Alpha Omega Wireless Blog

Wireless Mesh - Unlicensed Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Posted by Joe Wargo on Sat, Apr 10, 2010 @ 03:44 PM

Wireless mesh networks, as a wireless backhaul technology, provide scalability, redundancy and reliability. Fixed wireless mesh can be deployed on existing infrastructure, such as: buildings, traffic signals, and light poles, saving a lot of capital expenditures on the costs of mounting structures. Most outdoor wireless bridge radios that support wireless mesh networking operate in unlicensed wireless bands of 2.4GHz, 5.3GHz, 5.4GHz, 5.8GHz, or the 4.9GHz Public Safety band. There are several really good manufactures of wireless mesh equipment (Firetide, Proxim Wireless, FluidMesh, Azalea Networks, etc.).

In a wireless mesh network, outdoor wireless bridge links are made up of a wireless mesh node that can send and receive wireless backhaul IP traffic. Wireless mesh nodes can function as a router, wireless access point, or a wireless gateway device. Through the relaying process, a packet of wireless data will find its way to its destination, passing through intermediate links providing reliable wireless backhaul communication. If one mesh node can no longer operate, the other mesh nodes can still communicate with each other, directly or through one or more intermediate links. Wireless mesh nodes can communicate with one or more nodes and can determine the best wireless backhaul path to transmit its traffic or perform load balancing on the network.

wireless mesh outdoor wireless bridge

Wireless mesh networks can be configured in a star topology or be made up of multiple types of configuration topologies such as: point to multipoint wireless backhaul or as a point to point wireless Ethernet bridge. Wireless mesh radios provide the ultimate flexibility from a single device.

Wireless mesh radio platforms have become a popular wireless Ethernet bridge architecture. Wireless mesh first became prevalent in the push for Municipal Wi-Fi applications by the wireless mesh manufactures and by Municipal governments trying to get notarized by offering wireless internet access to their communities. Municipal Wi-Fi was driven mostly by local politicians trying to boost their political clout with very little understanding on the actual outdoor wireless bridge technology. Many of these projects failed because of the lack of having a good business model to offer wireless internet access and in most cases little or no RF engineering was performed (wireless site survey, spectrum analysis, wireless network design, etc.). Making matters worse many manufactures were guilty of over marketing the capabilities of their products (how many wireless mesh nodes that could be deployed before having to have a backhaul to avoid high latency and maintain adequate throughput on the networks) and by not educating their clients on the of potential wireless interference when using unlicensed wireless backhaul.

Many municipal agencies consulted their hardware manufacture, which understand their equipment, but do not have actual experience in deploying outdoor wireless Ethernet bridges, nor should they. They are manufactures not wireless installation services companies. As many Municipal agencies soon found out that the cost was more than anticipated as they were told that to solve any connectivity issues they needed to just add more devices.

The wireless mesh hardware platform was not the issue. The problem was the lack of proper RF planning (performing proper wireless site survey and spectrum analysis), wireless network design, and proper wireless installation. Wireless mesh is a good topology but as with any outdoor wireless backhaul it needs to be done by experienced wireless integrators.

Recently, fixed wireless mesh has found a new niche market to serve. The growth of outdoor IP video surveillance has made wireless mesh a cost effective solution. Mesh, as an outdoor wireless bridge technology, provides the ultimate scalability and flexibility in network design. Wireless video networks can be scaled over time and wireless backhaul using mesh can allow cameras to be placed almost anywhere. Manufactures like Firetide, Proxim, and Fluidmesh were early adopters by optimizing their wireless mesh platform for video backhaul and have done a good job marketing to the IP video marketplace.

