[Pc_Support] Re: Large area WiFi (City)] -- Rice TAPs, 420Mbps backhaul w/10Mbps acce

[Bryan J. Smith]

George Laiacona <glaiacona at aikencountysc.gov> wrote:
> I'm tasked with trying to figure out connecting remote offices, and
> Wi-Fi is one option, but much of it will be long-haul type stuff.

Not only is this shorter range and substaintially more investment,
but  it's still prototype-engineering stage.  I.e., they're using
Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) at this point, even if
they have a PowerPC core.  To be far more commodity, they'll have to
nail down the spec and build an ASIC.  I'm not even sure if they're
at that point yet -- and I'd say probably not.

Although it's possible they can not only get 10+ miles, but they
probably would only need 6-8 radios to do so (two sets for each
direction).  But it's clearly _not_ designed for such.  It's designed
as largely a [physically] unidirectional mesh "TAP" for local
subscribers with dedicated channels for [virtual] direction
back-haul.  Stuff where you're providing services to hundreds of
people in the local area.

You'd be better off going with something like a ParkerVision or
countless other, directional solutions that use standard 802.11 or
similar.

> Plus, the City of Aiken is entertaining the idea of a mesh network
> to cover the city (a friend of mine works for the city), and there
> has been a lot of discussion on the Government Managers of
> Information Systems (GMIS) listserv about large-scale wi-fi.

Now for Mesh, that changes everything.

We're the _sole_ VAR and leading integrator for the _sole_, truly
working -- from device down to subscriber (i.e., CardBus device) --
mesh solution available.  Rate is broadband-like (1.5Mbps, up to
6Mbps when distributed).

Trust me, we've been testing countless other solutions -- from
FireTide to SkyPilot.  There's a reason we still only implement Moto
Mesh right now.

We're currently expanding our network into the largest wireless test
network east of the Mississippi -- all in Seminole County.  It's
largely Lake Mary and surrounding vicinity now (but still almost 100
nodes).  You can come down and we can give you a demo of how it works
-- at 70mph no less in a CardBus form-factor.  Several racing
associations have used it at 200+mph -- including Sebring this very
weekend.

> So, I'm reviewing your links for relevance to my projects.
> That, and to learn more.

Again, Rice's TAP is _far_ from end-usable now.  But it's definitely
where things are headed.

If you want something now, we've got it.  But we're also planning for
newer developments.  Once 802.11s hits commodity we recognize that
the VAR won't sustain us, and that's what I'm 100% allocated to
developing for.  All while I'm 100% allocated to supporting clients
like yourself who wants stuff now.  All while I'm 100% (and solely
allocated) to new hardware developments.  Etc...  ;->


-- 
Bryan J. Smith   Professional, Technical Annoyance
b.j.smith at ieee.org    http://thebs413.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------------
I'm a Democrat.  No wait, I'm a Republican.  Hmm,
it seems I'm just whatever someone disagrees with.