting up Xiaomi Router 3G not with third-party firmware Padavan or DD-WRT ( full version OpenWRT), namely from the MiWiFi application.
Setting up the Xiaomi Router line of routers is simplified: Router 3G is not much different from its predecessors - the Mini and 3 models. For the convenience of users, all commands in the instructions are translated from Chinese to English/Russian.
Connecting to a Xiaomi 3G router from a PC or laptop
After turning on for the first time (or resetting the settings), the Xiaomi 3G router will enable open wireless network"Xiaomi_(device_labeling)." Connect to it from a PC, laptop or tablet, type mifiwi.com in address bar your browser.
Select Xiaomi 3G network
Now do the following.
- Accept the agreement with Xiaomi and click “Next”.
Confirm that you agree with Xiaomi's PM
- Secure your Wi-Fi network by entering a new name (you don't have to change it) and a WPA-2 password.
Set a strong, hack-proof wireless password
- For maximum protection, enter a different password for the router’s web interface.
- Wait for restart Wi-Fi networks on a Xiaomi 3G router.
Wait, the router will now restart
The router is ready for further configuration.
Connect to the router with a new Wi-Fi password
Reconnect to the Xiaomi Router 3G network with a new password.
Changing the firmware language of the Xiaomi 3G router
In some cases, when you connect the provider's cable, Internet access may already be enabled, so you can use Google Translator to simplify the settings.
- Go back to miwifi.com and enter the router settings.
Enter your Admin password
- Go to the "Routing Status" tab.
Xiaomi Router 3G operating status
- Give the command " General settings- State of the system." Download the English version of Xiaomi Router 3G software.
You can easily change the Chinese Xiaomi version 3G to English
- Click gray button- “Update manually.” Select a folder on your PC to save the file Xiaomi firmware 3G, please wait while this update downloads.
- Select English in the Xiaomi Router 3G software settings.
To get started, select English language
- Log in again to the router settings (using your login and password) and give the command “Status - Connected devices”.
The router also reports available Wi-Fi devices 5GHz
- Give the command “Internet” - “Test (more)”. Internet speed will be checked.
The router will report Internet speed and IP connection settings
- Write down (or take a screenshot of) all IP addresses. They will come in handy when reconfiguring the router.
Advanced Wi-Fi settings for Xiaomi Router 3G
Do the following.
Setting up a local network Xiaomi Router 3G
General configuration of the local router is performed only when the Internet is turned off. If the router automatically connects to the Network, temporarily disconnect the provider's cable.
For example, the main IP is 192.168.0.1 and the DHCP range is 192.168.0.(100–200).
Setting up network sharing for Xiaomi Router 3G
Do the following.
Fine-tuning the security of Xiaomi Router 3G
If malware has entered your router or your passwords have become known to everyone around you, change them.
Reset, restore settings and update Xiaomi Router 3G
Resetting the settings may reset the web interface to its Chinese language. Use Xiaomi 3G reset in case of emergency.
Working with disks and modems on a Xiaomi 3G router
The Xiaomi Router 3 USB port supports USB drives and 3G/4G modems. By replacing the firmware with freely distributed software, universal for routers of many brands and models (OpenWRT Pro and its analogues), you may get the functionality of printers, scanners, copiers and other office equipment, controlled via USB.
Of particular interest is the operation of the router as a separate gadget/router with USB-RS485, C2000-USB interface converters and other microcontrollers - over a local network, for example, controlling a fire alarm or main entrance turnstiles in a protected area. The last of the above may require programming skills - at least minimal - to change the part program code Xiaomi routers (before updating). You may also need to reprogram (or at least update the firmware) of the USB converter itself.
Do the following.
- Connect external drive, for example, an SSD drive, give the command “Storage”.
You can download the apps directly from here
- Download from Google Play MiWiFi app.
Open MiWiFi app after downloading
- Register on miwifi.com and launch the MiWiFi application. Click the “Set up a new router” button.
Opening the vault will take you to the contents of the flash drive or SSD drive
Buttons “Arrange”, “Unload”, “Download”, “Mark” and “Back” - the main actions with files when managing them with Xiaomi devices Router 3G. When you select a file (a group of files, a folder or a group of folders), the functions “Copy”, “Delete”, “Rename”, “Move” and “Remove selection” are activated.
