Internal Components

Taking apart this small router is not hard. You only have to remove four screws and be a little careful about it.


The major parts on the board are covered by metallic shields, which reduces EMI. This is typical for good-quality wireless devices. These shields are hard to remove, and I didn't want to destroy the router to continue my tests, so I left them alone.


I found a TPS3851 precision voltage supervisor on the board, which is used to troubleshoot the router's operation. This IC also has a watchdog timer.


The flash memory only has a capacity of 128 MB since there is no local management option, which means storage needs of the router's OS are minimal.


A TPS23754 handles the PoE interface of the router.


I wasn't happy to find a CapXon electrolytic cap on the PCB. I prefer Japanese caps in a router with no active cooling, as routers are operating around the clock. I also found a single polymer cap.