Hardware

Meteobridge can be used with two miniature consumer routers from TP-LINK and one from ASUS. These devices are converted into a Meteobridge by flashing a new firmware. As always when you flash un-official firmware to a device you are voiding the manufacturers warranty. That means, when the device gets faulty later on, you can't reach out to TP-LINK or ASUS for warranty. smartbedded UG, whichs owns the Meteobridge software does also not provide any warranty on the flashed device. As the routers are very cheap and risk of bricking the device is minimal, you don't have a significant financial expousre. However, you have to know, that you are converting the router into a Meteobridge at your own risk.

TP-LINK TL-MR3020

TL-MR3020 from TP-Link is a tiny WLAN router, which is word-wide available for less than $40. Flashing the unit with meteobridge firmware makes the router a meteobridge. Meteobridge firmware is tested with currently sold TL-MR3020 which are version 1.7. This router hardware comes with the following features:

• 4 MB flash
• 32 MB RAM
• One LAN port
• Internal WLAN (no external antenna)
• USB 2.0 only port (not capable of driving USB 1.x devices, will need a USB 2.0 Hub inbetween)
• A couple of activity LEDs (USB, LAN, WLAN)
• Illuminated button on the top
• Dimensions: 2.9 x 2.6 x 0.9 inch (74 x 67 x22 mm)
• Weight: 2.0 oz (58 g) without accessories
• Temperature: -10 ~60 ℃ ℃ operating (-40℃~80℃ storage)
• Humidity: 10%~90% operating (5%~90% storage)
• Power Consumption: 1-2 watts
• Certificates: CE, FCC, RoHS
• As a consumer router world-wide available from TP-Link
• Street price below $40

TP-LINK TL-WR703N

TL-WR703N from TP-Link is the little brother of TL-MR3020. While technical specs are nearly identical it comes with an even smaller form factor and less LEDs for signaling status. TP-LINK does sell WR703N just on the China market, but you can easily get one via ebay for less than $30. Meteobridge is tested on hardware revision 1.6 of this router. Router hardware comes with the following features:

• 4 MB flash
• 32 MB RAM
• One LAN port
• Internal WLAN (no external antenna)
• USB 2.0 only port (not capable of driving USB 1.x devices, will need a USB 2.0 Hub inbetween)
• One activity LED
• Reset button behind a pinhole at the back
• Dimensions: 2.2 x 2.2 x 0.7 inch (57 x 57 x 18 mm)
• Weight: 1.3 oz (36 g) without accessories
• Temperature: -10℃~60℃ operating (-40℃~80℃ storage)
• Humidity: 10%~90% operating (5%~90% storage)
• Power Consumption: 1 watts
• Certificates: no indication of CE, FCC, RoHS
• only available for China market from TP-Link, but easy to get worl-wide via China-based ebay sellers
• Street price: below $30

ASUS WL-330N3G

This tiny router from ASUS has similar specs like the ones from TP-Link. Flashing the unit is a bit more complicated (cannot be done via web interface, needs TFTP in a prepared LAN) but it can handle USB 1.x and USB 2.0 devices without need for an additional USB hub. Please do not confuse this router with its predecessor WL-330N, which is not suitable for Meteobridge.

• 4 MB flash
• 32 MB RAM
• One LAN port
• Internal WLAN (no external antenna)
• USB 2.0 port (capable of driving USB 1.x and USB 2.0 devices)
• A couple of activity LEDs (Power, USB, LAN, WLAN)
• One button on the top and a non-functional reset button behind a larger pin hole at the bottom
• Dimensions: 90 x 38.9 x 12.8 mm (LxWxH)
• Weight: 1.3 oz (35 g) without accessories
• Power Consumption: abt. 1-2 watts
• Certificates: CE, FCC, RoHS
• As a consumer router world-wide available from ASUS
• Street price: depends on region, cheaper in Europe/Asia (30 Euro), more expansive in the US ($50)