Yes, the steps are correct. Will not brick the router.  Just some redundant steps. 

Step 5, rename the cfe 2.4fix to just cfe.bin so that when you flash easier,no need to check so many characters.

Step 7,8 ,9 not needed. Mtd write has 3 versions,one version need -i ,and one version no need (like step 10).

Step 11 optional.  You can just power off, then wps + power on until internet led flashes.

Using hp you should get around 50mbps (unless yours is high end hp. Using another 868l as repeater will be higher.

At present, DIR-868L can only be converted to RT-AC66U_B1 or to RT-AC68U.

Besides the problems mentioned in the opening post such as LAN/WAN ports rearranged and LED not working normally,
1) If converted to RT-AC66U_B1, everything works fine except 2.4G WiFi very slow
2) If converted to RT-AC68U, everything works fine except 2.4G WiFi very slow and WiFi is disabled/off after every restart.
Here's the guide to fix both 2.4G WiFi speed and WiFi disabled after restart. It will be converted to AC68U. AC68U has slightly more info when viewing connected clients list compared to AC66U_B1.

Only do this after you're already fully converted and running Asus firmware.

1) Download attached file. CFE_868L_2.4Gfix_68u.bin and mtd-write and CFEEdit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14uUNxKWLzb...iew?usp=sharing

2) Use CFEEdit and change 3 macaddresses and WPS Pin according to your own router.

3) Turn on the SSH from router page. Administration > System > Enable SSH > Apply

4) Open WINSCP. Choose SCP protocol, enter router IP address, username and password

5) Drag and drop both CFE_868L_2.4Gfix_68u.bin and mtd-write files to the right side of WINSCP

6) Use Putty and connect to router. Enter username and password

7) Enter this common into Putty to backup current CFE



8) Drag cfe_bac.bin file from right window of WINSCP to left window.

9) Enter these commands in Putty to flash new CFE



10) Just to be safe, enter this additional commands into Putty also



11) Enter this command into Putty to clear NVRAM and reboot



And it should startup as AC68U. Please don't blame me if anything goes wrong. It worked for 3 of my units.

Awesome! It works! Thank you fisherman10!
A cosmetic question, so the INTERNET LED and POWER LED no light after connected to Internet?

I notice that on my 868L acting as wireless access point, both LED no light.

On my other 868L acting as mesh node, the bottom light lights up green. Top light is Off.

Good tips. Lemme edit. Can you tell which version is my mtd-write? Should use step 9 or step 10?

Coool!
Again appreciate your effort and the details steps fisherman10!

Yours is v2, as its 717kb, so must use step 9. Step 10 is for v1 and v3.

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/how-to-fl...-cfe-abc.20641/

Since you are using 68u in the cfe, that is why only 1 led will light up. If you want both leds to light up, then you need to change it to ac66u b1, and also bl_version.

The 2 lines below are also redundant, as there is no line in the cfe that specify pci/1/1 or pci/2/1 (these 2 are for older cfe generation/routers), but you can just leave it there if you want.

devpath0=pci/1/1
devpath1=pci/2/1

At present, DIR-868L can only be converted to RT-AC66U_B1 or to RT-AC68U.

Besides the problems mentioned in the opening post such as LAN/WAN ports rearranged and LED not working normally,
1) If converted to RT-AC66U_B1, everything works fine except 2.4G WiFi very slow
2) If converted to RT-AC68U, everything works fine except 2.4G WiFi very slow and WiFi is disabled/off after every restart.
Here's the guide to fix both 2.4G WiFi speed and WiFi disabled after restart. It will be converted to AC68U. AC68U has slightly more info when viewing connected clients list compared to AC66U_B1.

Only do this after you're already fully converted and running Asus firmware.

1) Download attached file. CFE_868L_2.4Gfix_68u.bin and mtd-write and CFEEdit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14uUNxKWLzb...iew?usp=sharing

2) Use CFEEdit and change 3 macaddresses and WPS Pin according to your own router.