Tags: General, Un-lincesed Wireless, Wireless Industry, wireless video, wireless mesh

Point to Multipoint Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Posted by Joe Wargo on Sat, Apr 03, 2010 @ 04:21 PM

Outdoor point to multipoint wireless Ethernet bridge systems are flexible, economical, and easily deployed wireless backhaul solutions for connecting multiple remote sites to a network. Point to multipoint wireless backhaul is an ideal wireless last mile solution for interconnecting campus buildings, remote facilities, security systems, access control systems, IP video surveillance cameras, SCADA PLC's, or WISP applications as a DSL replacement. Point to multipoint wireless can also be used to backhaul wireless mesh networks. Theycan also be used to eliminate telco dependancy or to provide wireless network redundancy.

point to multipoint wirelessPoint to multipoint wireless Ethernet bridge systems are made up of a Base Station Unit (BSU or AP) that can communicate with multiple Subscriber Units (SU's). Many systems can handle over 100 plus SU's per BSU. In most cases the BSU's provide a sector antenna beam pattern (typical is 60 degree, with some systems allowing external antenna configurations for expanding to 90 and 120 degree sector antennas). Multiple BSU's can be installed to create a 360 degree sector (like a typical cell site configuration). 

Point to multipoint wireless Ethernet bridge systems can operate in the unlicensed wireless spectrum (900MHz, 2.4Ghz, 5.3GHz, 5.4GHz, or 5.8GHz), the 3.65GHz WiMax spectrum,  or in the 4.9GHz public safety band. There are propriatery point to multipoint wireless backhaul systems operated by various telecommunication providers that operate in the lincensed microwave wireless spectrums.

Point to multipoint wireless backhauls is generally used where bandwidth requirements are generally low, such as a DSL or T1 repalcement. Recently though  many point to multipoint wireless systems have taken advantage of the Wi-Fi 802.11n chip sets and can now provide wireless bandwidth up to 300Mbps aggregate throughput. Note: the actual throughput at any given SU is determined by the number of SU's connected in the system and the network configuration.

Some of the better point to multipoint wireless systems use OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) to provide better near and non line of sight ("NLOS") connectivity. The newer 802.11n chip set systems also take advantage of multipathing by incorporating MIMO (2x2 or 3x3) to give even better NLOS capability and higher bandwidth. The range of a point to multipoint wireless backhaul can extend as far as 10 miles with clear line of sight ("LOS"), by using high gain directional antennas connected to the SU's. The optimum performance though of most point to multipoint wireless is in the 1 to 2 mile max range. NLOS applications need to be closer to the BSU / AP in order to have adequate system gain. 

There are a lot of manufactures that offer point to multipoint wireless Ethernet bridges. Some manufactures have been in the point to multipoint wireless arena for many years. Proxim with their Tsunami MP.11 series (5054-R which is a tri-band 5.3GHz, 5.4GHz, or 5.8GHz system, MP.16  that is a 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz, or 3.65GHz licensed WiMax system, and their newer high bandwidth MP8100 series), Motorola with their Canopy wireless (their newest is their Canopy 400 series that operates in the 5.4Ghz and the PtMP320 WiMax), and others such as: Alvarion, Firetide, Trango, Solectek and BelAir. Some of the newer players include FluidMesh (which specializes in wireless video backhaul and wireless mesh), Ubiquiti,and InscapeData.

When designing a point to multipoint wireless Ethernet bridge system it is highly recommended to perform a wireless site survey and a spectrum analysis. All systems regardless of how good they are have their limitations. The biggest source of failure we come across is unrealistic expectations of performance. Any organization thinking of deploying a point to multipoint wireless system should consult a professional wireless integration company that has a lot of experience designing and performing outdoor wireless installation



Tags: Licensed wireless, General, Un-lincesed Wireless, Wireless Industry, wireless video, Wireless 101

Point to Point Wireless Ethernet Bridge

Posted by Joe Wargo on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 @ 02:30 PM

Point to point wireless Ethernet bridges, also known as fixed wireless backhaul, are becoming extremely popular among organizations across all vertical markets. Once used only by the large telecommunication companies, wireless Ethernet bridges are being implemented by everyone, from federal, state, county, and local governments, utilities, health care organizations, agricultural industries, and even the private commercial sectors. 

