A wireless bridge link provides a cost-effective solution for interconnecting two locations. There are times when installing a point-to-point link is the only feasible option for creating a connection between two sites. Today, wireless bridge technology is at a point where radio links are secure, easy-to-install and realistic alternatives for fiber optic replacement and to supplement or replace existing LAN connections and leased Telco line circuits.

Extension Of the Ethernet LAN and IP Data Network

Across a corporate or academic campus you'll need to connect two buildings together so that the buildings are part of the same LAN. When you need to expand a wired Ethernet LAN into another building your choices are limited: copper, fiber or wireless bridges. Your capacity requirements will vary depending on the types of applications running across the building-to-building link. For example, consider the following types of application requirements (capacity estimates are generic and will be determined by actual application use):

When it's cost-prohibitive, inconvenient or impossible to install a fiber optic or copper Ethernet connection between buildings then a wireless point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge implementation becomes the logical choice. For example, if you have two buildings that are separated by a road then wireless bridging is the only practical way to interconnect two buildings. Connect802 has a broad portfolio of license-exempt, "light licensed" and fully licensed wireless bridge equipment to provide you with the wireless throughput that you need.

Up until 2010 it was common to find that only using unlicensed point-to-point free space optics (i.e. laser communications technology) was the most viable, cost-effective way to connect two buildings across a corporate campus or on two sides of a road. Today, unlicensed wireless point-to-point backhaul solutions have evolved with 5 GHz and 60 GHz wireless Ethernet microwave Broadband equipment. License-exempt point-to-point bridges provide affordable alternatives to fiber optic cable and can deliver reliability of up to 99.999%.

Licensed and "Light Licensed" radio equipment can be deployed in a number of special frequency bands when interference avoidance and exclusivity is required. In addition, licensed and "light licensed" wireless point-to-point equipment can take advantage of the signal propagation and limited signal loss in frequencies below 60 GHz.

Leased Phone Line Replacement

While Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and wireless Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps up to 1400 Mbps) are common for building-to-building connection you'll also find that wireless bridges can be implemented to extend TDM Telco (T1 and T3) telephone circuits between buildings. A wireless bridge link can be used to transparently connect 2 buildings and extend the phone system from one building into the next. These are capabilities that you will not find with consumer-grade Cisco, Linksys, D-Link and other wireless bridge products. The typical Linksys or D-Link point-to-point bridge capabilities are for lower data rate and shorter range Ethernet data (as compared with carrier-grade bridge equipment) and a D-Link or Linksys access point will not create a wireless bridge link to transparently connect telephone equipment between 2 buildings that you want to connect. When you need a powerful wireless bridge you'll need carrier-grade wireless point-to-point equipment.

Connect802 welcomes your questions regarding Return-On-Investment and practical steps to replace leased line service with wireless products needed to eliminate recurring leased-line costs. Gigabit (and other ) wireless links can provide fiber-like performance at significant savings compared to leased lines. It's not uncommon to find that you can upgrade capacity from old leased lines or supplement or replace existing leased line circuits with less than a 1-year payback on your investment.

Terminology You'll Encounter Related to High-Capacity Wireless Bridges

• Millimeter Wave - Millimeter wave radios are those that operate above 30 GHz, specifically 60 GHz millimeter wave and 80 GHz millimeter wave bridge radios
• Packet Microwave - Wireless bridge links that carry data (as opposed to voice) are sometimes referred to as "packet microwave radio systems" or "broadband radio" products.
• PtP - "PtP" stands for "Point-to-Point"; a bridge link with two endpoints
• PtMP - "PtMP" stands for "Point-to-MultiPoint"; a bridge topology where one central unit communicates to two or more edge units
• Split Mount - The term "split mount radio" refers to a hardware implementation where the transmitter unit (called an "ODU"; Outdoor Unit) is mounted on a mast or tower and the controller unit (called an "IDU"; Indoor Unit) is mounted in the rack in the indoor wiring closet. Split mount implementation can be deployed where redundant controllers are required or where ease of access is a key factor.

