Wi-Fi vs WIMAX

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suvneet

47 posts

Geek

#6056 21-Dec-2005 16:31

Has anyone of you been fortunate enough to work on both of these technologies.

I hear as WImax is Non line of sight (NLOS) it can do around 15-20Kms and 30-50Kms LOS.
Max bandwith on the transmission pipe is 268Mbps.

Some companies have started offering this here in NZ to business customers (some more to follow), but this looks like answers to all the UBS and Telco's not being able to access all the customers where they dont have their own network (and essentially have to go through Telecom).

Dont know how much telcos are ready to spend but it looks like a good one to invest in. Even residential customers can have access ( and no sitting near the window with the router in your hand as its NLOS)

Opinions ??

alasta

6706 posts

Uber Geek

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#25098 21-Dec-2005 17:11

I'm also very interested in this technology. Assuming that it's not too good to be true, it presents a strong argument against unbundling, since we should be encouraging Internet providers to invest in this technology rather than fighting for access to the pre-historic copper network.

I'm particularly interested in what sort of hardware is required for WiMAX. I guess it would be similar to existing 802.11b/g/n receivers, but I wonder if an outdoor mounted aerial would also be required. Can anyone shed any light on this?

The hassle involved in installing an aerial was the main reason why I turned away Gasp and instead opted for Woosh when I was setting up my Internet connection at home.

suvneet

47 posts

Geek

#25159 22-Dec-2005 10:38

I think you dont require outdoor antennas as its NLOS, so adjustment required.
Telstraclear is selling this to some business customers with a NTU installed at their end, which can provide ethernet/voice, VOIP, Frame connection.

to me it makes sense for them to put more money in this and develop it as an alternate to using Telecom's network. But then Telstra (aussie) has decided not to pursue in Wimax and invest in 3G instead.

mpmorrison

42 posts

Geek

#25455 29-Dec-2005 11:14

Hmm - i'd like to see what vendor the 286 Mbps figure from. The most i've heard is 70 Mbps.

The other important thing is that the current WiMAX that's about to come out (when the vendors get their act together and start offering real WiMAX gear at more than trial volumes) is fixed only, and still only optimised and tested on small numbers of users per basestation. So if you're designing a company WAN, it's perfect. And yes, at this stage, you will need decent antennae - not sure if it has to be outside though.

With any radio technology, the distance and throughput per user drops with more users cannected to each basestation, and trials still haven't had enough volume to show how WiMAX handles this (or the trials have shown it, and the results have "accidentally" been lost :) ).

However, with Intel behind the fixed WiMAX, and Motorola trying to push the Mobile version, as well as many other BIG industry names behind it, WiMAX does look like a sound investment, as these companies will not want to lose out on their investments, so will do their utmost to make it work.