Bridgewave Proxim wireless Ethernet bridge Wireless backhaul is an ideal complement or complete replacement to leased lines and fiber. Whether the requirement is to link the data and voice networks between individual buildings or link networks across large distances, organizations are increasingly turning to point to point wireless networks, both licensed microwave links and unlicensed wireless backhaul, as the preferred solution. Point to point wireless backhaul provides several advantages over leased lines:

  • Increased Bandwidth - With all the applications that are now driven across the network, IT departments are requiring more bandwidth across their network infrastructure. An outdoor wireless Ethernet bridge can provide true Ethernet throughput up to GigE Full Duplex (using gigabit wireless links).
  • Lower cost of installation and no recurring costs - Probably the number one driver for turning to outdoor wireless backhaul is the tremendous ROI point to point wireless bridges provide. On a 100Mbps Full Duplex wireless backhaul link the typical ROI is about 3 months. This is compared to a leased  DS3 at 45Mbps. So you can get over double the throughput and eliminate any reoccuring operational costs almost immediately. The wireless cost reduction savings can be even greater when compared o the cost of installing fiber networks.
  • Last mile connections - In many cases, organizations such as government or utilities who maintain multiple sites, just can't get their required bandwidth out to remote locations. Sometimes the best a local telco can provide is a T1. Point to point wireless can reach up to 50+ miles (if designed and installed properly). Where once you could only get a T1 circuit, you can now get 100Mbps Full Duplex up to GigE  (gigabit wireless) throughput, better known as wireless last mile.
  • Quick installation- A typical point to point wireless backhaul can be installed in a couple days. I always recommend using industry professionals that have a lot of experience (see my article "Wireless Installtion Done Properly").We've talked to a lot of clients that have waited over 6 months to have their telco provision a simple circuit. This is especially true when compared to fiber installations that can takes years to gain right away access and time it takes to trench conduit paths.
  • Reliability - Wireless backhauls designed and installed properly can provide 99.999% predictable reliability (see my article "Is Wireless Reliable"). Most telco's only provide a SLA of 99.9% uptime. In many cases where a client has installed wireless backhaul, like licensed microwave or millimeter wave gigabit wireless, for fiber redundancy we have seen the client actually convert over to using the wireless point to point backhaul as their primary and down grade their fiber connection as their redundancy. This is because the wireless backhaul typically provides a more direct path (less routing in the case of leased circuits) and is cheaper to maintain.

Point to point wireless Ethernet bridges can be used by any organization that has more than one facility that they need to connect to. There is a multitude of products in the market, both licensed microwave links and unlicensed wireless Ethernet bridges, that can solve many connectivity issues. Th price of wireless backhaul has come way down in price and is more affordable than ever. The quality of outdoor wireless backhaul is better than most other methods of connectivity.

The main reason more organizations haven't turned to outdoor wireless backhaul is either it is just not feasible do to their locations or a lack of education on what can be done with today's technology. The first step is to get a Feasibility Study by a qualified outdoor wireless vendor. A good wireless integrator can outline the best solution and the cost benefits.

Tags: Licensed wireless, General, Un-lincesed Wireless, Wireless Industry, Wireless 101

Outdoor Wireless Installation Done Properly

Posted by Joe Wargo on Sun, Mar 28, 2010 @ 04:39 PM

Proper outdoor wireless installation is the most important element of a wireless backhaul system. Over the past decade I have troubleshot hundred's of wireless backhaul networks and 95% of the issues I have seen are due to improper wireless installation.

Many would argue that choosing the right outdoor wireless bridge equipment is the most important. I would agree that there are both good and bad outdoor wireless backhaul equipment on the market, but for the most part the majority of wireless backhaul manufactures build pretty reliable radio hardware. The biggest difference comes between Carrier/Enterprise grade (higher end, low latency, microwave equipment that typically have a 20+ year shelf life) and Value Line equipment (typically under $5K and using 802.11b/g/a/n chip sets). 

Others would say that proper wireless network design and choosing the right technology, e.g. licensed microwave links or unlicensed wireless backhaul systems, is the most important. There are pluses and minuses with both systems, such as: potential wireless interference on unlicensed wireless backhaul systems or the need for clear line-of-sight with a licensed microwave link. Both systems if installed properly can provide reliable networks. Proper wireless engineering will produce the optimum  wireless network design using the appropriate equipment.

