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Linksys WIP330 Wireless-G IP Phone - Inside Story

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Inside Story

Figure 3 shows the handset disassembled, but doesn't provide much of an insight into the WIP330's component suppliers. You can see the single non-extandable dipole antenna mounted at the top left of the main board.

WIP330 Handset internal view

Figure 3: Handset internal view
(click image to enlarge)

Figure 4 shows that the radio is actually a removable custom (not mini-PCI) module, that connects to the main board and antenna. The area in Figure 4 marked with the yellow "5" dot looks like it is intended to allow mounting of a second module, perhaps by end-users since the area is accessible by removing the handset's battery. There is no clue, however, as to what the function of that module might be.

WIP330 Main board with radio module removed

Figure 4: Main board with radio module removed
(click image to enlarge)

Figure 5 reveals that the radio is based on Marvell silicon, including an 88W8385 Integrated 802.11g Wireless MAC/BB and 88W8015 802.11b/g transceiver that has "enhanced filtering" for use in cellular handsets. The tranceiver has an on-board power amplifier with maximum transmit power ratings of +22dBm (158mW) for 11b and +16dBm (~40mW) for 11g.

Marvell-based WIP330 radio module

Figure 5: Marvell-based radio module

Looking at the pictures for the keyboard and display side of the board reveals that Linksys tapped Intel and its PXA270-series for the WIP330's main processor (a PXA270C5C312) and flash memory and Hynix for RAM.

WIP330 Main board with keyboard, display and processor shielding removed

Figure 6: Main board with keyboard, display and processor shielding removed
(click image to enlarge)



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