TP-Link 3040 (1 of 1)

Finally had a chance to sit down and hack the TP-Link TL-MR3040 Wireless unit. In case you missed it, with a little bit of work you can setup the  TP-Link TL-MR3040 to work with the DSLR controller android app. This basically gives you a wireless control as well and monitoring capabilities for less than $40.

Note: Keep in mind that once you update the firmware on this router it will be dedicated to DSLR controller use. It is possible to return the router to it’s original state but from what I understand it can be tricky and it’s not something i’ve tried. If you use this daily for its original intended purpose, you may want to get a second unit for use with your camera only.

Before you get started with the hack, you’re going to want to remove the cover and find out what hardware version your device uses. Right under the bar code you’ll see “Ver.” followed by a number. If it says Ver 1.0 you’re going to want to download this firmware, if it says Ver. 2.0 you’re going to want to download this firmware. Make sure you check this first, if you try to update the device with the wrong firmware file you could end up bricking it.

Login screen

Once you’ve downloaded the correct firmware, you’ll want to power on the TP-Link TL-MR3040 wireless router. When it’s up and running (indicated by the green light next to the wireless symbol) use your laptop or desktop to connect to it wirelessly. Once you’ve connected to it, open up a browser window and type in “192.168.0.1” at which point you should see the Authentication Required screen above. The Username is “admin” and the password is “admin”, once you’ve typed that in click “Log In” on the window.

UPDATE: Some people have reported issues updating via wifi. If that’s the case simply connect your computer to the router via the built in ethernet port. Wifi normally works, but a wired connect can eliminate possible problems.

Update page

When the router page loads you’ll need to find the “System Tools” link on the left hand side of the screen. Click on that, than click on the “firmware upgrades” in the drop down menu.

firmware screen

Click on “Choose File” and select the firmware for either Version 1 or Version 2 that you downloaded earlier. Once you’ve selected the file the new firmware will show up next to the Choose File button. Click upgrade and you’re good to go.

update page 2

If everything works out correctly you should see Firmware Upgrade in your browser with a loading indicator bar. The firmware upload automatically and the router will reboot on its own.

TP-Link 3040 (1 of 2)

Once the new firmware has been uploaded, use your tablet or phone to connect to DSLR controller network, your login password will be “dslrcontroller”. When your device is connected, you can use a usb cable to connect the TP-Link TL-MR3040 wireless router directly to your camera. After connecting your camera, power it on and place the camera in live view mode, then select the dslr controller app on your tablet or phone. If all goes well the app will fire up, see the wireless device and start working as though your tablet was connected directly to your camera.

Monitoring delay is less than a second, and the frame rate is high enough to be very usable on the Nexus 7 FHD. All the controls in the DSLR controller app work as well as they do with a wired connection. If you are in the market for a field monitor, but working on a tight budget, you might want to give this a try before you spend $200 or $300 on an HDMI monitor. For framing, camera control, and many other applications this is more than enough to get by. It also works much much better than the Canon 6d’s native wifi application. Canon could learn a lot from DSLR controller.

If you haven’t played around with this app, you might also want to check out this guide I put together demoing DSLR controller with a wired tablet. The app has come along way since then, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it for non paying work or even paying work if you are confident enough with the app’s controls.

You might also want to swing over to DSLR controller’s site and find out more about the app and what devices are supported. The app is well worth the 8 or 9 dollars they charge for it, even if you only use it once. The $36 TP-Link TL-MR3040 wireless router is a little more than the special cable needed for a wired connection (about $27 more), but it works as good or better than some of the other Wireless controller devices I’ve tested.

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