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As I mentioned above, the WLAN module is wired right on the router’s main PCB. It is based on two chips. One is a BCM4318 802.11b/g transceiver from Broadcom.
Here is its specification:
Interface | PCI, SDIO/SPI |
System Bus Support | PCI, CardBus, CompactFlash, EBI |
Standard | IEEE 802.11g |
Data Rate | 802.11g:54, 48, 36,24, 18, 12, 9, 6 Mb/s; |
Modulation | OFDM,CCK,DQPSK,DBPSK |
Network Architectures | Infrastructure, Ad Hoc |
Operating Frequencies | 2.4-2.497GHz |
Operating Channels | 11-North America,13-Europe, 14-Japan |
RF Output Power | 20dB max |
Antenna Connectors | Hardware diversity support – Transmit and Receive |
Power Requirements | 1.8V(3.3V for ref design) |
Power Consumption | Average Standby <20 mW |
Security | WEP; WEP2; WPA, WPA2; TKIP; Weak-key avoidance; |
Dimensions | 12x12mm 196-pin, 10x10mm 144-pin |
Software Support | Microsoft WHQL certified for Windows XP/2000/Me/WindowsSE. |
Certifications | IEEE 802.11 compliant; Wi-Fi CERTIFIED; |
The controller supports Afterburner, but it is largely a pretty marketing name. There is little use from this technology in practice.
And finally, the router’s got a 12LP14A signal amplifier from Silicon Storage Technology.
Its characteristics are as follows:
- High Gain:
- Typically 30 dB gain across 2.4~2.5 GHz over temperature 0°C to +80°C
- High linear output power:
- >26.5 dBm P1dB
- Meets 802.11g OFDM ACPR requirement up to 23 dBm
- Added EVM ~4% up to 20 dBm for 54 Mbps 802.11g signal
- Meets 802.11b ACPR requirement up to 24 dBm
- High power-added efficiency/Low operating current for both 802.11g/b applications
- ~22% @ POUT = 22 dBm for 802.11g
- ~26% @ POUT = 23.5 dBm for 802.11b
- Built-in Ultra-low IREF power-up/down control
- IREF <4 mA
- Low idle current
- ~60 mA ICQ
- High-speed power-up/down
- Turn on/off time (10%~90%) <100 ns
- Typical power-up/down delay with driver delay included <200 ns
- High temperature stability
- ~1 dB gain/power variation between 0°C to +80°C
- ~1 dB detector variation over 0°C to +80°C
- Low shut-down current (< 0.1 µA)
- On-chip power detection
- 25 dB dynamic range on-chip power detection
- Simple input/output matching
- Packages available
- 16-contact VQFN (3mm x 3mm)
- Non-Pb (lead-free) packages available
The external antenna connector is linked to the wireless module with a special route on the PCB rather than with a cable as usual. The connector itself looks imposingly:
Besides the external antenna, the router has an internal planar IF antenna. It is located near the edge of the PCB.
