Can't help but to post it.

This got to be the best laugh I have had in a long time. Original source is here.

WRTP54G-ER unlock

I have been using Voice-Over-IP (VOIP), a.k.a. internet phone, for 3 years now. It had saved me a lot of money. To utilize VOIP, one can either use a soft-phone (software running on a computer), or get an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) device. Personally I prefer ATA because 1) you don't need a computer, 2) the voice quality is generally better, and 3) you can use a regular telephone handset with it, meaning that there is less problem and no UI change. As matter of fact, once set up properly a user (i.e. mom) will not be able to tell the difference between a phone attached to ATA or POTS.

I'm particularly fond of Linksys WRTP54G. It is an all-in-one device that combines a router, wireless adapter, and ATA. The regular price for a WRTP54G is about CDN$100, which is not bad considering all the functionality it has. Furtherore, one can often buy it for US$30 from time to time. The catch? These $30 unites are locked with a specific provider (Vonage or Earthlink). Fortunately one can unlock it with ease.

Below is my experience with unlocking a Earthlink-locked WRTP54G. The first one I had, I had to unlock it using a JTAG method. The JTAG method requires some soldering and is not for an average user. Fortunally a software-only hack was recently discovered:

1. power up a WRTP54G-ER but do not connect it to the internet,
2. using a computer connecting to the LAN port of the WRTP54G, use a browser to connect to the router (default IP is http://192.168.15.1). The login info for the main page is: Admin/Admin.
3. upgrade the default firmware using a modified (ssh-enabled) firmware, version 3.1.17. The account/password is: Admin/sP0dfub2. The router will be rebooted after the firmware is flashed.
4. ssh into the router, and issue the following command "dd bs=65536 if=/dev/zero of=/dev/mtd/9". Without rebooting, flash the firmware again to version 3.1.24.
5. The ATA should be unlocked at this point. One should reset the VOICE setting to the factory default.
6. If one lives in North American, one can set the new day-time-saving rule to "start=3/8/7/02:0:0;end=11/1/7/02:0:0;save=1"

Total time: 5 minutes. Saving: >$70. Enabling parents to make long-distance call for nearly free: priceless.