Anyone Open up and play with a 2wire 2700HG Wireless Unit ? I would like to attach an external antenna to it.

Hello,

Has anyone here in the group taken apart a 2Wire 2700HG router/modem ?
They are supposed to put out some good power but I would like to
attach an external antenna.

Whats the easiest way to take this unit apart? Any webpages out there
detailing it or hacks for these models?

Thanks!

Tom King
San Diego, CA


Tom kingman

On Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:06:19 -0700, Tom kingman <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote in <(E-Mail Removed)>:

>Has anyone here in the group taken apart a 2Wire 2700HG router/modem ?
>They are supposed to put out some good power but I would like to
>attach an external antenna.

Why not use a reflector instead (thereby not taking risks like voiding
any warranty)? See wikis below for links to info on how to easily build
a cheap reflector that will actually work better than many much more
expensive antennas.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Tom kingman <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Has anyone here in the group taken apart a 2Wire 2700HG router/modem ?

Sure. I take apart everything I can get my hands on.

>They are supposed to put out some good power but I would like to
>attach an external antenna.

Fine. Time for "Learn by Destroying(tm)".

>Whats the easiest way to take this unit apart?

Hint: If its not easy or obvious, that's because the designers don't
want you taking it apart.

>Any webpages out there
>detailing it or hacks for these models?

Always go to the FCC ID site first. See photos at:
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=562255&native_or_pdf=pd f>
The radio (Atheros chipset) is under the "T" shaped metal shield on
the right. The metal plate at the edge of the circuit board to the
right of the shield area is the actual antenna. The antennas are PIFA
type which will have a convenient 50 ohm feed point.
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=562256&native_or_pdf=pd f>
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=562257&native_or_pdf=pd f>

However, you're going to have a big problem. The box has *THREE*
antennas. Two for receive (diversity) and one for xmit. See block
diagram at:
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=562251&native_or_pdf=pd f>
In order to attach an external antenna, you'll need to either
impliment a T-R switch (not recommended) or attach at least *TWO*
external antennas. I suggest you consider this carefully before you
blunder onwards.

Other info:
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout =500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=505842&fcc_i d='PGR2W2700ATH'>
Verify the FCC ID number from the serial number sticker to make sure
it's the same as what you have.

As for how to take it apart, you're on your own. Please consider the
sound of breaking plastic as an indication that you're doing it wrong.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

John Navas <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>On Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:06:19 -0700, Tom kingman <(E-Mail Removed)>
>wrote in <(E-Mail Removed)>:
>
>>Has anyone here in the group taken apart a 2Wire 2700HG router/modem ?
>>They are supposed to put out some good power but I would like to
>>attach an external antenna.
>
>Why not use a reflector instead (thereby not taking risks like voiding
>any warranty)? See wikis below for links to info on how to easily build
>a cheap reflector that will actually work better than many much more
>expensive antennas.

Because the 2700HG has *THREE* antennas inside (2 receive, one xmit).
A single corner or parabolic reflector just isn't going to work if
there has to be 3 different points of focus.

A flat plate reflector will work yielding 3dB of gain, which is better
than nothing. Find a random piece of very flat aluminium sheet metal
and position it 1/4 wavelength behind the approximate plane of the
antennas. Play with the spacing for maximum gain.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Sir, can you point me to some instructions on how to find
those fcc photos? I gather you must start with the fcc ID
number but I haven't stumbled yet into how to use that
number to get anything useful from the FCC.

There's photos of the product, block diagrams, and other
info, all of interest. I've looked but have found no basic
instructions from the FCC site on how to use it.

Thanks for any more hints, Rob


> Other info:
> <https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout =500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=505842&fcc_i d='PGR2W2700ATH'>
> Verify the FCC ID number from the serial number sticker to make sure
> it's the same as what you have.
>
> As for how to take it apart, you're on your own. Please consider the
> sound of breaking plastic as an indication that you're doing it wrong.
>
>

rob <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Sir, can you point me to some instructions on how to find
>those fcc photos? I gather you must start with the fcc ID
>number but I haven't stumbled yet into how to use that
>number to get anything useful from the FCC.
>
>There's photos of the product, block diagrams, and other
>info, all of interest. I've looked but have found no basic
>instructions from the FCC site on how to use it.

Good question. The problem with the FCC ID search page is that the
search is broken. I haven't figured out exactly how it's broken, but
it often fails to find a known valid FCC ID, even when inscribed
completely. I assume you want to find something where you do not know
the FCC ID and only have the manufacturer and the model number. That's
a common problem for everyone which is aggravated by various vendors
not bothering to supply the FCC ID number on any of their literature
or web pages.

You can sometimes get lucky with a Google search using:
<http://www.google.com/help/features.html>
FCC equipment IDs example search: "fcc B4Z-34009-PIR"
Remember to put the word "fcc" before the equipment ID.
Even the example doesn't work, but it's worth a try.

Otherwise, start at:
<http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/>
which will eventually lead you to:
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm>
There are really only 3 items of interest on this page that need to be
found. The "Grantee Code" which is the first 3 characters of the FCC
ID, and the "Product Code" which is the rest of the line. The last is
the "Show XX records at a time" at the bottom of the page. Change
that to 100.