Alternative firmware options
Third-party firmware is free software “OpenWRT”, “Padavan”, as well as firmware from Asus, ZyXEL, D-Link, TP-Link, Tenda and other routers, edited through special compiler applications. Free software is extensively tested for compatibility with routers, both well-known and recently launched on the market network equipment manufacturers.
Setting up Xiaomi 3G to work with a USB modem in Padavan software
Before working with Padavan firmware, you need to install it instead of the proprietary “stripped-down” DD-WRT (or “native” from Xiaomi).
Xiaomi 3G firmware using Prometheus utility
Prometheus is available at prometheus.freize.net.
- Launch the Prometheus application and select the Mi-R3G router (follow the instructions command console Prometheus).
If you make a mistake with the config file, only the service center or Xiaomi representatives will help
Before starting the firmware, the software must be processed by the Xiaomi 3G code
Initiate step 4 (router firmware). Xiaomi Router 3G will be updated and restarted.
Padavan settings are all in Russian and even more diverse than in MiRouter
New IP - 192.168.1.1 (Asus-RT program settings).
3G/4G settings in Padavan Asus-RT on Xiaomi 3G routers
Setting up a 4G modem in the Xiaomi-Asus-RT (Padavan) firmware is not much different from similar actions in the “clean” Asus firmware. In fact, Padavan is a transplant of Asus's web interface to source code Xiaomi routers.
The Xiaomi 3G router will restart. You can configure Wi-Fi and LAN routing - it is configured similarly in Asus-RT routers(refer to the manual for any of the models in this line) - and use the Internet from your cellular provider.
Xiaomi routers are easy to set up. This ease of operation has not bypassed the ultra-modern Xiaomi 3G model. With Xiaomi 3G routers, you will have access to almost any of the currently known tariffs from any of the providers. Have excellent Internet speed and comfortable work!
Today we will talk about the Xiaomi Mi Wi-fi mini router. This is just a wonderful piece of hardware for the money, but initially it comes with OpenWrt firmware in Chinese, which is not entirely convenient. I'll show you how to flash this router with firmware from Asus and get user-friendly interface, maximum opportunities and stability.
I ordered a router from China, it cost me about 2000 rubles. Similar routers cost at least 2 times more. You can order using this link.
So what do we get for our money?
Model: Xiaomi Mi mini WiFi
Processor: MT7620A 580MHz
ROM: 16MB SPI Flash
RAM: 128MB DDR2
There is no built-in HDD (you can connect an external one via USB)
2.4 Ghz WiFi 2×2 (up to 300 Mbit/s)
5 Ghz WiFi 2×2 (up to 867 Mbit/s)
Capable of operating at two frequencies at once.
External dual-band omnidirectional antennas - 2 pcs.
Ports: 3*Rj45, 1*USB
Communication: WiFi 802.11ac;
If we omit the dry numbers that are incomprehensible to novice users, then we can indicate a fairly fast processor, the ability to work in two Wi-Fi bands at once and work with USB media (you can organize your own small file server =)). After flashing the firmware from Asus, many more “goodies” open up.
So, I give you detailed instructions using Xiaomi Mi Wi-fi mini firmware. There will be a lot of letters - but don't be scared. I made the instructions as simple and accessible as possible =)
We install the firmware for developers and get root.
We connect the router to the computer via cable or Wi-fi (preferably via cable)
3. Select the type of operation of the router.
4.Create a Wi-fi password
5. We get to home page router.
Click the button circled in red and get to the settings menu. Select " Manual update» firmware (the red arrow points to the button).
Next, click “Select file”, specify the path to the downloaded firmware and start the firmware update.
We wait for the firmware to finish and proceed to the next step.
We get the ssh key on the site mywifi.com
In order not to google “Xiaomi Mi WiFi mini firmware red LED is on” or “Xaomi router is red” we need to get an ssh key for our router. The Ssh key is individual for each device, so you need to register on the mywifi.com website.
Either log in via Facebook or click Create Mi Account.
We come up with a password for your account and enter the captcha.
We get to our personal account.
If the page with the key does not open, try linking the router to your Xiaomi account through the application.
Here is the link http://bigota.miwifi.com/xiaoqiang/client/xqpc_client.exe
Download, install, and log in under your Xiaomi account.
