topic Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware in Wireless

Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

p1nod0x — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 07:06:12 GMT

Hi!
We have a older device, the 1600 series, AIR-CAP1602I-E-K9 and AIR-CAP1602E-E-K9.

They won't boot up, I got this error after I try to reset the device:
examining image...
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/ap1g2-k9w7-tar.default (connection timed out)ap:

I found out maybe it miss the firmware and I should upload it, but I can't find the firmware anywhere.

Did somebody else had problem with this and did you find the resolution? Can please somebody help me with this?

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

Mark Elsen — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 08:38:54 GMT

- It looks like the AP is broadcasting and looking for a tftp server which it can't find ; anyway
in accordance to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/obsolete/wireless/cisco-aironet-1600-series.html
These APs are very old and you should abandon them to offer modern wireless performance

Official software downloads for those are no longer available

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

Rich R — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 17:03:23 GMT

Did you format the flash without having software to re-install?

Anyway - as Marce says the 1600 series APs are already end of support so Cisco has removed all software downloads for them from the Cisco web site. The last official autonomous IOS image for the 1600 APs was 15.3(3)JF15:
FileName : ap1g2-k9w7-tar.153-3.JF15.tar
Size : 11.46 MB (12,011,520 bytes)
MD5 Checksum : 17c7d8abdc195b96f3ea67bd35b3d2bd
SHA512 Checksum : b76d622c6f2b9e8636b3ff65e6e0dfd205e4857f305ee20d9ecac8de8
5dac330174e701e9575407fc337abc5019a02e50a3e1321bdef330b0
e1997f5393eeca5

You can try searching for that exact image name and you might find it. Otherwise you could look for earlier versions.

Once you find the IOS image you can install it on the AP:

Access Point ROMMON Recovery AP: prompt Recovery Example

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

p1nod0x — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:53:57 GMT

Thank you for the response!

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

p1nod0x — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:57:53 GMT

Hi!

The AP didn't want to come online, so we tried to do the reset with the Mode button.
Thank you for the information, I'll try to find the image.

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

Rich R — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 13:46:02 GMT

To factory default reset the autonomous AP settings:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/15-3-3/configuration/guide/cg15-3-3/cg15-3-3-chap4-first.html

Resetting to Default Settings Using the MODE Button

Note Using the MODE button for resetting to default settings applies only to autonomous mode access points and not to lightweight mode access points.

Follow these steps to reset the access point to factory default settings using the access point MODE button:

Step 1 Disconnect power (the power jack for external power or the Ethernet cable for in-line power) from the access point.

Step 2 Press and hold the MODE button while you reconnect power to the access point.

Step 3 Hold the MODE button until the Status LED turns amber (approximately 1 to 2 seconds), and release the button. All access point settings return to factory defaults.

To factory default reset the autonomous AP settings and erase flash and replace IOS using TFTP:
https://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst3850/software/release/3.2_0_se/multibook/configuration_guide/b_multibook_config_guide_wireless_3850_chapter_01101.html#task_C4EEF47E6EBE45EC9967638CFFB03FE2

Reverting to a Previous Release (Using the Mode Button and a TFTP Server)

Step 1

Configure the PC on which your TFTP server software runs with a static IP address in the range of 10.0.0.2 to 10.0.0.30.

Step 2

Make sure that the PC contains the access point image file (such as c1140-k9w7-tar.123-7.JA.tar for a 1140 series access point) in the TFTP server folder and that the TFTP server is activated.

Step 3

Rename the access point image file in the TFTP server folder to c1140-k9w7-tar.default for a 1140 series access point.

Step 4

Connect the PC to the access point using a Category 5 (CAT5) Ethernet cable.

Step 5

Disconnect power from the access point.

Step 6

Press and hold the MODE button while you reconnect power to the access point.

Note

The MODE button on the access point must be enabled.

Step 7

Hold the MODE button until the status LED turns red (approximately 20 to 30 seconds), and release the MODE button.

Step 8

Wait until the access point reboots as indicated by all LEDs turning green followed by the Status LED blinking green.

Step 9

After the access point reboots, reconfigure the access point using the GUI or the CLI.

@Rasika Nayanajith also documented this at https://mrncciew.com/2013/12/13/ap-conversion-using-mode-button/

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

wesleyarjj — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:36:24 GMT

Do you know where find ap1g2-k9w7-tar.153-3.JF15.tar version to Airnet 1600 series?

Re: Cisco Aironet 1600 series - Firmware

Rich R — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:14 GMT

@wesleyarjj because the product is way past End of Support Cisco has removed the downloads from the Cisco software library. Cisco software is licensed so cannot be shared. You can try searching for the exact file name or talk to your local Cisco partner who might be able to help.