The Phicomm N1—powered by the Amlogic S905D chipset—was originally designed as an Android TV box. Over time, enthusiasts discovered its potential as a compact, flexible router. The growing community around OpenWrt_S905D_N1 brings powerful network-focused firmware to this device. From installation steps to community support, this article dives into everything you need to know about turning your N1 into a capable OpenWrt-powered router.
1. What Is OpenWrt_S905D_N1 and Who Needs It
OpenWrt_S905D_N1 refers to a customized build of OpenWrt—a Linux-based open-source firmware—adapted for the Phicomm N1 TV box, which houses an Amlogic S905D SoC. Originally marketed for multimedia use, the N1 features 2GB RAM, 1Gb Ethernet, and runs Android out of the box. When repurposed with OpenWrt, it transforms into an agile router or home networking device.
This potential has drawn the attention of hobbyists looking for affordable yet powerful hardware that supports Wi-Fi, DHCP, VPNs, and other advanced networking features. OpenWrt unleashes features far beyond the original streaming-related scope of the hardware.
2. Official Support & Firmware Availability
OpenWrt builds for the S905D N1 are now easily accessible via trusted sources. For example, you can find ready-to-use images such as kwrt-07.23.2025-s905d-n1-thresh.img.gz available from OpenWrt download directories
As part of broader support, community projects like ophub/amlogic-s9xxx-openwrt extend OpenWrt compatibility to a wide range of Amlogic devices, including the S905D. These provide the foundational support for flashing and running OpenWrt on these SoCs.
3. Installation Process: From Image to Router
Image Writing
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Download the image—such as the thresh v7.23 build—for S905D N1.
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Flash it to a USB stick or microSD card using tools like BalenaEtcheR.
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Insert the boot media into the N1 and boot it from USB (after activating USB boot capability).
Boot Challenges
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If the device fails to boot, first try a reboot update, then insert the USB only afterward. Skipping this step may result in permission issues due to Android modifying ownership on inserted media.
Device Tree (DTB) Adjustments
Ethernet initialization may fail due to timing issues. To fix this, tailored Device Tree files like meson-gxl-s905d-phicomm-n1.dts—adjusted for PHY reset-delay—are available and recommended
Updating After Install
Some scripts provide automated firmware updates to EMMC or USB with version selection and kernel upgrades built-in. These tools offer smooth upgrades, including options with Docker integration.
4. Technical Highlights & Community Tools
The N1’s hardware — Amlogic S905D, 1 Gb Ethernet, 2 GB RAM — makes it a great fit for OpenWrt, especially for light-to-moderate workloads.
luci-app-amlogic tool support: Provides a GUI for managing kernel updates, backups, snapshots, and more across supported SoCs (including S905D).
Automated Builders: Tools like PHICOMM-N1-OpenWRT-Image-Builder help craft custom firmware, using Armbian base images and OpenWrt overlays to streamline development.
Kernel Flexibility: Options often include recent Linux kernels like 5.15 or 6.1 with acceleration features (e.g., Flowoffload, SFE) for added routing performance.
These community-built resources greatly simplify execution and maintainability for users.
5. Common Pitfalls & Workarounds
Users tackling OpenWrt on the N1 often face these hurdles:
USB Boot Timing: Improper insertion can corrupt permissions—leading to endless install failures. Solution: ensure the device fully reboots before inserting media for flashing
Ethernet Initialization Issues: The default DTB may not assert reset long enough. Use updated DTB with increased reset-delay-us for stability
Kernel Support: Some S905 series variants only support older kernel versions. The N1, however, benefits from community builds that offer newer kernels for performance and compatibility.
Learning Curve: Some users report initial confusion when installing. Community guides, forums, and scripts (like those from dingshaohua) provide step-by-step help.
Staying within recommended procedures and using trusted builds help avoid most stumbling blocks.
6. Advanced Use Cases Beyond Router Setup
Once OpenWrt is running, the N1 transforms from a TV box into a powerful networking hub. Here are some advanced applications demonstrated by the community:
Primary or Secondary Router: Despite lacking Wi-Fi strength, it’s útil as a wired gateway or access point, particularly in side-router setups
k3s (Kubernetes) Node: Users have deployed lightweight k3s clusters on N1 under OpenWrt for edge services or development environments.
Custom Networking Services: With luci-app capabilities, users can establish VPNs, QoS rules, DNS over TLS, or dynamic VLAN segmentation.
Media Emulation: Although installations like EmuELEC are often mentioned in S905 scenarios, the N1 is best suited for network-centric use rather than gaming-focused ones .
Conclusion
The OpenWrt_S905D_N1 project breathes new life into the Phicomm N1 box, turning it from a modest streaming device into a versatile, affordable networking powerhouse. Thanks to community-driven builds, tailored DTBs, and automated install scripts, enthusiasts can achieve stable OpenWrt deployments with advanced networking features—including VPNs, Kubernetes nodes, and more.
If you’re looking to experiment, repurpose legacy hardware, or build a compact edge network, the N1 with OpenWrt delivers a compelling, budget-friendly platform. Let me know if you’d like help with flashing instructions, recommended builds, or use case setups!