We write down our login/password for the ssh key (login is root, password is written after it) and click on the only blue button on the page.
After this, the system will warn us about something. We don’t pay attention and just stare at right button.
We need to upload our ssh key to the router. It's easy to do.
1. Turn off the router.
2. Drop the downloaded file, WITHOUT RENAMEING IT, onto a formatted flash drive in FAT32. It is advisable for the flash drive to be no more than 2-4 GB, but 32 GB worked for me =)
3.Insert the flash drive into the router, press the hidden button on the back panel of the router with a paper clip, turn on the power of the router, hold it until the yellow diode on the front panel of the router blinks and release the button.
4.If everything is ok, then after some time the yellow diode will light up. If the light turns red, you did something wrong. Try again =)
Connect via ssh to Xiaomi mi Wi-fi
The program will require a login - enter root
will require a password - enter the password from the page with the ssh key that you downloaded earlier
Firmware Pandora Xiaomi Mi Wi-fi
Attention: to paste data from the clipboard, use the SHIFT+Insert key combination
1. Go to the router’s Temp directory with the command
cd/tmp 2.
Download the Pandora firmware to the router and enter the command
wget https://site/soft/PandoraBox.bin
Flash the router with Pandora firmware, enter the command
mtd -r write /tmp/PandoraBox. binOS1
mtd -r write /tmp/PandoraBox.bin firmware
or
We wait a few minutes until the router reboots. If you were connected via Wi-Fi, reconnect to the open network.
Default login/password: root – admin
The firmware is initially in Chinese, you can intuitively click on the menu and switch to English. Or use the transfer to Google Chrome.
Firmware Asus Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi
Let's move on to the most interesting part of our article - Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi firmware on Asus firmware from Padavan. This is the firmware I have and this is what I recommend.
So, open Putty, enter the new router address 192.168.1.1
Login password will now be root/admin
Enter the command in Putty
wget http://192.168.0.104/image.trx
Where 192.168.0.104 is your IP address
Putty will copy the firmware file from your computer to the router's temporary memory.
3. Flash the router with the command
mtd -r write/tmp/image. trx OS1
If it doesn't flash, try the command:
mtd -r write/tmp/image. trx firmware
or
mtd -r write /tmp/PandoraBox.bin FirmwareStub
We wait a few minutes, if everything is ok, the yellow diode on the front panel of the router lights up.
So, this is the firmware of the Xiaomi mi router Wi-fi firmware Asus from Padavan is complete. will be in another article, but you will definitely like it =)
You can download the firmware using the social lock.
Today I want to tell you about a small, but such a skillful and powerful router from our beloved Xiaomi.
It so happened that my old router Zyxel Keenetic GIGA II was suddenly slow. 
The requirements for data transmission via Wi-Fi have increased and 2.4 GHz turned out to be catastrophically insufficient.
Due to the fact that it is connected to the router hard drive with movies, and on the laptop there is a library of Plex movies, which distributes movies to Apple TV, so it turns out that the movie first flies via Wi-Fi to the laptop, and then immediately back via Wi-Fi to the Apple TV.
Well, 2.4 GHz stopped delivering such speeds for 720p or 1080p movies.
After analyzing the market, it turned out that the most popular routers supporting 5 GHz networks are Xiaomi Mi router 3 
and today's hero Xiaomi review Mini. 
After reading 4pda, I discovered that these are essentially twin brothers and there are no significant differences between them. And the 4 antennas from the older brother Mi 3 do not particularly affect the speed. Therefore, it was decided to order Xiaomi Mini, as it is more compact and cheaper.
Specifications:
Processor MT7620A 580MHz;
ROM: 16MB SPI Flash;
RAM: 128MB DDR2;
There is no built-in HDD (you can connect an external one via USB);
2.4 Ghz WiFi 2x2 (up to 300 Mbit/s);
5 Ghz WiFi 2x2 (up to 867 Mbit/s);
WAN (up to 100 Mbit/s);
LAN x2 (up to 100 Mbit/s);
External dual-band omnidirectional antennas - 2 pcs.
The router is produced in different colors, but for some reason you can only buy white. 
The router comes in the following box: 
Box dimensions: 15*16*5 cm
Everything looks very modest and ascetic.
