WNDR3700v3 Around the Corner (chipset changes)

[mediatrek]

Looks like some changes to the WNDR3700 will be coming to store shelves soon. Version 3 of the router is around the corner and will be switching it up from a 680Mhz Atheros to a slower Broadcom chipset. Version 1 & version 2 of the router used the Atheros chipset. Version 3 will also be going back to 8MB flash, which version 1 had (v2 had 16MB flash). However, version 3 will maintain 64MB of RAM.

According to FCC shots, version 3 had a Broadcom BCM4718 chip running at 533Mhz. This is the same that Netgear’s WNR3500L has. In addition I think I see a Broadcom BCM4331 chip on the unit as well.

 

[claykin]

Forget about the Mhz of the SOC. The Atheros 7161 is based on the MIPS 24K core. The Broadcom BCM4718 is based on the MIPS 74K core. CPU architecture is different.

Check www.mips.com for more info if you really care to know more details.

I would be surprised if Netgear uses a 3x3 radio in the WNDR3700V3. They will compete with themselves (WNDR4000).

 

[mediatrek]

Forget about the Mhz of the SOC. The Atheros 7161 is based on the MIPS 24K core. The Broadcom BCM4718 is based on the MIPS 74K core. CPU architecture is different.

Check www.mips.com for more info if you really care to know more details.

I would be surprised if Netgear uses a 3x3 radio in the WNDR3700V3. They will compete with themselves (WNDR4000).

Thank you for the info. I love to learn.

I have attached a few shots of the version 3 board. One "design" difference I think are the Rayspan antennas the WNDR3700v3 has that the WNDR4000 does not.

 

[claykin]

Can you post the link to the page on the FCC site?

 

[mediatrek]

Can you post the link to the page on the FCC site?

Here you go: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=651807&fcc_id='PY311200166'

 

[claykin]

Thanks.

3x3 Broadcom radio but by the looks of the Sige amps, I'm not sure they are using 3x3. Tim?

So the 3700 is giving up on Atheros and moving to Broadcom which makes it more similar to the 4000.

The WNDR3800 appears to be sticking with Atheros. http://www.myopenrouter.com/article...DR3800-Dual-Band-Open-Platform-Router-Review/

 

[thiggins]

SiGE2528L are 2.4GHz power amps. With only two of them, it's a 2x2 design.

The SiGe SE2594L on the other radio are dual band 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN front ends. The board has space for three, but only two are loaded. So 5 GHz is 2x2.

Just a switch to a Broadcom-based design, but no upgrade to three stream N.