Even with the best wireless network design and best outdoor wireless backhaul equipment on the market, improper wireless installation will prevent a wireless backhual network from truly working to its potential. Many times we hear clients say the system worked fine when it was first installed but it has degraded over time. This can be caused by many issue. There was no interference when the system was first installed. Trees or other obstructions are now in the path, either creating a complete Fresnel Zone blockage or partial encroachment on the first Fresnel Zone. Antennas could have come out of alignment. Cabling and connectors could be weathered or damaged. The list goes on. Just like a race car, it must be built properly and maintenanced to work optimally. 

Many outdoor wireless bridge systems we troubleshoot lack proper materials for cabling, mounting, and weather proofing. Over time these systems get effected by the weather and slowly degrade. Systems that are not weather proofed correctly can get damaged over time by water getting into the connections or cabling. Improper mounting can cause antenna systems to come out of alignment. Systems installed with out the proper amount of fade margin can also have periodic issues with weather (see my article "Does Weather Effect Wireless").

Wireless backhaul, whether you are talking about wireless mesh, WiMax, point to multipont wireless, or point to point wireless backhaul, systems can function with extreme reliability and predictability if installed correctly. The mobile wireless carriers take this matter critically and waste no expenses on ensuring their systems are installed properly. Any down time can cost them tens of thousands of dollars. The craziest thing we see is organizations that are willing to rely on wireless technology for their primary connectivity but pinch pennies by choosing the cheapest and many times least experienced installation companies. Worst is when a manufacture convinces and end user with little to no experience installing an outdoor wireless bridge that they can do it themselves.

 

Wireless Installation Tower climber

 

The best wireless installers are those that have a lot of tower installation experience. They typically install systems to last for many years. They also don't want to lose revenue having to come back and climb a tower again to repair a bad installation. Even though many of the outdoor wireless systems seem straight forward or easy to install based on the manufactures operation manual, the fact remains that outdoor wireless installation is a skilled trade and best performed by professionals with years of experience. You can change the oil in your high end sports car but that doesn't mean you should!

 

Tags: Licensed wireless, General, Un-lincesed Wireless, Wireless Industry, Wireless 101

More Wireless Bandwidth - ISC West and CTIA Review

Posted by Joe Wargo on Fri, Mar 26, 2010 @ 10:55 AM

This week we attended two large trade shows in Las Vegas, the ISC West (focusing on the security and video surveillance industry) and CTIA (focusing on the telecommunication carriers and mobile industry).

The CTIA obviously is all about outdoor wireless backhaul. The main focus here was 4G, LTE and WiMax. Moving more application to mobile devices was the core theme. We didn't here much about anything really new or overly exciting though. This is probably because we hear so much about the mobile marketplace on a daily basis, so there wasn't any major unknown breakthroughs here.

Over the past few years the ISC West has become a hot bed of outdoor wireless backhaul integration. The Security and Video marketplace has moved to IP technologies. This is exciting to watch a complete industry, whether you are talking about Access Control, Video Surveillance, Asset Tracking, Perimeter Detection, etc. This move to IP has been taking place over the last several years and the industry is pretty much fully there. This year there wasn't many new innovative product announcements. Probably the best new items were fully POE powered camera housings from Video Alarm, using a single 802.3af powered CAT-5e cable to power both the IP camera and the heater / blower housing. Pretty cool and very effecient. 

Most every manufacture was incorporating Wi-Fi or 900MHz into their product lines. Again, nothing amazing since other industries have been using these frequencies for years.  There were a few interesting Perimeter Detection manufactures using microwave radio technology that was very interesting. 

This year nothing gave us the WOW factor, but it was nice to see more and more wireless technologies being incorporated into other industries and applications.

The main common theme though was that we need more bandwidth utilizing wireless backhaul technologies. This is extremely important in the mobile industry where everything is moving to the handset. The one thing though that was crystal clear is the need for more support from the FCC to open up some more spectrum. Everyone is throwing RF out there everywhere trying to create broadband wireless backhaul. The unlicensed wireless spectrum are going to get over used and saturated in the near future.

Tags: Licensed wireless, General, Un-lincesed Wireless, Wireless Industry