Inside is a white router in a film with a tongue by which you need to pull it out. Well, they just licked a feature from Apple) 
In addition to the router, the box contains only a power supply and instructions in Chinese)
Power supply black, glossy on the side, 12V 1A 
The connector is standard, the plug is Chinese. 
It’s good that there’s an adapter lying around in the bins 
Cable length 140 cm 
The router itself looks very modest and neat. LED on the front panel 
Side by antenna 
Rear ports (1 WAN, 2 LAN, 1 USB, power, reset button) 
The bottom is full of holes. There are a pair of rubberized feet. 
The design of the router is reminiscent of the Apple Trackpad or Lenovo Yoga tablet
Xiaomi Mini 
Apple Trackpad 
Lenovo Yoga 
The main problem with this router is the Chinese firmware. Yes. Yes. Everything is in Chinese. Thank God there are 2 ways to fix this.
First option.
Flash the English firmware by poking in the Chinese interface (nothing complicated) and then in WiFi settings select the location Europe so that the router no longer tries to download a “newer” one Chinese firmware. The option is so-so, because the native firmware is not very functional and slow. For example, there is no transmission torrent client, IPTV support, L2TP (Beeline, hello)
Second option.
Flash third party firmware by Padavan (XRMWRT).
This is more difficult, since it is made from the installed virtual machine(but its image is already ready - you just need to download it and run it) and takes at least 2 hours. The firmware takes a long time to assemble. This firmware can be used to flash not only Xiaomi, but also a bunch of other routers.
I tried both options. And now I have a Xiaomi Mini Padavan edition at home. Which itself downloads and distributes torrents, supports 2 networks 2.4 and 5 GHz, knows how to turn them on and off according to a schedule, knows how to be VPN server and a client and much, much more.
For little money you get the performance of a large adult router.
I'm happy. Movies don't lag.
Thanks and good luck with the firmware everyone!
I'm planning to buy +61 Add to favorites I liked the review +37 +78The topic of firmware for the Xiaomi Mi Router is very relevant for several reasons. The main thing is that its entire interface is in Chinese without any alternative. Therefore, in order to more or less understand what is written in stock firmware, needs to be installed in the browser additional expansion for translation. You can use it, but it's inconvenient. It would seem, why these troubles? Buy yourself another router with Russian localization and use it. But the low cost with high technical indicators and functionality router. Analogs from other manufacturers sold here cost a thousand or more rubles more.
What are the options?
As you understand, it is impossible to constantly use the Chinese version. Therefore, I decided to make this guide in which I will talk about two options for flashing router firmware:
- To official English
- For Padavan or Asus version
This instruction is suitable for all models with a USB port - the Xiaomi Mi Router 3 firmware is installed in exactly the same way as the Mini.
Official firmware for Xiaomi Mi WiFi 3 router in English
So - how to translate Xiaomi Router 3 into English and no longer bother with these endless spiders.
The procedure is simple:
- Download Xiaomi English firmware
- Download it to the router
- Configure again in the English version
Firmware for Xiaomi Mi WiFi Router from Padavan for Asus
Another solution for the Chinese language in the control panel is to install a custom version of the firmware on the Xiaomi router. The most successful firmware today is the Padavan firmware, or as it is also called from Asus, named after the company for which it was originally made. The installation process is not the easiest, but if you do everything correctly, it will be no problem if you know how to use a computer at least a little. Therefore, in this article I tried to outline in as much detail as possible the entire process of updating the router software using the example of the Xiaomi Mini model for your convenience.
To achieve the final result, we will need to flash Xiaomi Mi Router several times:
- Install original XiaoMi firmware for developers
- Install Pandora firmware
- Install Asus firmware
Firmware for developers
Let's begin. First of all, go to the Xiaomi downloads page in the “ROM” tab and download the “ROM for” package for your model (Mini, 3, 3C, 3G, etc.) from the right column - this is the official version of the software for developers. With its help, we can manage the deep firmware of the router.
Next, go to the admin panel of the router at , in the “General settings > System status” section and select the downloaded file for the firmware. In my screenshots you will see translated interface pages through the built-in Chrome Google translator - this is the most convenient way to use stock firmware. When working, for convenience, use a cable connection from the computer to the Xiaomi router - you will not need to reconnect to it every time you reboot.
