Maybe I missed it, but did smallnetbuilder Intel 5300 client actually used 3 antennas? Because that would be required for using 3 streams, and many notebooks come with 2 antennas only.
By the way, officially, the notation 3x3 only means that 3 antennas are used for transmitting and 3 for receiving. It does not mean that 3 streams are supported. So you want to look for explicit "3 streams" statement. Or sometimes this extended notation is used to specify support for 3 streams: 3x3:3.
If the CPU is the same as the 610v2 the only advantage would be the 3x3 MIMO but if the performance is limited to 2x2 MIMO, the E4200 is no different then a 610v2/e3000 imo. Hopefully in the future new radio drivers will take advantage of the 3x3 MIMO.
If I understood the article correctly, it won't be possible through software.
If you're basing this on that tidbit about there only being two amplifiers for the 2.4GHz radio, that only prevents the 2.4GHz radio from being able to transmit more than 2 streams which Cisco never claimed it to be able to, they say it's 2x3. It's the 5GHz radio that is 3x3 MIMO but the 5GHz throughput is still similar to 2x2 MIMO models.
So what is the advantage of spending $179 instead of $150 ?
Near as I can tell, so far the only difference (hardware wise) besides the extremely sexed up enclosure is the 3x3 antenna configuration. By sexy, I definitely mean sexy. All LEDs have been moved to the back of the router with the only one visible from the front being the pulsing cisco logo in white. _________________ Picch
Maybe I missed it, but did smallnetbuilder Intel 5300 client actually used 3 antennas? Because that would be required for using 3 streams, and many notebooks come with 2 antennas only.
By the way, officially, the notation 3x3 only means that 3 antennas are used for transmitting and 3 for receiving. It does not mean that 3 streams are supported. So you want to look for explicit "3 streams" statement. Or sometimes this extended notation is used to specify support for 3 streams: 3x3:3.
True, I can't find any explicit indication that they were able to get a 3 stream connection.
edit: There's a followup that indicates it was only 2 streams but also strongly indicates that the CPU is a limiting factor on wireless throughput even with the stock firmware.
Maybe I missed it, but did smallnetbuilder Intel 5300 client actually used 3 antennas? Because that would be required for using 3 streams, and many notebooks come with 2 antennas only.
By the way, officially, the notation 3x3 only means that 3 antennas are used for transmitting and 3 for receiving. It does not mean that 3 streams are supported. So you want to look for explicit "3 streams" statement. Or sometimes this extended notation is used to specify support for 3 streams: 3x3:3.
True, I can't find any explicit indication that they were able to get a 3 stream connection.
edit: There's a followup that indicates it was only 2 streams but also strongly indicates that the CPU is a limiting factor on wireless throughput even with the stock firmware.
So he didn't test 3 stream because he used 2 stream client. I would like to see 3 stream tested. The CPU limit he observed was in simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio use, it could still perform well when only 5GHz 3 stream radio is used.
I just plugged in my new E4200. I can't do a disassemble of it just yet, but if anyone would like pictures that I can take of it while assembled, let me know.
Does anyone happen to know if the latest gen i5 macbook pros have a 3x3 antenna setup? It's macbook pro 6,2 but system profile and google have been less than helpful in figuring that out. _________________ Picch
Here ya go. Sorry about the quality, it's from my iPhone 4. Can't seem to figure out which box my Nikon is in...just moved into a new place, and still unpacking.
There is a way to post them as thumbnails?
[edit:phuzi0n] See the forum guidelines on pic sizes. Use an image site if you want thumbnails + full size. _________________ Picch
Yes the entire bottom is loaded with ventilation holes with a mesh feeling.
The bottom does feel a bit on the toasty side especially in the center right above the cisco logo. The top of the router is hard rubber, with the white cisco pulsing during startup and solid during normal operation. I would probably suggest some sort of fan mod before overclocking. _________________ Picch
Anyone know if DDWRT is working on supporting the device?
The development will need an actual unit in hand to know for sure. But initially it looks like it should be possible. _________________
ASUS AC3200
Linksys WRT32X
Linksys WRT3200 ACM
The one astounding thing is that the E4200 stock firmware somehow gets triple the routing throughput using the same BCM4718 CPU @480MHz and BCM53115 switch as many other models have. It will be interesting to see what they did to be able to achieve this.
They use a fast packet handler, Broadcom Cut-Thru Forwarding (BCMCTF).
Google Cut-Through Forwarding for more info. _________________ Kernel panic: Aiee, killing interrupt handler!
The one astounding thing is that the E4200 stock firmware somehow gets triple the routing throughput using the same BCM4718 CPU @480MHz and BCM53115 switch as many other models have. It will be interesting to see what they did to be able to achieve this.
They use a fast packet handler, Broadcom Cut-Thru Forwarding (BCMCTF).
Google Cut-Through Forwarding for more info.
I thought the benefit of using cut-through is reduced latency, not higher throughputs. Besides, if all the competing models use the same chips, why does the Linksys stand out?
The one astounding thing is that the E4200 stock firmware somehow gets triple the routing throughput using the same BCM4718 CPU @480MHz and BCM53115 switch as many other models have. It will be interesting to see what they did to be able to achieve this.
They use a fast packet handler, Broadcom Cut-Thru Forwarding (BCMCTF).
Google Cut-Through Forwarding for more info.
Last time I checked cut-through forwarding is a switching method, the BCM53115 switch is only a layer 2 switch, and the review showed almost 700mbps of WAN<->LAN (layer 3) throughput. _________________ Read the forum announcements thoroughly! Be cautious if you're inexperienced.
Available for paid consulting. (Don't PM about complicated setups otherwise)
Looking for bricks and spare routers to expand my collection. (not interested in G spec models)
