Intel Promises Long Distance Wi-Fi. A 60-Mile Range Is Possible!

[Garyvdh]

http://www.gearater.com/2008/03/intel_promises_long_distance_w.html


If the news is real we will forget about wires soon. Intel announced the development of a Wi-Fi platform to increase the wireless range from cities to rural areas. The technology called the rural connectivity platform (RCP) involves a processor, radios, a special software and two antennas (one to send the radio signals and other to receive it).

Let me explain how it works. The first antenna will be connected to a local-area network cable. Then the signal sent will be received by the other antenna placed in a 60-mile range. Because of the Earth curvature, the 60-mile range is the limit for now. However the Intel guys say that the RPC technology has been tested for 30-mile range coverage and performs impressively well. They obtained speeds of 6.5 MBps. In fact, the RPC technology rewrites the communication rules of Wi-Fi radios. The software produced by Intel is the key, explains Jeff Galinovsky, a senior platform manager at Intel.

The long distance Wi-Fi would be possible even with a regular antenna.The software used by radios can boost Wi-Fi's performance. It "creates specific time slots in which each of the two radios listens and talks, so there's no extra data being sent confirming transmissions."

Intel has already tested the RPC hardware in India, Panama, Vietnam and South Africa. Intel plans to sell the device at first in India, with a target price below $500, but the two nodes infrastructure will cost less than $1,000. Intel's Rural Connectivity Platform is expected to become a commercial product in the second half of 2008.

[Skeptik]

Useage will depend on local Telecomms laws as well.

[vodacom3g]

http://www.gearater.com/2008/03/intel_promises_long_distance_w.html

Sub 1 Watt, with a 100Km range, using omni-directional antennas (as in the pic), getting 52Mb/s, in an unlicensed band, probably in built-up areas?

Just love it when journalists (and armchair specialists) re-write the laws of physics. :rolleyes:

[Skeptik]

Sub 1 Watt, with a 100Km range, using omni-directional antennas (as in the pic), getting 52Mb/s, in an unlicensed band, probably in built-up areas?

Just love it when journalists (and armchair specialists) re-write the laws of physics. :rolleyes:
Where does it say Sub 1W?


Intel's RCP platform rewrites the communication rules of Wi-Fi radios. Galinvosky explains that the software creates specific time slots in which each of the two radios listens and talks, so there's no extra data being sent confirming transmissions. "We're not taking up all the bandwidth waiting for acknowledgments," he says. Since there is an inherent trade-off between the amount of available bandwidth and the distance that a signal can travel, the more bandwidth is available, the farther a signal can travel. (See a video with a technical explanation of the RCP here.)

Importantly, the devices require relatively little power. Running two or three radios in a link, Galinvosky says, requires about five to six watts. This makes it possible to power the radios using solar energy.http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20432/?a=f

[vodacom3g]

Where does it say Sub 1W?

Do the maths in your own highlighted text.

What is the spec for 802.11?

[Skeptik]

Do the maths in your own highlighted text.
2 radios, 6W


What is the spec for 802.11?
Since 802.11 consists of several advancing protocols from legacy up to the yet to be release 802.11y, there are significant range improvements associated with each.

Range started off at 100m and with 'y' protocol, outdoor reach will likely be ~5km. You can see where it's going.

However, we can probably group this implementation as "802.11 non-standard equipment".

[TheRoDent]

This is already done. Mikrotik's routerOS with nStreme does pretty much all of this, and has been tested at distance.

Not really revolutionary at all.

[vodacom3g]

2 radios, 6W


Again, do the maths. Or ask someone technical to do it for you.



Since 802.11 consists of several advancing protocols from legacy up to the yet to be release 802.11y, there are significant range improvements associated with each.

Range started off at 100m and with 'y' protocol, outdoor reach will likely be ~5km. You can see where it's going.

However, we can probably group this implementation as "802.11 non-standard equipment".

Not sure what the relevance of this is to the point. Maybe give the reference from where you cut-and-pasted this.

There's a *slight* difference between 5Km and 100Km.

[vodacom3g]

This is already done. Mikrotik's routerOS with nStreme does pretty much all of this, and has been tested at distance.

Not really revolutionary at all.

What's the spec for radio output in the unlicensed band, in SA? I know many ignore it, but I had 10's of milliwatts in my head.

Is it different for 2.4 or 5G?

[rpm]

What's the spec for radio output in the unlicensed band, in SA? I know many ignore it, but I had 10's of milliwatts in my head. Is it different for 2.4 or 5G?I think it is. If I am not mistaken it is 100 mW for 2.4 GHz, 1 W in 5.4 GHz and 25 mW for 5.8 GHz. Maybe someone can confirm...

[vodacom3g]

I think it is. If I am not mistaken it is 100 mW for 2.4 GHz, 1 W in 5.4 GHz and 25 mW for 5.8 GHz. Maybe someone can confirm...

Something like that, all I know is that everyone ignores it and puts 500mW to 5W power-amps on their AP's. Instead of using proper antennas.

All this does is messing up the spectrum even more.

[antowan]

Would be nice. :)

[TheRoDent]

The EIRP limits are 100Mw in 2.4Ghz, 200Mw in the 5.15-5.35Ghz range, and 1W (1000Mw) in the 5.47-5.725Ghz range.

[Skeptik]

Again, do the maths. Or ask someone technical to do it for you.



Not sure what the relevance of this is to the point. Maybe give the reference from where you cut-and-pasted this.

It was not a cut & paste (no need to be offensive). I'll elaborate a bit until you get my point.

Each official protocol has had increased range. Therefore we can say that the next protocol will have a higher range than the first. The technology they are using is experimental (as I also said), so my argument holds.

Besides, as was also pointed out by our furry friend, it's been done before - in Italy as I recall. Capice?


There's a *slight* difference between 5Km and 100Km.The exact difference is 95Km:D

[TheRoDent]

Skeptic: I think what vodacom3g is trying to say is: That with the current EIRP limits in South Africa, those kind of links are not achievable. It is simple physics. RF Propagation.

Read up about it.

The Intel RCP platform does not do anything magic with the WiFi Air Interface. They simply introduced timing during the frame transmission and receive cycle, so that the regular problem that WiFi has over long distances with acknowledgement timeouts causing poor performance is mitigated.

Many projects, and software drivers have done this before, so nothing magical. The timing changes however, does not magically make WiFi any better at RF propagation or distance. It simply helps to smooth out retransmission issues with what currently works at the RF layer. Anything is possible, over any distance with WiFi. How well it will work and perform is dependant on how much transmit power you employ, and what gain the antenna is attached to the radio.

An Intel RCP, with two little "rubber ducky" style Omnidirectional Antennae is going to SUCK, at any range more than 1Km due to RF. Add a bigger directional antenna and you're over the regulatory limits. Catch 22.

So, in all, Intel has announced a "me too (tm)" product.

[vodacom3g]

The EIRP limits are 100Mw in 2.4Ghz, 200Mw in the 5.15-5.35Ghz range, and 1W (1000Mw) in the 5.47-5.725Ghz range.

Thanks, now we all know :)

Interesting the jump to 1W for the higher frequencies. Do we see a big drop in propagation at 5.4GHz and up to warrant this?

What do you guys use in the Metro networks?