Fixed-wireless Internet (was: DSL Provider of Choice)

[bscott at ntisys.com]

On Tue, 24 Dec 2002, at 1:06pm, travis at scootz.net wrote:
>> You hang a wok on your wall.  
> 
> Been there, done that.. 

  I didn't mean a *real* Wok -- although your link is very amusing!  :-)

  http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/wok-on-the-wall.html

> Wireless (802.11b/a/g) isn't very good for a primary internet connection
> based on 3 things

  Well, as I said, we have a few customers using fixed wireless services
from a local ISP with pretty good results.  Keep in mind that the equipment
the ISP uses is not the off-the-shell stuff you can buy at Staples.  It is
designed specifically for this kind of thing, including the antennas.  (It
is also a fair bit more expensive.)  I believe the owner said that it was
based on 802.11<something>, but I don't remember what.

  The CPE[1] says "BreezeACCESS" on the label.  The manufacturer of that
brand appears to be a company called Alvarion.  They have a website at
<http://www.alvarion.com>, if you want to check the stuff out.

> 1. Security.. WEP is okay for short term stuff ...

  The ISP claims the equipment uses a proprietary security system that
doesn't suck like WEP does.  Whether that means it is a completely
proprietary solution, or WEP with proprietary extensions, or the ISP is just
full of sh*t, I don't know.  :)

> 2. Speed.. In the case of 802.11* you get the bandwidth shared.. 

  The ISP claims the equipment does bandwidth reservation.  Our customers
certainly have SLAs[2] guaranteeing a CIR[3].  If the ISP's equipment does
not do what they say it does, they are going to end up in some serious legal
trouble.

> 3. Reliability.. Wireless is flakey at best.

  We have one customer who has been up for six months or so on this service
without trouble, including tonight's nasty weather.  One site for six months
doesn't amount to much, of course, but so far, so good.  :-)

> 2.4ghz stuff is flooded with cordless phones, micorwaves, ham radio and
> god knows what else..

  The ISP said that the equipment can operate in a licensed band if need be,
and they have contingencies in place to switch everyone over if needed.  
Right now, they are operating unlicensed because it's cheaper.  Or so they
claim.

> You better have line of sight ...

  As I said in my post, it is strict line-of-sight.  One of our customers
two miles down the road from our building had no problem getting a feed.  
But there is a slight rise between us and the cell tower -- enough so that
the trees get in the way.  No wireless service for us.  :-(

  Feel free to contact the ISP and quiz them all you want:
	http://www.mvawireless.com

Footnotes
---------
[1] CPU = Customer Premises Equipment.  In this case, a radio with an
    Ethernet jack.
[2] SLA = Service Level Agreement.  A legal contract.
[3] CIR = Committed Information Rate.  Reserved bandwidth.

-- 
Ben Scott <bscott at ntisys.com>
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