WNH-001 · 2026-04-21

TP-Link TL-MR3020

Active arch: Atheros AR9331 (MIPS @ 400 MHz) memory: 32 MB (4 MB Flash) hub: 1337 Benguerir

Initial State 1 / 2

Current Build 1 / 4

Hardware Specs

Asset ID

WNH-001

Class

Router / Central Hub

Architecture

Atheros AR9331 (MIPS @ 400 MHz)

RAM

32 MB (4 MB Flash)

Status

Active

Hub

1337 Benguerir

Donor

Taha Ed-dafili

Operator

Taha Ed-dafili

Logged

2026-04-21

Progress Log

2025-06-11

Flashed custom OpenWrt (17.01.7), configured EXT4 USB overlay, and exposed UART serial pins.

2026-01-13

System expanded into 'The 3020 Project' architecture. Dropped USB storage support to fit USB HID keyboard drivers.

2026-04-21

Device officially cataloged into the WNH Inventory.

Notes

Technical Overview

Originally designed as a portable 3G/4G wireless travel router, this device has been entirely repurposed as the central orchestrator for a distributed, e-waste-built terminal known as The 3020 Project.

Running a highly customized OpenWrt Linux environment, the router acts as the system’s “core.” Instead of forcing the limited hardware to generate video or read sensors directly, it delegates tasks, routing I/O logic between specialized microcontrollers via TCP/IP and Serial connections.

Hardware & Software Modifications

OS Environment: Custom OpenWrt build (lede-17.01.7). The stock firmware was wiped to grant a writable filesystem, SSH access, and package manager control.
UART Serial Access: The unpopulated header holes near the board’s edge (TX, RX, GND) were tapped to provide direct access to the boot messages and system console.
The Distributed Architecture: * Graphics (ESP32): The router connects to an ESP32 over TCP port 1337, sending text strings that the ESP32 renders to a VGA monitor.
- Physical I/O (Arduino Nano): Connected via the router’s internal serial port (/dev/ttyATH0), handling physical sensors, actuators, and I²C LCD screens via text commands.
- Input (3020-Keyboard): A custom C program reads raw keystrokes from the Linux event subsystem (/dev/input/event0) and splits the signal, mirroring text to the ESP32 display while passing executable commands to the Nano.