Cisco Announces Smart Wi-Fi Router Line

[chrismcpole]

So the new EA4500 is E4200v2 with new firmware? Still, glad I did not buy the v2, or else that 4500 model number would keep bugging me

 

[delair2]

So the new EA4500 is E4200v2 with new firmware? Still, glad I did not buy the v2, or else that 4500 model number would keep bugging me

Ha--I was just reading about that on CNET. "Cisco lauches app-enabled router"
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57409483-1/cisco-lauches-app-enabled-router/?tag=cnetRiver

The potential good news for current e4200 V2 owners like me: "Cisco says that Cisco Connect Cloud will work with just the EA routers and not the existing E Series, with the exception of the Linksys E4200v2, which will get the support via a firmware update. "

and from Tim's SNB article "Cisco will also be updating the currently-shipping E4200 v2's firmware, so that it supports all EA series features. The EA4500 replaces the E4200v2, since they are identical"

 

[delair2]

CPU on the EA4500

Check out this photo link here. Someone posted some internal pics of the new EA4500. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v206/charlie22911/linksys ea4500/

Looks like the EA4500 may be using a different Marvell CPU ?? (Or maybe I am looking at the wrong component. See Picture #8--I think thats the CPU)

E4200 V2 CPU = MRVL F6101AW 1114AA C120

Ea4500 CPU = MRVL F6W01A1ETW 1151AA C120

 

[delair2]

Linksys EA4500 wireless router

The official release of the EA4500 is April 9, 2012. However, Walmart has apparently already been selling this product since last week. So if you are interested you can probably pick one up today from your local Walmart.

I guess one of the big question for those of us that already own the new e4200 V2 is if the EA4500 is an upgrade to the V2 or just a renamed V2.

Someone has already posted pictures of the inside of the EA4500 and it appears that EA4500 may have a different Marvell CPU than the V2's Marvell CPU. See pictures here:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r26998074-Wireless-Linksys-EA4500-router-~start=40

The e4200 V2 CPU = 1.2 GHz Marvell Processor (MRVL F6101AW 1114AA C120)

The EA4500 CPU (from what I can tell on the pics posted on this forum) = MRVL F6W01A1E TW 1151AA C120).

From what I can tell other than the CPU, all the other EA4500 components appear to be the same at the V2 in these pictures. I guess time will tell if the EA4500's new CPU translates into better range/performance or not.

 

[stevech]

Exotic MIMO antenna designs, eh?

cheap!

Bye-bye to ye ole rubber-ducky.

 

[delair2]

Exotic MIMO antenna designs, eh?

cheap!

Bye-bye to ye ole rubber-ducky.

@stevech

Bah Humbug

 

[sfx2000]

Looks like different packaging on the CPU, moving to a flip chip BGA... otherwise, similar to the E4200v2...

 

[sfx2000]

Exotic MIMO antenna designs, eh?

cheap!

Bye-bye to ye ole rubber-ducky.

Internal antennae - if designed properly - perform as well as external rubber ducks...

It does make it easier though, for FCC and EC approvals...

 

[delair2]

Internal antennae - if designed properly - perform as well as external rubber ducks...

It does make it easier though, for FCC and EC approvals...

I didn't realize that "rubber ducks" was jargon for external antennas. Also you said "moving to a flip chip BGA" if I understand correctly ..turning the CPU upside down. I guess that means you don't expect any significant increase in range/performance with the EA4500's new CPU over the e4200 V2's 1.2 Ghz Marvell processor (F6101AW 1114AA C120)?

From what I could tell from Tim's review of the EA3500 ( step down) from the EA4500 seems the 800 MHz Marvell Processor
(MRVL F6W01A1E TW1149AB C080) in that unit produced a nice little hop performance wise from its predecessor. So I was hoping the EA4500's MRVL F6W01A1E TW 1151AA C120 might do the same? I can't seem to find any specs on the MRVL F6W01A1E TW 1151AA C120 CPU...

 

[stevech]

Rubber-ducky antennas came from the rubber-coated antennas on hand-held two-way voice radios (walkie-talkies). They're very flexible to prevent injury/damage, hence the name.