There's a downside of switching to AX: it features only a USB 2.0 port (yes, seriously, in the 2020s) whereas the non-AX version has a USB 3.0. So, if like me you run a media server, you might prefer to wait for a fix.

Edited by NewMoon (Thu 31-Oct-24 14:29:59)

I'm on Plusnet and experiencing the exact same problem with reboots. Zen branded box.

Connection type: VDSL2 17a (ITU G.993.2)
Manufacturer/Model: -
Broadcom: Version 10.9.42

Edited by NewMoon (Thu 31-Oct-24 14:36:40)

I can't believe they are still pumping out the duff update! Why not pull it for heaven's sake!

Edited by Glenn2 (Thu 31-Oct-24 15:10:58)

I don't think that anyone in management has taken ownership of the problem.

Downgrading a Zen-branded 7530 to Fritz!OS v. 7.59

I've just managed to downgrade a Zen-branded box to Fritz!OS v. 7.59. The box got debranded in the process. Optionally, remote management can be disabled in the process.

Steps:

1. Download v. 7.59 recovery executable from here.
2. Set your Ethernet adapter to 192.168.178.x/24, default gateway: 192.168.178.1.
3. Connect the 7530 to the Ethernet port via LAN1 port.
4. Start recovery. Allow through Windows firewall if asked.
— If you get a "version not identified" error, try setting the Ethernet adapter to 10Mbps half-duplex.
— If you still see "custom firmware" error message, use command line to set provider and firmware_version environment variables via ftp (either don't close the error message when starting FTP, or restart the router and run FTP command within 2–3 seconds of powering on):

ftp -n 192.168.178.1
quote USER adam2
quote PASS adam2
quote SETENV firmware_version avme
quote UNSETENV provider

then, without rebooting the router, run recovery again.

After several attempts, my box accepted the recovery and downgraded cleanly to 7.59, losing the Zen branding and their DSL configuration presets in the process.

5. Do configuration restore using the 7.59 backup file that you should have received by push email when the box upgraded to v. 8.0.
— You might like to edit the configuration file and disable certain parameters related to remote management (TR-069). Just search for tr069. A simple option is removing the management server URL. Certainly, disabling remote firmware upgrades would make a lot of sense.

Good luck!

P.S. If your time is worth more than 40-something quids, then an eBay seller is selling unbranded 7530 boxes on v. 7.x (they call them 7530 unlocked).

Edited by NewMoon (Thu 31-Oct-24 18:12:34)

Looking at how this rumbles on and on and on, I am just wondering. Everybody and his dog must have a few spare routers lying around. Why don't people have an old router configured for their current service and pop it in when something like this happens?

Zen is an internet provider who's been offering its customers FB 7530 routers for 6 or so years. Many (most?) people do not have an older router; and even if there was one, it'd likely support only WiFi 4. There's little point of going back to decade-old hardware.

Me for instance I rely on VoIP and Wireguard VPN integrated into the 7530. Show me another brand that does the same and I'll gladly switch.

Edited by NewMoon (Thu 31-Oct-24 19:57:57)

Many (most?) people do not have an older router; and even if there was one, it'd likely support only WiFi 4.

Against a near show stopper, WiFi4 might not be so bad. Most devices should step back the wifi.

There's little point of going back to decade-old hardware.

Half decade is not so bad. The point is that the decade old hardware is likely to perform better than the broken new hardware people are using while Zen have not got their act together.

Me for instance I rely on VoIP and Wireguard VPN integrated into the 7530. Show me another brand that does the same and I'll gladly switch.

Shows that integration of too much functionality into the router has a distinct downside, especially if that functionality can easily be jeopardised by software upgrades outwith your control.

I did. I had another 7530 ...all set up and ready to go. I missed the second update backdoor....oops. Now I have two bricks.

Good post.