(1) What vendors we can buy the needed equipment from (in the next 6
month time frame)?
(2) What equipment is needed?
(3) What devices are needed in each home to connect to the network?
(4) How much does this equipment cost?
(5) Any how-to guides to installing a WiMAX network in a neighborhood
setting and the issues that we might run into.
jlb0001-ga,
Hello! With as many people possible in a square mile you will need
multiple egress points to keep latency low and have QOS to all
subscribers. The fastest speed possible for any wireless network is
the slowest internet connection.
What does this mean? If your backbone is a 1Mb pipe then that is the
fastest possible...divided by the number of users at any given time.
Another consideration would be the number of hops required to the net.
Every "hop" will decrease the maximum possible speed by one half.
It would be wise to have a site survey done of your neighborhood and
have a masterplan drawn up in which to set up the network.
On to your questions...
1-2) Consider this one to be the foundation of the whole process.
These units will be the needed egress points to provide the QOS that
you will want to have. They will need to handle the wireless signals
from multiple clients. These units will be outside and will need to
operate in freezing and sweltering temperatures (depending on your
locale). You "get what you pay for". I would plan on about $7000 per
unit. We have used several at the Ft. Meyers, Florida airport and
they have worked extremely well. Depending on the layout of the
addition, other smaller AP's would be required to cover dead spots
because of buildings, houses, older larger trees (especially in the
spring and summer because of the leaves), etc. I consider these units
to be the best on the market. You can view their website at
www.belairnetworks.com
3-4) All that is required in each home at the very minimum is a
wireless card. As is used in any laptop -- if the client is close to
an access point this would suffice. If not, I would recommend a senao
card that is 200mw. Again, we have used these cards and consider them
the best on the market. The further a resident from the access point
then you would want to look at an external antenna. Prices -- 200mw
wireless card is about $75. External antenna is about $35, depending
on the type.
5) All this is based on 802.11b/g as WiMax is not standardized and not
available until the end of the year (last I know).
Please feel free to question me on any of this or ask deeper questions
as they arise.
Dave |
