I want access to a serial console on a Linksys wrt54gl from a PC. From What I read using a usb phone data cable is the easiest solution.
I'm thinking of buying a Nokia DKU-5 cable since I've seen other users having success using that cable.
Assuming I cut of the phone connector and identify vcc, rx, tx and gnd, and get them connected to the router, how do I proceed from there? Does the OS need a special driver and if so what driver would that be? (Linux or Windows, I have both). I assume after maybe installing a driver I would just use a terminal program to access the console the same way I would if i was connecting through a normal serial port.

/Mikkel

Windows will be able to find the driver for the chip in the USB end.  Linux should have it already.

I believe all you will need is RX, TX, and GND.  The chip should be powered from the USB port not the WRT if I understand correctly.

I prefer using the very similar (and slightly less hacky) setup outlined in section 3.1.2 of this document:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs/Har … /WRTSL54GS

In Windows it shows up as a COM port, in Linux as /dev/ttyUSB0.  Nice part is for me you can have multiple.  I am wiring up a closet at a WISP now so that I have 3 of these cables running to 3 WRT units from a Linux PC so that I have consoles to all of them.

(Last edited by vincentfox on 12 Jun 2007, 16:54)

Thanks for the pointers. It looks appealing. It will probably cost a little more but on the other hand you can just solder a $1 jack plug in another router and use the same cable if you don't need concurrent access. All in all it seems like the better solution.
Thanks again.

Yep that's my motivation. I equip every router that passes through my hands with that simple stereo jack now.  I keep a USB cable in my laptop bag. Problem with a WRT? No trouble to jack in and fire up HyperTerminal.