Inside Story
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: linksys, wip330, wireless
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Inside Story
2. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Figure 6: Main board with keyboard, display and processor shielding removed
(click image to enlarge)
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A fantastic smart phone. These kind of phones have everything you could want and for a bargain price. It took me a little while to set-up, and now have all my family and buddies stored in the handset. The screen is in colour, a good size and has a great back light making it easy to see. Well I'm very pleased with that purchase. Here is a link http://www.addvant.com/index.php?m [...] cts_id=334
Their service is great. You could also find any other retailer. Thank you for this highly informative page. The comparison table is very helpful. Micheal H
Thanks for an excellent and very useful review of this remarkable phone. This device - which is still unique in it's class - has always been very poorly supported by Linksys and in an effort to offset this and to publicise this phone - the only one to offer hotspot login access and wireless N - I have set up a small support site: http://wip330.110mb.com/.