Date: 06/06/2008

Broadcom releases new set of devices to build 802.11n based Wi-Fi Routers.

Broadcom released to the market three new wireless LAN ICs to design IEEE802.11n based Wi-Fi routers. The new devices BCM4716, BCM4717 and BCM4718 are driven by MIPS 74K processor running at 300 MHz and the other required hardware for building a router with least number of external components.

These devices have some built in intelligence to manage distance/range related issues inside a home. Broadcom call this technology as Accelerange. Accelerange technology's features are, boosting the output power at the edge of home network, automatically detecting multimedia streams and adjusting for optimal delivery, finding the shortest path, applying Space Time Block Coding (STBC) to ensure robust connection, adding intelligence to enable multicast traffic, and support up to three antennas.


The key functional blocks in this family named "Intensi-fi XLR solution" includes MIPS processor, an 802.11n medium access controller (MAC), a baseband processor, a 2.4/5 GHz radio, and a Gigabit Ethernet MAC.

The BCM4717 offers dual-band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) capabilities in a small package for WLAN routers, access points, set-top boxes and digital televisions, in which compact form factors are important. This device also integrates a high performance 300 MHz CPU and offers options for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet PHYs.

The BCM4718 integrates a 533MHz CPU and features USB host ports to support media storage routers.

Availability: Sampling now