MIMO and WIMAX
Any chance these standards will be supported on router OS.
If yes, when shall we expect them.
Thanks
How would you setup the antennas?
As I understand it …
MIMO needs multiple antennas, best used in indoor environments. All reviews of “pre n” MIMO AP’s so far indicate significant real improvements.
But I have never heard anyone suggest MIMO works on P2P or P2MP outdoors - would be interesting to hear.
There are miniPCI MIMO card ref designs but I think no MT support yet
WIMAX will require new radio cards and MT support.
Also most WIMAX equipment is 3.5GHz which normally means you need a license. Ideally, 5.xGHZ WIMAX cards would be available …
MT claim they will support WIMAX but no details on hardware.
For us, it would be very useful to know what the intention is from MT, so we can offer the customers a roadmap.
FWIW all wireless broadband vendors (including MT competition) are advertising WIMAX roadmap so I think some comment is well in order …
Regards
Stephen
First lets define WiMAX because there seems to be a misconstrude conception propegating throughout the wireless industry.
WIMAX adds the ability to “bridge” if you will between different wireless frequencies. I’d be surprized if you saw any 802.16 devices hit the shelves in the next 5-10 years.. It’s not set to replace 802.11, its made to complement it. So you can use multiple frequencies/medium on the same network and have them all talk to each other. It also addresses the issue of TDM, using a polling technique like NSTREME.
A more detailed description of WiMAX can be found here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimax
BTW, Wikipedia is freaking awesome! 
Sure you’re right, Intel’s massive hype-machine has distorted what this technology is.
It isn’t going to replace WiFi but is really placed for rural broadband … which is a prime area for MT based operations.
I have seen WiMax presentations showing roadmap and there are already “pre wimax” products shipping from Alvarion.
It’s going to be “this year and volume in 2006” everyone says confidently. However that’s all 3.5GHz equipment I think, and not cheap.
The interesting thing is that the 802.11n crowd seem to be solving a lot of the same problems at the network layer and the result will be a lot more powerful, but optimised for indoor use. I’d like to hear comment from others about the applicability for outdoor use.
Regards
Stephen
On the MIMO issue. CISPA (California Internet Service Provider) Lab has been working with Motorola and TI on the MIMO antenna systems and I have found in my opion that they will not lend themselves well to the Wireless ISP deployments. The largest trouble is that of Antenna Spacing and number required on towers to operate.
In the WiMax world, I would suggest that you keep your eye on the 802.11n group. The math alone shows OFDM reaching over 400 mbits in the preliminary design. I would bet with Intel and Atheros leading the march, that there is a better chance of seeing 802.11n a long time before 802.16…
Markon, I tend to agree with you on this.
802.11n includes MIMO (not Wimax, that is the 802.16 group) but what is interested in the ‘n’ group is that many of the “problems” with 802.11 at the protocol layer are being addressed. Sure the raw rates are higher with up to 40MHz channels, but the improvement at the network layer will be the most interesting for WISP deployments.
Also the “cost of ownership” for a WISP is likely to be a killer, WIMAX platforms are all carrier grade and with it comes a price tag that will cause a budget-conscious WISP to look elsewhere.
Regards
Not only will they cost more, but the antenna arrays need do not meet the CC&Rs of most cities and therefore, will not be allowed for deployment.
This fact has been a large fight withing 802.16 working group, with responses from over 200 US cities and 18 State Governments.
Crumbs!
anyone else got comments on that?
I thought this was regulated by the FCC not local government entities? (at least in the states)
READ SECTION 97 of the CFRs