If you don't know the 3 character Grantee Code, then go to:
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GranteeSearch.cfm>
For example, plugging in Cisco (for Linksys) will yield prefixes of:
LDK Cisco
PKW Cisco-Linksys
Q8G Cisco-Linksys
Q87 Cisco-Linksys
Most of the older Linksys stuff is under PKW and the newer stuff under
Q87. I think Q8G is dead.

Now, we go back to the search page and try PKW for the "Grantee Code".
<https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm>
Don't forget to set the "Show xx records..." to 100.

That yields 227 hits for Q87 (Linksys). Go down the FCC ID column
until you find the model number of the product. In most cases, the
model number will be obvious, but not always. A few vendors use
really obscure FCC ID numbers, which will require a model by model
search for the correct FCC ID. You will also find more than one hit
for a given model number.

Now, here's the part where the FCC ID search absolutely sucks. You
can't do a partial search by model number. For example, if you use
Q87 for the "Grantee Code" but insert just "WRT54G" for part of the
remaining "Product Code", the search finds nothing. The help page
shows that it should do a left justified substring search as in:
* Wild Card Right - When the search is performed the characters
entered into this field will be compared to the database using
a wild card on the right. For example, if the letter "A" is
entered then all records that start with the letter "A" in this
field will be returned (ABC, Apple, Able...).
However, it usually doesn't not work unless you know the tricks.

One trick is to put a "-" in front of the search. That's because the
"-" is significant and part of the FCC ID number. The problem is that
not every company uses the "-" so this trick doesn't work for
everyone. Using Q87 for the "Grantee Code" and "-WRT54G" for the
"Product Code", yields 32 hits. However, because of the left
justified nature of the search, manufacturers that imbed the model
number in the product code prefixed with some random garbage, cannot
be found in this manner.

The rest is just a matter of looking down the list and reducing the
number of hits to manageable size. There are a few other tricks but
this will do for now. I'll also spare you my opinion of the FCC and
it's general inability to do anything correctly.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 10:28:04 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed)>:

>... I'll also spare you my opinion of the FCC and
>it's general inability to do anything correctly.

Better to have it at all, and free, than not at all, or only for fee.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John Navas <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 10:28:04 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
><(E-Mail Removed)>:
>
>>... I'll also spare you my opinion of the FCC and
>>it's general inability to do anything correctly.
>
>Better to have it at all, and free, than not at all, or only for fee.

That's exactly the (unofficial) reaction I received when I first
complained. Same with the screwed up ULS system or whatever it's
called this week. I've had to deal with the FCC for about the last 40
years and find both the attitude, quality, and responsiveness to be
seriously lacking. However, you're correct. Better free and broken,
than not at all. Were the FCC to seriously review my opinion of the
search page, and decide that it's worth fixing, I'm certain the entire
system will degenerate into a bureaucratic quagmire resulting in
limited access or total shutdown based on some "national security"
excuse along with the traditional cost over-run and 5 year beta test
period. Of course, the manufacturers will want the site shut down
completely for confidentiality reasons.

The only reason the site exists in the first place is that the FCC is
required by law to "make available" under some ammendment to the
Freedom of Information Act, any documentation that is likely to be
requested more than a few times. To avoid the FOIA document request
hassle, they just dumped it on the internet. Ah... foundit. See
552(a)(2)(D):
<http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm>

As a minimal request, I've asked the FCC twice to include the "-"
trick in the help file (to the left of the "product code" box) and to
not touch the search engine for fear of breaking something. No
response.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Thanks, this helps a lot.

On Apr 8, 10:59 am, Jeff Liebermann <j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us>
wrote:
> John Navas <spamfilt...@navasgroup.com> hath wroth:
>
> >On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 10:28:04 -0700, Jeff Liebermann
> ><j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> wrote in
> ><l06i131fg7gc483046csgt9o5kavhvo...@4ax.com>:
>
> >>... I'll also spare you my opinion of the FCC and
> >>it's general inability to do anything correctly.
>
> >Better to have it at all, and free, than not at all, or only for fee.
>
> That's exactly the (unofficial) reaction I received when I first
> complained. Same with the screwed up ULS system or whatever it's
> called this week. I've had to deal with the FCC for about the last 40
> years and find both the attitude, quality, and responsiveness to be
> seriously lacking. However, you're correct. Better free and broken,
> than not at all. Were the FCC to seriously review my opinion of the
> search page, and decide that it's worth fixing, I'm certain the entire
> system will degenerate into a bureaucratic quagmire resulting in
> limited access or total shutdown based on some "national security"
> excuse along with the traditional cost over-run and 5 year beta test
> period. Of course, the manufacturers will want the site shut down
> completely for confidentiality reasons.
>
> The only reason the site exists in the first place is that the FCC is
> required by law to "make available" under some ammendment to the
> Freedom of Information Act, any documentation that is likely to be
> requested more than a few times. To avoid the FOIA document request
> hassle, they just dumped it on the internet. Ah... foundit. See
> 552(a)(2)(D):
> <http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XVII_4/page2.htm>
>
> As a minimal request, I've asked the FCC twice to include the "-"
> trick in the help file (to the left of the "product code" box) and to
> not touch the search engine for fear of breaking something. No
> response.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann j...@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

I'm not sure about the FCC registration webpages, but I believe the
license info is on their FTP website. You have to come up with your
own search.

ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/