3) Turn on the SSH from router page. Administration > System > Enable SSH > Apply

4) Open WINSCP. Choose SCP protocol, enter router IP address, username and password

5) Drag and drop both CFE_868L_2.4Gfix_68u.bin and mtd-write files to the right side of WINSCP

6) Use Putty and connect to router. Enter username and password

7) Enter this common into Putty to backup current CFE



8) Drag cfe_bac.bin file from right window of WINSCP to left window.

9) Enter these commands in Putty to flash new CFE



10) Just to be safe, enter this additional commands into Putty also



11) Enter this command into Putty to clear NVRAM and reboot



And it should startup as AC68U. Please don't blame me if anything goes wrong. It worked for 3 of my units.

Dear members,

I am thinking of selling my DIR-868L AiMesh router and node.

Both are already migrated to Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

These are the units that I have been showing you the guide and performance benchmark.

So they are tested and having reasonably good performance.

The units are still having balance of the three year D-Link warranty. i.e. until mid Nov. 2022.

I am asking RM300 for the set (one router and one node) - AC1750 AiMesh system. Complete with original box and power supply.

I think it is a reasonable price and comes with more than 1 year and 6 months remaining warranty.

Other sellers are selling used DIR-868L around the same price with no warranty at all.

Anyone interested please let me know.

Thank you.

Regards,

AiMesh versus Repeater Performance: A quick comparison

Although AiMesh is generally giving good performance seems that having WiFi4 and WiFi5 together may limit overall performance.

At least in the case of DIR-868L, which is having a weak WiFi4 performance.

I am bit surprise with the outcome. 

It seems I can reach higher performance using Repeater mode.

Dear fisherman10,

Stumble on the following error message.



Still cannot figure out yet the cause of the problem.

Any ideas what's wrong?

Regards,

Ye, repeater mode the speedtest results are a lot better, around 10-20% higher when compared to mesh mode. Most likely some bandwidth of the cpu is reserved for mesh purpose, hence lower results.

If you want to reflash, you can download the mtd write from below. I tried it and it can work (using ./mtd-write cfe.bin boot)

https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng/...m/cfe/mtd-write

Also, two cons after flashing to ac68u :
1. no led
2. mesh node 2.4ghz speedtest is half of the main router when backhaul is wireless, ie, when test at main router, speedtest is 50/50 Mbps, while at node its 20/40Mbps. defeat the purpose of fixing the 2.4ghz. Set as repeater mode (using 5ghz as backhaul) might be better.

I also notice that the cpu utilisation is higher when doing speed test, maybe will monitor the stability of this for a few days and then flash back to ac66u and see the utilisation again.

I've edited my post with new links and instructions. Please try again.
Weirdly enough, now my Internet LED lights up green eventhough it's on AC68u. Seems to have fixed itself.

2.4 GHz WiFi performance Tenda 6 and Tenda 11.

In the past, I did not pay much attention to 2.4 GHz WiFi performance because I will always choose 5 GHz in my phone.

Based on what DIR-868L users saying about the 2.4 GHz mediocre performance, I decide to check other brand routers at my disposal in my workplace.

The results could be use as comparison with DIR-868L 2.4 GHz performance.



Interestingly, Tenda AC11 are delivering better 2.4 GHz speeds at 2 m and 15 m.

Tenda AC6 2.4 GHz performance almost same like DIR-868L.

However, Tenda AC6 is better at 5 GHz.

DIR-868L 2.4 Ghz performance definitely mediocre. 

Regards,

Seems like DIR-868L after the 2.4ghz fix is on par with the Tenda units. On the other hand, something is really wrong with the Tenda AC11 5ghz. It's like you're getting 2.4ghz speeds.
Here's my speedtests. I'm on Unifi 500down / 100 up. Test done 5m away from router. Direct line of sight.