[BC] STL recommendations in the year 2012

[Alex Hartman]

> Alex,
>
> I'm glad you have the time to commit to that level of self-coordination in the Part 15 bands. But as I mentioned, all it takes is one yahoo. And there is little/no recourseif the latest entrant creates problems. BTDT.  The more densely populated the area, the greater the chances of significant problems.  Last time I was there, Houston was as densely populated and any other major market.
>

Yes and no, there's always going to be that Yahoo who doesn't care,
and the power in numbers will deal with him accordingly. Houston to me
reminds me of Madison Wisconsin mixed with a little Minneapolis, not
very many really tall buildings but very spread out. I guess it
depends on where these 16 miles Freds path is. If it's going through
downtown? Nevermind. If it's going through an edge-of-town development
out into rural areas like most tower sites are, sure, what the heck,
plug in and find out. The Ubiquiti radios have a SpecAn built into
them for the frequencies they can do (the 5.8Ghz radio can actually do
4.9-6.1Ghz, but is not type accepted for them, yet).

Grab a $60 AirGrid and go up on the roof and start looking. If you see
a big red streak on the screen, probably not worth it, but if you see
a nice pretty blue noise floor, sure, what the heck. The radios are
super sensitive (-96dB will get you a lock and probably get you
2-5Mbit with 10ms latency) and can "hide" in the middle of channels,
meaning you can shift the center frequencies by 5Mhz, nobody will even
know you're there. You'd look like noise to them.  They also have the
ability to change the bandwidth of spectrum used. A rarity to be found
in commercial gear. It'll run 5Mhz, 10Mhz, 20Mhz, 40Mhz +/- 5Mhz
across the board. Pretty versatile little radios to get what you need
done.

Even in dense populations with other WISPs in the area, it's not a bad
thing to go looking. A lot of WISPs nowdays are looking at 900Mhz,
2.4Ghz and 700Mhz white space radios, reserving 5.8Ghz for long haul
backhaul systems.

Others mentioned WiMAX and LTE stuff. Sure, have fun fighting Sprint,
Clear, VZW, etc for a WiMAX license in a major metro area like
Houston. Also, WiMAX networks are designed like cell networks, they're
PtmP networks, cells, aimed at the ground. Very few are used in
point-to-point mode which is what makes 3.65Ghz attractive as a
backhaul system. Turn your polarity (almost all WiMAX installs are
vertical) to horizontal and off you go.

In my presentation i gave last year at PREC, If ISM is good enough and
reliable enough for companies like Verizon to backhaul cell towers on,
we really shouldn't be snuffing our noses at it, after all, they have
to provide five-9's with 911 calling on these towers. They must know
something we don't, right?

> Now, if you're in a more rural area, then what you suggest might work over long distances.  But from my perspective, why risk it for a mission critical link in a major market? That's very different than a short hop of say a mile or less where the chance of IX is reduced.
>

Even in rural settings, the Broadband initiative isn't up and running
yet. It's wide open spaces. Going 90 miles on 5.8Ghz is nothing if you
have height. That's the key, and remember, most WISPs are designed to
find a tower within a few miles, usually at a grain elevator, and are
polarized vertical to keep costs down. If you can get over the top of
them, you're fine. I do 7 miles over a city of 200,000 at 200 feet no
problem. I've also got a link going 2 miles to an AM array 40 feet off
the ground... in a hole... through trees, both work equally well.
WISPs have gone more for the 900Mhz stuff in recent times due to the
ability to get those NLOS clients with money burning holes in their
pockets, so the 950 band itself is at risk of cheap radios causing
troubles already.

Licensed gives you the right to complain, not always the right to get
the problem solved. If there's a douchebag already causing problems,
chances are he's going to keep causing problems, even after the feds
show up. Not to mention that the way the feds seem to be operating
these days, they'll fine him, he'll get it reduced, pay it, and start
back up, all the while you just sit there and wait, and off the air or
looking at other methods. In reality, especially today, those licenses
are worth about the piece of paper they're printed on given today's
stature on everything.

> I will look at the Invictus stuff.  Thanks for the lead.  My ego is such that I never turn down an opportunity to learn something.  And it's a good day when that happens.
>

Invictus is the dealer for the Ubiquiti radios that i've used. They
also deal in other brands as well. They've been building wireless
networks as long as i have (about 20 years). They're good people. If
you have questions about what you're doing, he probably can tell you
if it's a good idea or not. :)

My ego is such that i feel the need to dispense useful information,
even to old guys who sometimes get set in their ways. ;)

Always happy to help, Mike. Just ask. :)

--
Alex Hartman