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

To: gdichaz who wrote (2971)	2/27/1999 9:41:00 AM
From: Kenneth E. Phillipps	Respond to of 12823

Article from Internet Week on speed problems of wireless access. techweb.com Ken

To: gdichaz who wrote (2971)	2/27/1999 8:38:00 PM
From: WTC	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12823

Norweb powerline data is has a problem with US architecture I am dubious that there is any problem with 110v in North America vs. 220v in Europe holding back the Norweb powerline data system. Nortel is specifically targeting the European market, and studiously avoiding the North American markets for a different reason, I believe. They have some smart engineers, but they could not repeal the laws of physics related to high speed carriers transiting large inductances. It turns out that a typical final distribution power transformer in the U.K., for example, (and I have heard but do not know first hand this is true in the rest of Europe, too) serves, on average, 100 to 200 residential units. In the U.S., that figure is closer to 4 -5. The 7.2kv to 110v transformer, is, of course, a huge inductor, and will not pass the high frequency carrier that a high speed data signal rides on. The Norweb design sidesteps this with capacitive coupled bypass units, but they are expensive and expensive to install. An architecture that depends on a proliferation of bypass units is a non-starter -- hence, Norweb is a non-starter in North America. There are a number of of hoax technologies in this market space currently advertising for investors on slick infomercials. Two I have seen are a good reminder that "anything that looks too good to be true ..." Norweb is real, it just is not a fit for the North American market because of the customary power distribution topology. The premises powerline data "wiring" systems are also real -- they enjoy the luxury of working entirely on the customer side of the transformer. The transformer actually provides a benefit for these systems -- there is only a possibility of signal spill-over into homes that share the same transformer, usually 2 to 4 other homes. It is nice not to be on a big common neighborhood bus with your premises data streams.