InterceptRadio.com Forums

wifi is is handy but not available everywhere.
Has anyone had experience with the sprint card for internet access via the cell network? Or any other cell provider?

I love my Verizon card. Good coverage, good speed.

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I'll check into verizon. I'm out in the boonies. I'm so sick of dial-up.
I can't hardly do anything with dial-up, it's like websites nowdays are more geared for broadband.

Just be carefull of those rates and overages!!!!!!

Yes, I would opt for the unlimited minutes/ access plan. I'm doing an online bachelors degree right now.
Although dialup seems to cut it for Outlook, (and I'm using a free ISP) to download 10-20 mb books takes awhile. It's nice to catch a broadband Wi-Fi signal when I do.
I'm not down with the 2 year contracts the cell providers demand now. As a matter of fact, my wife and I both use those prepaid, no contract phone plans. I rarely use my cell so it works out good.
I wonder how the BPL deal will be when it comes around.

I have Sprint EVDO Sierra 580 card and use it with the Kyocera KR1 router. Card works great alone and with the KR1 router.

I havn't bit it yet, I'm still trying to see which one has good rural coverage. Verizon looks good so far for that, according to there maps. My tracfone cell worked Spokane to Colville, to Kettle Falls. It dropped (of course) going over Sherman, picked up a bar just South (not in) of Republic, and not again until close to Wilbur.

the Outlaw: There are several Public Utility Districts (PUDs) that have Fixed Wireless Networks extended into rural areas. The Fixed Wireless Network I am familiar with use the Motorola Canopy technology and extends WLAN service to rural aeas. You may want to work with your local utility or educational institution to find the nearest Fiber Point of Presence (POP). Once you locate the nearest fiber POP you can plan a small Wireless ISP (WiSP) in your area. As a matter of fact, I think there are several rural WiSPs in the area. I work with one WiSP with 700 subscribers on their network. They plan to use Motorola's low voltage BPL technology when ready. Motorola's BPL technology is actually wireless and does not touch the high voltage lines. The Motorola guys worked closely with ARRL to get "ok" on the approach. FLX

That's good information. I'm interested. Are you familar with the Hermiston WiFi cloud? That is suposed to to cover two counties, a 700 sq mile area, I believe.

KC - I read about the Hermiston WiFi project and the 700 mile area. Do you know the bandwidth? FLX

I hav'nt used it, I would assume B/G with 'broadband' speeds. I don't know precisely the speed. I understand it is funded from local government. Irrington to Hermiston, quite a ways. It would be interesting to look how it is set up, how many repeaters, locations, etc.

Hermiston uses Proxim 2.4ghz gear with sector antennas. 5.8ghz backhaul.

Most BPL implementations are HF with the aircraft bands notched out however they do not notch marine, broadcast, military, or ham. I would suppose its like a long balanced open-wire feeder provided the RF is across two phases and their spacing is relatively constant. It would be interesting to know if it its possible to maintain a constant impedance between one phase and neutral seeing as the neutral has multiple ground couplings (which then of course unbalances the feed). Either way you end up with an unshielded radiator.

They "hybrid BPL" technology bypasses the medium high voltage lines and instead uses a wireless backhaul. The hybrid BPL technology by Motorola also bypass the transformer in order to avoid the eddy currents in the inner windinigs of the transformer via the Motorola Canopy wireless backhaul. There is an alliance called Home Plug Alliance which now establishes standards. The present HomePlug protocol, Motorola OFDM implementation includes 83 carriers with 8 carriers turned off to reduce interference to the 3.5-4, 7-7.3, 10.1-10.15, 14-14.35, and 18.068-18.168 MHz licensed Amateur Radio operation. Motorola's Powerline LV uses only the low voltage power lines, since these lines are relatively short there is less opportunity for creating RF interference.

In addition, the hybrid BPL approach by Motorola further mitigates potential RF interference by using relatively low -13dBm transmit power, the data signal is coupled to both sides of the low voltage line providing differential data transmission which suppresses common mode interference and internal filtering to provide additional attenuation at Amateur Radio frequencies.

However, some large users need the traditional BPL which indeed "touches" the medium high voltage lines. This is because some see the traditional BPL as a method of better monitoring of utilitiy lines, sensing of what's going on in the utility grid' sorta like a nervous system. But yes, there are many repeaters placed along the lines and thus the issue of perceived interference.

It is all very interesting. I worked with a WiSP and they are looking forward to hybrid BPL because it will enable them to hook up many more customers at one time.

From a network management point of view, the network manager needss to consider how to manage the elements the field, network analytics, bandwidth shaping, bandwidth limiting, security, and throughput.

FLX

Interesting. So all this "Hybrid BPL" hoopla is nothing more than a WISP looking for a way to reduce the cost of a home drop and home distribution. Once inside the home someone could just as easily use HPNA or WiFi over HomePlug.

Canopy works ok, I remember performance testing their 5.8gig stuff prior to it entering the market. Their reflector design & mounting is pretty cheesy. Probably recycled DSS hardware. Fortunately someone got smart and got type-certified to put coaxial tails on them so you could plug it into something decent like an Andrew dish. I wasn't impressed with their early 20mb backhaul product. I'm glad they picked up Orthogon as an OEM as their backhaul products are much better.

Give it another 10 years for plant buildout and everyone will probably be on PON. I've dealt with a few deployments and am impressed so far. Certainly better than going with a bonded HFC solution like DOCSIS 3.0.

BPL and hybrid BPL also enable IP access to those residents in rural areas and dense urban areas who are unable to get access to traditional means of IP ie - cable, fiber, dsl, or even WiFi. For example, I use a como of WiFI and IP via cable at home; my son uses comcast to his TV and more importanly for IP access. We then install a Linksys wireless "router" to throw out spectrum through our home. Nothing new. But what about the senior citizen, rural resident, resident in a dense multi-unit dwelling? I think the BPL and hybrid BPL has a fit in niche applications; and will compliment the WiFi systems we read about in the newspapers. One challenge (flaw?) with city wide WiFi is the assumption is that everyone has access to a WAN/Wireless enabled Laptop. This is not true at all. Rick is right on target with PON; and GPON is right around the corner. A GPON solution is available now.