Linksys E4200

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Contents

Hardware Specifications

Image:e4200.jpg


CPU Broadcom BCM4718
CPU Speed 480 MHz
Flash ROM 16 MB
Macronix MX25L12845E
RAM 64 MB
Radios 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
WLAN Support a/b/g/n
WLAN Max Speed 300mbps (2.4 GHz) & 450mbps (5 GHz)
Antenna Location Internal (x6)
Bands 3 x 3
Switch 4x GigE + 1 WAN
Broadcom 53115
IEEE 802.3/3u/3ab
USB 1x USB 2.0

Radio wl0 is Broadcom 4718 (SoC)

Radio wl1 is Broadcom 4331 Intensi-fi Single-Chip 802.11n Transceiver

Flashing

Warnings

  • The E4200 is very sensitive to the nvram size. The only safe nvram size identified for this router is an nvram size of 60kB. Recovery from a firmware with the wrong nvram size requires use of a jtag cable to erase the nvram.1
  • Support for the E4200 is still very much a work in progress at this time, outstanding issues reported have included WAN stability, and both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Radio stability.

Flashing Process

  • Perform these steps when flashing from the stock linksys GUI:
  1. Disconnect all cables and wireless clients.
  2. Perform a 30/30/30 reset on the device.
  3. Flash the latest E4200 specific mini build (dd-wrt.v24-<build number>_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-e4200.bin) to the router. 16773_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-e4200.bin
    • The E4200 specific mini builds are also -nv60k builds, they just aren't labeled as such.
    • Do NOT use a build with "nv60k" in the name for the initial flash Use only the build linked here.
  4. Wait at LEAST 5 minutes for the flashing process to complete.
  5. Perform a 30/30/30 after the device has successfully updated.
  6. Flash to larger build of your choosing if you need it (Mega, Big, std_usb_nas, OpenVPN, VoIP.)
  7. If flashing to another build always perform a 30/30/30 before and after flashing.

Reverting back to stock firmware

  • You can always revert back to stock firmware.
  • Download the latest E4200 firmware from linksys site.
  1. Disconnect all cables and wireless clients.
  2. Perform a 30/30/30 reset on the device.
  3. Login and select the stock firmware file and flash, make sure to select "reset to defaults" on the drop down menu when flashing.
  4. Wait approximately 5 minutes for the flashing process to complete.
  5. Perform a 30/30/30 after the device has successfully updated.

Wireless-N Configuration

  • Both the 2.4 and 5GHz Radios run at a stock transmitting power of 100mW, decreasing the transmitting power to a value between 40 & 50mW has seemed to help stability.

5GHz Wireless Transfer Speed Tips

These are suggestions that are being recommended inside the E4200 forums thread to improve wireless performance on the 5GHz radio. Recommendation from LiteUp! and basmaf

  • Enable Frame burst
  • Set Afterburner to Auto (this will only have an effect if your wireless clients use Broadcom radios)
  • Highest transfer rates are being achieved on Upper channel 161 Do not set channel to Auto
  • Be patient, let SNR settle down before testing speeds.

References

  1. e4200 build thread at dd-wrt forum
  2. FCC disclosures