[Hidden-tech] Helping others without broadband

[Jim Ussailis]

I just scanned some of the WiMax papers. 

I am reminded of the number of times that a technology was "just around 
the bend," that took years to come out. Bluetooth was that in the summer 
of '99...we didn't see any Bluetooth stuff until 2003, or was it 2004?

What I read in terms of the 5 GHz band is allowed now, and has been for 
some time. 4 watts with a gain antenna will work very well 
point-to-point. Gain antennas are not omnidirectional. Gain is achieved 
by focusing energy in one direction at the expense of other directiond.

On the technical side, it is possible to get about 6 dBi gain from an 
omnidirectional antenna by not allowing energy to up or down. Greater 
gain is not possible. 6 dBi exactly doubles range, all else equal.

In terms of using the 700 MHz band, that is an FCC proposal. I believe 
some TV stations are still using that slice of spectrum (channels 52 - 
69). It would be a good move in engineering terms. However, lately 
the FCC has put their eggs in the Broadband Over Powerline (BPL) basket.

BPL probably needs to die on the line (pun intended) before 700 MHz takes off

In Western Europe channels 49 to 62 would have to be moved, in Japan 52 
to 62. All this makes me wonder if it is at all possible.


Jim U

jim at nationalwireless.com