To recover a modem that had just suffered a bad flash, or perhaps you want to revert it to an older firmware. You will need :
1) An Aztech ADSL Router Modem which uses a Texas Instruments (TI) chipset
2) A computer with an Ethernet port
3) A straight Ethernet cable
4) TI Remote Application 2.3
5) The appropriate firmware
Part 1 : Download TI Remote Application 2.3
We will be using this software to reflash the modem. I obtained my copy from Aztech's FTP server. Unfortunately, they have since removed it. No worries though. You can download my copy which we have made available here. Once you download it, you will need to unzip and install it.
Part 2 : Download The Appropriate Firmware
Now, flip the modem over and look for its model number. This is important as different models may use different chipsets with different firmware.
You can download the appropriate firmware from Aztech. Here are some FTP folders where firmware for several Aztech modems are stored. Although you should use country-specific firmware where possible, you can use firmware from other countries in a pinch, if there is no firmware update for your country.
Aztech DSL600E
ftp.aztech.com/malaysia/ADSL/DSL600E
Aztech DSL600EU
ftp.aztech.com/malaysia/ADSL/DSL600EU
ftp.aztech.com/sgp/ADSL/600eu
Aztech DSL600ER
ftp.aztech.com/sgp/ADSL/600er
Aztech DSL600EW
ftp.aztech.com/malaysia/ADSL/DSL600EW
ftp.aztech.com/sgp/ADSL/600ew
In this guide, I will concentrate on flashing the firmware version 3x.x.x. It seems that firmware version 6x.x.x for Malaysia are just upgrades, not the full firmware. Once you download the firmware, unzip it to an easily-accessible location. Now, we are ready to reflash the modem.
Part 3 : Flashing The Router Modem
1) Install TI Remote Application 2.3, if you have not already done so.
2) Connect the modem to the PC via the Ethernet cable. But leave the modem switched off.
3) Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections.
4) Look for the Local Area Connection. This refers to the network card connected to the modem. 5) Right-click on it and select the Properties option. The LAN Area Connection Properties page will pop up.
6) Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) before clicking the Properties button.
7) Then select the Use the following IP address option.
8) Enter the following values and click OK.
IP Address 192.168.1.2 Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
9) Click OK again to close the Local Area Connection Properties window.
10) Launch TI Remote Application.
11) Here comes the tricky part, which will test your patience. You must click Retrieve/Assign IP Adddress about 3 to 4 seconds after switching on the modem. It took me several attempts to get this right.
12) After clicking the button, the screen above (right) should appear in less than a second. If not, close TI Remote Application and switch off your modem. Repeat Steps 10 and 11.
13) Now, create a text file using Notepad and name it setenv.txt. Enter the following values according to your modem model.
DSL600E/EU
setenv mtd0 0x90090000,0x901f0000
setenv mtd1 0x90010000,0x90090000
setenv mtd2 0x90000000,0x90010000
setenv mtd3 0x901f0000,0x90200000
setenv autoload 1
DSL600EW
setenv mtd0 0x900d0000,0x903f0000
setenv mtd1 0x90010000,0x900d0000
setenv mtd2 0x90000000,0x90010000
setenv mtd3 0x903f0000,0x90400000
setenv autoload 1
14) Click the Browse button and look for the setenv.txt file you created. Select it and the link will appear in the Script File name area. Then click Run Script button.
15) Under Media Type, select the FLASH option, instead of the default SDRAM option.
16) Select Firmware(Single/Kernel/FS Image), instead of the default POST/Diagnostics option.
17) Then click the Download button. This allows you to select the firmware you downloaded and unzipped earlier. First, select the .bin file (e.g. ram_zimage_pad.ar7rd.nsp.squashfs.bin) and click Open to load it.
18) This alert box will appear. Click OK.
19) Repeat step 17, but this time, select the .img file (e.g. nsp.annexA.img) and click Open. This alert box will appear. Click OK.
20) You will be asked to reboot the modem. Click Reboot.
21) You can now restore the IP settings in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties page. Just select Obtain an IP address automatically and click OK.
22) After the modem reinitializes, it should be working normally.
Congratulations! You have just restored your "dead" modem to its fully working condition.
