John, it isn't the power output that's a distinguishing feature of PCS. It is more the frequency, but also functionality. The reason for needing more base stations [50% more] for 2GHz instead of 820MHz is that the shorter the wavelength, the more the signal gets absorbed by trees, buildings and stuff, so the weaker the coverage. Also the more line of sight is needed as the shorter signals don't bend around things. That's why in the old long-wave radio days, you could get signals going anywhere, slipping around mountains even!
cdmaOne handsets transmit at something like 200 milliwatts. Or less if close to a base station with few other users. Real technical people will be able to give you more accurate information, but that's near enough probably.
I don't know what power the Globalstar handsets will put out, but it will be a lot more than terrestrial because the signal needs to go 2000 km instead of 10 km, assuming the same receiving apparatus is used, which it isn't. The signal strength at 20 km is quarter that at 10 km. At 40 km it is 1/16th, at 80 km 1/64th, at 160 km 1/256th, at 320 km 1/1000th, 640 km 1/4000th and 1400 km which is the distance of the nearest Globalstar satellite, 1/16000th and at 2800km which is a distant satellite only 1/64000th. So you can see the signal gets really weak on its travels. So either they have really powerful handsets, or they have really good signal detectors on the satellites. A third option is I've been tricked out of my money.
Clark, on the accounts receivable, I guess Qualcomm has arranged to swap debt for equity if the customer is unable to meet their payments. That sounds a likely solution. That way Alan Green$pan gets to print and lend some more SuperDs, Qualcomm gets to buy a valuable share in production of cdmaOne, Samsung, S K Telecom or whoever gets to stay in business, customers get lots of handsets, the other creditors of those Korean companies get paid and all is well with the world. Oh yes, Qualcomm sends me dividends on the profits.
There is also a lot of vendor financing they are doing, so I guess some of it will be in base stations for which payment will be made when turned on and working. Or paid out of revenue or some such. In any event, I'm sure there is no problem.
Mqurice
PS: On hiring the foreign engineers - if Qualcomm and the USA won't, Nokia, Ericsson, Alcatel, NEC, Fujitsu, Samsung etc will! If the USA is not getting a return on training engineers, don't train them! Getting Alien high powered brains cheap is damn good buying for Q and USA. |
