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Radios and Antennas

The other key cost-saving move is the integration of the radio sections directly onto the board in the 610N vs. the mini-PCI modules in the 600N and a change in chipset for both radios. Figure 5 shows the 2.4 GHz band radio (the right-hand one in Figure 4) and Figure 6, the 5 GHz radio.

Figure 5: WRT610N 2.4 GHz radio

The radios are similar, both using Broadcom's BCM4322 single-chip dual-band draft 11n radio [related article]. But they are not identical, since the 2.4 GHz radio uses two SiGe SE2528L 2.4 GHz power amps (same as used in the WRT54G2) and the 5 GHz radio uses two SiGe 2547A Dual Band 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Front Ends. See the 600N's slideshow for close-ups of its radio modules.

Figure 6: WRT610N 5 GHz radio

Perhaps the most controversial "feature" of the 610N is its move to using internal antennas, which is part of Linksys' current "sting ray / UFO" packaging. Forums are already buzzing with opinions that say that this will reduce the 610N's range over the 600N's.

It isn't necessarily true that internal antennas reduce range, and I'll have to see what testing reveals. Internal antennas do eliminate the option of upgrading to higher-gain alternatives, however. But since the 600N's antennas weren't upgradeable anyway, you're losing nothing on that count with the 610N.

Figure 7 shows the bottom part of the 610N's case, with the board removed so that you can see the antenna placement. The three right-side antennas connect to the 2.4 GHz radio and the left-side antennas serve the 5 GHz radio. The FCC photos didn't let me see the antennas' manufacturer, but it could be Galtronics, which makes the WRT54G2's antennas.

Figure 7: WRT610N Antennas

There appear to be three different antenna types, so I grabbed closeups of the three 2.4 GHz antennas and assembled them into a composite so that you could have a closer look in Figure 8. (Each antenna is in its relative placement.)

Figure 8: 2.4 GHz Antenna closeups

So there you have it. Same processor and gigabit switch, more memory, different (internal) antennas and different radios. Will performance be better or worse than the 600N? Only our testing will tell.

Updated 7/28/08: Read the full review.