Transcript Broadband Wireless David Aeschbacher 4/6/2007

Broadband Wireless
David Aeschbacher
4/6/2007
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What is Broadband Wireless?
802.16
WiMAX
Motorola Canopy
802.11
StarOS
Summary of Current Solutions
Obstacles to Starting and Maintaining a WISP
Future of Broadband Wireless
What is Broadband Wireless?
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Wireless Broadband is new and exciting way of
providing high-speed network and Internet over
large distances.
Data-rates are typically between 2mbits/sec and
100mbits/sec
Best solution OFDM, offers higher data-rates and
long distances
Licensed and unlicensed bands are used
Useful for rural areas where there are no
alternatives (cable, FiOS, or DSL)
Future availability in mobile devices
Broadband Wireless (cont.)
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A typical WISP set-up consists of an access point
(AP) placed on a tall building, water tower, guyed
lattice towers.
APs can be set up in a sector, with an omni
directional antenna, or as a point to point
connection
A wireless bridge is used to receive and transmit to
the AP
LOS is desired but not required for all wireless
broadband technologies.
The IEEE 802.16 Standard
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IEEE 802.16 working group for wireless
metropolitan area networks
802.16 has been dubbed “WiMAX” (akin to
802.11 WiFi)
802.16e “Mobile WiMAX”
802.16h - Improved Coexistence Mechanisms for
License-Exempt Operation
802.16m “Advanced air interface” - increased
data-rates
The standard may advertise itself as a metropolitan
area solution but certainly has applications in nonmetro areas
The IEEE 802.16 Standard cont.
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Operates on many different bands. 3.5ghz and
5.8ghz currently and 700mhz, 2.3ghz, 2.5ghz,
3.7ghz, 4.9ghz, 5.4-5.7ghz sometime in the future.
This gives you the choice to use licensed or
unlicensed bands
OFDM and OFDMA now, scalable OFDM in the
future
802.16-2004 is the current standard for MAC
What is WiMAX Good For?
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Telephone networks, A/V multicast, IP services,
Back-haul
Nomadic mobile devices
“Last-mile” delivery of service – this is what you
are most likely to see in St. Lawrence County.
Other means of broadband Internet access rarely
reach outside of villages leaving many people to
depend on poor phone lines to deliver already slow
dial-up service.
WiMAX offers a standard that will ensure
interoprability between devices/networks/regions
WiMAX Devices
Motorola Canopy
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Motorola's proprietary solution to broadband
wireless
Operates on 900mhz, 2.4ghz, and 5.8ghz
unlicensed frequency bands
Data-rates depend on the level of a license that is
purchased with the subscriber module (bridge) and
can be configured from the device interface
Can work at distances greater than 40miles using
less that 28dm of power, depending on antenna
type
FSK for SMs, OFDM for Back-hauls
Examples of Canopy Equipment
802.11 as a Broadband Wireless Solution
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The advantages of using 802.11a/b/g are that it is
cheap and readily available
Unfortunately the popularity of the standard makes
it easier for people gain unauthorized access to the
network
802.11a/b/g typically has a range of only 300' but
using high gain directional antennas a LOS
connection can be made at 1 to 2 miles or farther
using <400mw of transmit power
StarOS
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Valemount Networks
Runs on “warboards”
A warboard is a computer (think itx size) that acts
a router/bridge/access point.
A warboard has slots for 1-4 slots for mini-pci
wireless cards, 900mhz or 2.4ghz (a/b/g)
StarOS allows you to configure the device in many
different ways, mac filtering, PPPoE, bandwidth
management
Summary of Current Solutions
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WiMAX – Still rather new and working its way
into the marketplace, could revolutionize wireless
communications
Motorola Canopy – Currently available and in use,
serves multiple purposes
802.11 – Very affordable, can be used for short to
medium distances, maybe a little too common
Obstacles of Starting and
Maintaining a WISP
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Cost – High quality APs cost many thousands of
dollars and SMs range from $200-$1000 each.
Bandwidth in rural areas costs more than in a
metropolitan area. (10mbit $1000/month) A typical
cable Internet connection can reach upwards of 5mbit,
so it is hard to deliver comparable speeds at
reasonable prices.
Geography – Hills and trees greatly affect the range
and speed of the connection. 40 miles LOS is easy to
accomplish in some areas whereas 6 miles non-LOS is
extremely difficult in some parts of St. Lawrence.
Future of Broadband Wireless
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802.20 MBWA – Mobile Braodband Wireless
Access, potential competitor to mobile WiMAX
Larger companies moving – Verizon and Cingular
can use their vast existing infrastructure to deliver
BWA into peoples homes