Hardware Hacking the GL-AR750
GL-AR750 hardware is great for hacking (making it work in unexpected ways) to suit your individual requirements.
1. Processor
AR750 comes with a low cost QCA9531 processor, which supports hardware expansion using USB2, I2C and UART.
2. Federal Communications Commission
The FCC Report is here:
3. Firmware
End-User loves AR750 based in original GL.iNet firmware:
Our own Mesh Station firmware improves on that substantially with much newer kernels and extra features (like Infinite Disk and Virtual Private Mesh).
4. Power Supply
AR750 comes with an approved power supply.
5. Internal Headers
For hardware hackers, I2C and UART headers inside the GL-AR750 enables it to be expanded with thousands of add-ons.
Accessing the built-in headers is NOT for the faint hearted, you have to pry open the case yourself.
Note location of the headers are just underneath the 5G antenna, so if you are attaching cables to them, then do NOT screw the cover back fully, leave a gap so the cables do NOT touch the antenna above it.
To access the headers jumper cables can be used and the lid needs to be risen so the 5GHz antenna does not touch the cables.
The 7mm vertical gap is enough to for the cables to not touch the 5GHz antenna at the underside of the cover.
Looks OK from the top, but still need sticky tape or cable ties to secure the now loose cover with the main unit.
6. Reverse Engineering (in Russian):
7. WiFi 5GHz
Qualcomm QCA9887
Peak Speed: Up to 433 Mbps
Generation: Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5
Standards: 802.11ac, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
Spectral Bands: 5 GHz
Channels: 20 MHz, 80 MHz, 40 MHz
MIMO Configuration: 1x1
Spatial Streams: Up to 1
Security: WPA2
Features: MU-MIMO
Interfaces: I²C, UART, PCIe 1.1, SPI, JTAG
General Purpose I/Os: 18
Layers: MAC, PHY
8. USB2 Hub & SD Card Reader
Genesys Logic GL857L - USB and MicroSD Controller
Genesys-Logic-GL857L-HHY10_C136619.pdf (659.3 KB)
Despite the manufacturer saying that the microSD in the GL-AR750 only supports up to 128GByte, the GL857L chip inside supports SDXC which can go up to 2TByte. MicroSD cards up to 1TByte has been tested to work.
9. SPI Flash
Macronix KH25L12835F - 16MByte internal serial flash memory.
KH25L12835F-macronix.pdf (1.4 MB)