Projects

Detailed specs for the Asus WL-520GU uber hacking platform

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Asus WL-520GU Wireless Router

In my previous post about the Wifi Radio project I’m working on, I concluded that the Asus WL-520GU wireless router was the perfect choice for an embedded wireless platform, thanks to its builtin 802.11g WiFi, Linux support, and extremely low cost. (In fact, the price after rebate has dropped since my last post – now would probably be a good time to buy one if you’re thinking about hacking it into something eventually).

Here are the specs on this router, based on an inspection of the hardware and the stock firmware Linux kernel boot log (the complete log is here).

  • CPU: Broadcom BCM5354KFBG SoC @ 200MHz (240MHz?)
    • Builtin 802.11g wireless transceiver
    • Builtin 10/100 ethernet switch
    • Core supports 2 serial ports, only 1 is available on the PCB (installed 4 pin header shown in photo above)
  • RAM: 16MB Samsung K4S281632I SRAM
  • Flash: 4MB MX 29LV320CB
  • One USB 1.1 port (USB 2.0 support is broken according to the folks at OpenWRT)
  • SiGe Semiconductor 2528L discrete RF Power Amplifier IC
  • One external TX/RX whip antenna (RPSMA), internal diversity RX antenna on PCB
  • Internal 3.3V DC-DC converter
  • PCB Dimensions: 4.0″ x 5.6″
  • Supply: 5V @ <2A

Here are some images of the PCB, click for a larger version.

Asus WL-520GU Wireless Router Asus WL-520GU Wireless Router

Here’s a closeup of the Broadcom BCM5354 SoC – the brains of the router.  It is surrounded by a 4MB MX flash chip above and a Samsung 4MB SRAM chip on the right.

Asus WL-520GU Wireless Router

Overall this is a great little router and an even better platform to build an embedded Linux system, provided you don’t need USB 2.0 support.  If you do, look at the WL-500gP v2 instead, it has two working USB 2.0 ports (in addition to much more flash storage and RAM).

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Our 1950s house came with an instruction manual.

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Our house came with an instruction manual that I recently found tucked behind some insulation in the garage. We live in a planned community built in San Francisco in the mid 1950s. This particular house was built in 1956 by Sunstream Homes, so the manual is over 52 years old.

The house also still has the original electric stove, but that’s another story.

What an awesome read, check out the fullsize version.

Sunsteam Homes Instruction Manual

The new home that you have purchased has to be adjusted to normal use, just the same as any new article. The following list of helpful hints and suggestions will be of great aid to you in prolonging the life of your home, besides saving you must expense in later years. You will get the most satisfactory results and the greatest enjoyment from your SUNSTREAM HOME by observing various items that are listed below:

Join the resistance.