Connect802 is your one-stop-shop for point-to-point microwave radio systems. We provide solutions that operate in many frequencies, some license-exempt and others licensed. We can provide you with reliable, secure connectivity when and where you need it - even in the most challenging environments!

Connect802 is an authorized BridgeWave Communications reseller and an authorized Exalt Communications reseller. As an authorized dealer for BridgeWave and Exalt radio equipment our sales and engineering team is educated and experienced in the details of wireless bridge consulting, design, specification and installation. Connect802 is your wireless bridge design consulting source!

As an authorized BridgeWave dealer and installer, Connect802 makes available millimeter wave 60 GHz license-exempt and 80 GHz light-licensed Gigabit Ethernet bridge equipment for links up to roughly 2 miles. As an authorized Exalt dealer and installer, Connect802 makes available license-exempt and licensed radio equipment in the 5 GHz, 11 GHz, 18 GHz, 24 GHz and 32 GHz frequency bands for links of up to 25 miles or more.

Our field engineering team provides full installation and operational support including antenna alignment services, wireless point-to-point bridge design, engineering and troubleshooting as well as being able to bring RF spectrum analysis for wireless bridge links to your project.

Connect802 can provide design, consulting and physical site assessment (including RF spectrum analysis) for the implementation of long-range wireless bridges and carrier-grade backhaul microwave radio to connect buildings 100 feet apart, 5 miles apart or 25 miles apart.

When you need to buy a wireless bridge (or a wireless repeater) you're faced with choices that range from consumer-grade wireless access point bridges (often 802.11n wireless access points operating in "bridge mode") to sophisticated, high-speed point-to-point licensed and license-exempt bridge equipment. A wireless Ethernet bridge implementation can be straightforward or it may require point-to-point consulting, design and engineering services. There is an entire spectrum (pun intended) of options for microwave high-capacity backhaul Broadband connectivity from which to choose:

• 2.4 GHz Wireless Ethernet Bridges (using Wi-Fi access points in Bridge Mode)
• 2.4 GHz Dedicated Point-to-Point Bridging Equipment (often implemented as an 802.11n bridge pair)
• 5.1 GHz/5.2 GHz, 5.3 GHz, 5.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz Unlicensed Point-to-Point Ethernet Bridges (often implemented as an 802.11n bridge pair in the 24 20 MHz U-NII bands)
• 4.9 GHz (Public Safety Only)
• 5 GHz License-exempt Ethernet and TDM Bridges
• 6 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges
• 11 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges
• 18 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges
• 23 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges
• 24 GHz Digital Electronic Message Service (DEMS)
• 28 GHz, 29 GHz and 31 GHz Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)
• 38 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges
• 42 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges
• 60 GHz Unlicensed PtP Bridges
• 80 GHz Licensed Microwave PtP Bridges (millimeter wave radio)
• 92 GHz to 95 GHz Licensed Millimeter Wave radio

Exalt Communications DEMS and LDMS Equipment

Exalt Communications ExtremeAir, ExploreAir, and ExtendAir microwave backhaul systems, the Exalt Air Series, support non-traditional licensed microwave frequencies including 24 GHz DEMS (Digital Electronic Message Service); the LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service) bands of 28, 29, and 31 GHz; and 42 GHz. The expanded band coverage offers mobile operators and other spectrum holders the ability to leverage a much wider array of spectrum for packet-based mobile backhaul in environments where customary bands are becoming saturated and in which the number of cell sites is poised to explode with the widespread deployment of LTE microcells and picocells.

For organizations with access to spectrum, deployment is a simple as choosing the right Exalt all-outdoor system for the application. For those without current access, spectrum may be licensed from existing license holders. Additionally, as regulatory authorities such as the FCC in the United States and Ofcom in the UK release new bands of spectrum for licensing, Exalt will quickly support these emerging bands to give operators and backhaul service providers even more flexibility in deploying microwave backhaul systems