[wplug] OT Question

[Nick Iglehart]

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> For what I read on the web site, this can be possible, but 
> not probable! In this case that company could have a license 
> to operate tranceivers lets say in the 2.6GHz range, as an 
> example. If there were 10 channels available there for them 
> to use, then THEIR licenses can cover YOU as the consumer. 
> Look at CELL PHONES for that example!!! They are in the 
> 800MHz band. That band IS for CELL phones ONLY, but each 
> cellular provider has to be licensed to use that band. You 
> are covered under their license for usage.

The website clearly states that they are operating in license-free
spectrum and use a square dish which means microwave or close to it,
so I would say it is a safe bet that they are 2.4GHz. I worked on
AT&T's Project Angel a few years ago building the first fixed
wireless system and it used the same antennae as well. They were not
very reliable, but I am sure the technology has improved over time.
As for the cellular communications style, I would doubt that is the
case here. The overhead for cellular equipment is simply too high to
make it feasible for an operation like this. AT&T did use CDMA
technologies adapted to the spectrum, but paid close to $1 Million
dollars per tower when the base station controllers, transcoders
(excuse the GSM technology, I haven't worked with CDMA for quite some
time) and what not were figured in.

Just a note here, digital cell phones (which is virtually all)
generally run in 900, 1200, 1800 and 1900 MHz nowadays with 800
generally reserved for analog cellular.

> There is ALOT of frequency spectrum available when 
> you get up in the 10GHz area, but slowly getting eaten up. 
> Then there is a law about the POWER levels being used at 
> these frequencies. Normally if the power level is below 10 
> milliwatts output, then a license is not needed, but that 
> would have to be researched on a per band basis.

I also doubt that they would be in the 10GHz spectrum since range
becomes impossible at these freqs. 2.4GHz is borderline LoS and you
going much higher you are going to start seeing signal loss from
raindrops.
 

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