The router is being re-flashed - at this time it cannot be disconnected from the power supply.
Download the necessary files and programs
After rebooting the router, we again configure it to connect to the Internet from your provider and go to the Router Club repository, where craftsmen regularly post new Padavan firmware and not only on several different routers. Scroll to the bottom of the page and go to the folder with the latest date.
In this folder we find another one - xrm_base, it contains required firmware from Asus, download it to your computer.
IN personal account Xiaomi Mi Router we find our account number - it is to the right of the menu next to the profile photo.
Everyone’s login will be “root” - the password will be individual.
Click on the button with hieroglyphs to the right of the password and then again in the pop-up window, also the right button - and download the file for connecting via the SSH protocol to the Xiaomi Mi Router.
It must be placed on a clean, FAT32 formatted flash drive with a size of 4 to 8 GB.
And finally, the last thing is to download the software package from our repository for Asus firmware.
Firmware from Pandora
Let's get started with the actual firmware. We take out the power cable from our router, take the flash drive and insert it into the USB connector on the Xiaomi router.
Next, press the “Reset” button with a pin and insert the power cable. We wait until the LED flashes yellow and release the “Reset” button. If everything is normal, the LED will change color to blue. If it turns red, then repeat all manipulations with the flash drive and router from the beginning.
After that, run the hfs.exe program from the same archive and add the PandoraBox.bin file to it. This virtual server, which we launch on the computer and from which we upload the firmware to the router.
The next step is to launch the putty.exe program from the same archive - this is an SSH client that will allow you to connect to the “internals” of Xiaomi. We enter the router IP in the address bar - 192.168.31.1. Leave the remaining values as they are and click the “Open” button.
A new dialog box will open, where we will first be asked to enter the login and password for the router - remember the information that we received in our account on the Xiaomi website. Login - “root”
and the password is the one the site gave you. No characters will be displayed when entering your password, so make no mistake. If the connection is successful, a greeting from the Chinese will appear.
Next, enter the command “ cd /tmp" - to get into the folder with the temporary files of the router.
After this we give the command “ wget LINK_TO_FILE_FROM_PROGRAM_HFS.EXE". In my case it looks like “wget http://192.168.151.1/PandoraBox.bin”
Next, you need to determine where exactly in your specific device to install the firmware. This is done with the command “ cat /proc/mtd". After it, a list will appear in which you need to find one of the values - “firmware”, “OS1” or “FirmwareStub”. There will be exactly one of them that we will use. I got "OS1"
Now we run the command that will flash our router to the Pandora version:
mtd -r write /tmp/PandoraBox.bin OS1
Instead of OS1, as you understand, you may have firmware or FirmwareStub
The router will start flashing and then reboot.
Xiaomi firmware from Asus (Padavan)
Now that Pandora is up and running, we launch HFS.EXE again and similarly add the Asus firmware file to it - the one that was downloaded at the very beginning from the RouterClub repository.
Downloaded. Now we restart the PUTTY.EXE program again and connect to the router again, now using the new IP, which is specified in new firmware — 192.168.1.1
Here we need to log in again, for this we use the login “root”, password “admin”.
Next, go to the directory again with the command “ cd /tmp" and upload the firmware file from Padavan - Asus - " wget http://192.168.1.151/FILE_NAME.trx"- we again take the link from the HFS program.
After that, download the firmware with the command “ mtd -r write /tmp/FILE_NAME.trx firmware"- please note that here we already use the “firmware” command at the end
And we wait for the router to reboot, after which we type its IP in the browser - 192.168.1.1, which will take us to the admin panel. For authorization we use a pair login-password admin-admin. To connect to the router via WiFi to the “Router Club” network, use the password “1234567890”.
The reward of our long labors will be a new admin panel with many additional features, which was not in the stock firmware. For example, the function of connecting mobile modems and distributing guest tickets will now be available. wifi networks at a frequency of 5 GHz, and this is only the very, very minimum of changes that have occurred.
I hope everything worked out for you too!
For greater clarity, here are two video tutorials that show the entire process step by step. By the way, installing Podovan firmware on Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 3 and 3G differs from Mini - pay attention to this!
Padavan for Mi Router 3/3G
For Xiaomi Mini
How to Return Official Firmware to Xiaomi Mi Router 3?
