[Blind-sysadmins] merlin firmware on Asus RT-N66U Rev B1 Router, external storage

Hello, I'm running the latest Merlin firmware 3.80.67_0 June 2017 on my Asus RT-N66U rev B1 router. I'm having issues related to the external USB storage. I've got an USB portable hard drive plugged in to it. According to sighted help the drive is showing as unmounted. I've tried both ports same result. This indicator is not reading with a screen reader. It has at least mounted in the past at least where it showed up, yet adding a user to it so that said user would have more than read only access, also was inaccessible with a screen reader. Does anyone use this firmware and have any ideas? Thanks. Dave.