WiMAX Design and point-to-point / point-to-multipoint
outdoor RF
Do you need to connect
two buildings with a wireless link? Why not just use plain old 802.11 (WDS or Mesh
Routing)?
The design of a WiMAX
system is intended to provide high-speed data
transfer over long distances. This comes with
a price (in dollars!) that sets WiMAX radios
apart from their Wi-Fi cousins. It's generally
accepted that WiMAX is a "last mile" technology
and Wi-Fi is a "last 100-feet" technology.
The two work in harmony as when a design uses
WiMAX to connect multiple buildings in an area
and Wi-Fi to provide client association services
in the building. WiMAX does not implement the
automated client services (Authentication,
Association, Accounting) that are part of 802.11
Wi-Fi however it does provide significantly
increased range and bitrate.
Is WiMAX Here Today?
Not yet... at least
not completely. Outside the United States there
is significant WiMAX deployment however the
U.S. has been slow to adopt the standards.
This is regulatory in origin. Nonetheless,
vendors have taken advantage of the same type
of technology and Connect802 can help assemble
a system that provides long-distance, point-to-point
or point-to-multipoint connectivity.
What is WiMAX ?
The
WiMAX Forum is comprised of industry leaders
who are committed to the open interoperability
of products used for broadband wireless
access in support of the IEEE 802.16 standards.
These are referred to as the WirelessMAN
Standards for Wireless Metropolitan Area
Networks. WirelessMAN (which is a trade
mark of the IEEE) is a technology defined
by the IEEE 802.16 standards whereas "WiMAX" is
a forum of interested industry participants
who are concerned with implementation and
interoperability of commercial products
based on these standards. More information
about the WiMAX Forum is available at www.wimaxforum.org.
The
802.16 standard supports point-to-multipoint
architecture in the 10-66 GHz range, transmitting
at data rates up to 120 Megabits/second.
A single 802.16 base station can transmit
wirelessly up to 30 miles to a large number
of stationary subscriber stations. A lower
frequency implementation of the standard
(802.16a) operates in both the licensed
and unlicensed spectrum in the 2GHz and
11GHz bands using orthogonal frequency
division multiplexing (OFDM), a method
for representing data bits in a way that
minimizes interference and allows good
performance even when multi-path reflections
(such as from urban buildings) could otherwise
cause problems.
The
802.16e working group is developing
standards for mobile broadband wireless
access. These will be similar to some
of the capabilities associated with
3G and 4G cellular networking . Intel
Corporation is a leader in the development
of WiMAX equipment and the 802.16 standards.
They have prepared a number of excellent
technical white papers discussing WiMAX
technology. You may download these
directly from their site.
Connect802 provides network design services,
system hardware, and installation services
for WiMAX / 802.16 metropolitan area
networks. In addition to 802.16 systems,
Connect802 also designs and implements
similar existing technologies to provide
long-range T1/E1 TDM synchronous links
for voice and data. These backbone metropolitan
area network links connect buildings
and sites up to 30-miles apart.
We understand 801.16 design and WiMAX
network systems. We can work with you
to provide WiMAX design services or to
provide alternative MAN/WAN equipment
as WiMAX continues to evolve. We provide
WiMAX equipment, as well as the associated
801.16 antennas, towers, and WiMAX installation
services.
When high-speed broadband access, or
multi-channel T1 voice is needed for
multi-site, multi-building connectivity,
we've got you covered!
The Connect802 Antenna
System Designer
An On-Line Calculator for Link Budget, Gain,
and Antenna Mounting. Try it out!
The WiMAX
Forum (the Worldwide Interoperability
for Microwave Access Forum) is a non-profit
corporation formed by equipment and component
suppliers, including Intel Corporation,
to promote the adoption of IEEE 802.16
compliant equipment by operators of broadband
wireless access systems. The organization
is working to facilitate the deployment
of broadband wireless networks based
on the IEEE 802.16 standard by helping
to ensure the compatibility and interoperability
of broadband wireless access equipment.
Wi-Fi and WiMAX compliment
each other as communication technologies. WiMAX
is a "last
mile" technology,
meaning that it provides connectivity between
an end-user location (building or home) and
the Internet. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, provides
the wireless LAN connectivity within a building.
There is every expectation that future developments
will provide both WiMAX and Wi-Fi technology
in portable, notebook computers.
Be
sure to explore the Connect802
Antenna System Designer, an on-line RF
calculator for link budget, path loss, near-field,
antenna tower and mounting heights, earth
bulge, refractive index, and more!
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