I have been using a Xiaomi router for quite a long time on different firmware, but for many blog readers the process of installing a third-party version of the software is too complicated, so more often I still get asked questions about how to work with Xiaomi routers in regular official version admins. Therefore, I decided to return everything back and roll back the device to the original Chinese version in order to create a series of articles about setting up the router, as they say, “out of the box”.
Of course, I will share with you my experience on how to roll back from custom firmware to official Xiaomi.
So, first, let's go to Xiaomi routers. Everything here will also be in Chinese, so for the last time we’ll use the browser translator built into Google Chrome.
After the page is readable, switch to the “ROM” tab so that a list of routers for which firmware is available appears.
We find our model in it and download any of the two presented versions of the software - Stable or Development
The file will have some name - we rename it to
Then we drop the miwifi.bin firmware file onto it - to the very root and so that there is nothing else on it.
- disconnect the router from the power cable
- insert the flash drive into its USB port
- press and hold the Reset button with a pin
- and at the same time, while holding down the button, connect the power cord back
- after 5-10 seconds, when the orange light flashes, release the reset button
I recently purchased an excellent Xiaomi Mini router. For its $25 it has a processor with clock frequency 600MHz and 128MB RAM, USB 2.0 port, two lan ports, 2.4 and 5 GHz Wifi.
In short, for this money it is best router on at the moment.
But as it happens, there was a fly in the ointment. And in the case of Xiaomi Mini, this is the firmware.
Previously, he did not speak Russian at all. China is working and at the moment there is an English-language interface, which is already very, very good. But it never connected to my network via DHCP with a cloned poppy address. No problem, we'll change it!
The network offers two firmware for this router.
1 - PandoraBox. This is a modified openwrt, it is good for those who understand what they are doing, have experience working with Linux and want to work with files.
2 - Modified firmware ASUS from Padovan. Everything here is much simpler and more user-friendly, but you can’t install packages separately.
I decided to flash firmware from Padovan. For strange reasons, this firmware is prohibited from being distributed in assembled form. So you have to assemble it yourself. There is a bash script for this - PROMETHEUS.
So, we turn on the router (it is better to connect it to the old router in order to accurately connect to the Internet, this is a prerequisite for completing the setup) and configure it using Xiaomi apps or through a browser at 192.168.31.1.
After that, register a Xiaomi account. It’s better to do this through Facebook; I never received any emails.
The stock firmware of Xiaomi Mini does not allow connecting to the router via SSH. This can be fixed by updating to developer firmware.
Go to the Xiaomi website and download the firmware here http://www1.miwifi.com/miwifi_download.html. Don't forget to switch to the ROM tab.
If you have a Chinese interface, you can navigate using screenshots or install Chrome (it will translate everything).
During the firmware installation, the router will reboot and the orange LED will blink; when completed, the blue LED will light up.
Now let's unlock ssh. Go to https://d.miwifi.com/rom/ssh and download the file miwifi_ssh.bin
We immediately remember the root password.
We put the firmware on a flash drive (preferably a smaller one), insert it into the switched off router, press the Reset button with something thin and turn it on, wait until the orange LED starts blinking, you can release it. We wait until it lights up blue. Ready.
Now we take an ssh client, for example Putty (if you have Linux, you don’t need anything at all).
We try to connect to the router address.
Now you need to assemble the firmware. For this you need a Debian similar to Linux. I did it on ubuntu. If you don't have Linux at hand, a virtual machine will do.
To get started with the PROMETHEUS script, run the following commands.
Wget -O start.sh http://prometheus.freize.net/script/start-99.sh chmod +x start.sh ./start.sh
The script will install the packages needed for assembly and download the firmware sources.
We will compile with the standard config. If you have difficulty understanding what is happening, it is better to do the same.
PROMETHEUS is controlled by pressing keys.
After downloading the sources, the script will prompt you to select a config, select mi-mini (I have 1).
First, we assemble the compiler and a set of utilities for assembling the firmware (toolchain) - press 3.
We smoke.
Now we collect the firmware itself - firmware. My key is 4 then 3 (Collect firware).
We smoke.
Click Flash firmware (4). Here you need to set up a connection via ssh. We indicate the login and password that you remembered when downloading the firmware from the xiaomi website.
