Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : LAST MILE TECHNOLOGIES - Let's Discuss Them Here -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (12254)	8/4/2002 6:30:36 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Respond to of 12823

Killer Clown, Yes, this was - and is - a fine thread. And thanks for the inspirational article. Stay tuned. FAC

To: Eashoa' M'sheekha who wrote (12254)	8/7/2002 10:50:59 AM
From: Rob S.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

Wireless has been growing at a fairly rapid pace. It doesn't look that way judging from the sales figures coming out of the "traditional" broadband wireless equipment suppliers but that is distorted by the fact that prices have dropped and WLAN (mostly 802.11b) is being used by independent WISPs and to plug in gaps in service by larger ones. The WLAN gear has gotten down-right cheap. Point to point links can be built using outdoor 802.11b equipment that costs as low as $500 per box. This includes power over ethernet, an extended temperature range, 100-200 mw 802.11b card, an environmental housing, a surge protector, mounting bracket and sector antenna. They also come with gateway/router and firewall software so they can be configured as part of a secure PTP, VPN or PTM systems. Not that 802.11b is "the answer" in itself. It's just the first standard equipment that has hit mass market acceptance such that the price has become so attractive and competition has spurred increased features. This is the same principle that has occurred with PCs - cheaper, faster, better, and built based on common standards. Fortunately the gear doesn't tend to crash ; ^). Improvements are underway with the wireless LAN standards based equipment. 802.11a is being used mostly by corporations because of it's higher security and bandwidth. It isn't very popular for HotSpots, community wireless or the SOHO markets because of it's higher price and shorter range due to working at the higher 5 GHz frequency range. 802.11g is still in the approvals process and expected to come out in March of 2003. Already some pre-approval chips are on the market and product that can upgraded to the final standard is expected to appear in SEP-OCT. This will offer backwards compatibility with 802.11b plus higher bandwidth and longer range via the use of OFDM. With 54 Mbps max bandwidth and about 30% longer range, 802.11g should become very popular for both WLAN and WISP applications. A real advancement will occur when the 802.16a standard gets approved. It's expected to be voted on in DEC but I expect more delays and a final vote to take place sometime in the 1st half of 2003. The 802.16a, WirelessMAN (Metro Area Network) standard is devised to provide greater area coverage and handle higher density of users. Systems that can cover 2-5 miles non-line-of-sight that comply to the pre-approved standard are already being field tested by Verizon and others. Because of the popularity of WLANs, these systems are being designed to work with 802.11b and 802.11g WLAN to provide seamless integration. The world of broadband is not dead. Spending for network build outs based on erroneous assumptions about market acceptance and price points is dead. Wireless broadband has proven itself in the worst of circumstances - when corporations and individuals have drastically cut back on their capital spending and attitudes toward infrastructure spending has turned very conservative. Despite that, WBB has made a strong business case. More than that, corporation and individuals are finding a greater freedom and productivity of un-chaining their work and leisure computing and communications activities. Being wireless is a great kick in productivity and life-style of active PC and device users. Longer term, VoIP, DVB, orders of magnitude "reuse" of spectrum and other enhancements to wireless will drive home it's capabilities. The masses are being educated that getting freed up from the chains of wired connections is overall a great thing. Security issues are getting attention and must be handled, but are no show stopper. Looking at what has occurred in WLAN just over the past 18 months should get even the harshest critic of WBB to think twice.