Why BPL and not WiFi?

[kaspaas]

I read the articles about Knysna going Wifi and Pretoria going BPL.

Why even consider BPL if Wifi is available as the mode of end user connectivity?

WiFi does not require expensive enduser equipment and is a well established technology. The skills base to get a WiFi connection up and running is widely available.

I love the (limited) free aspect of Knysna WiFi - maybe the main difference is that BPL won't be free to anybody but a selected few.

BPL might have a backbone use connecting the WiFi access points.

 

[JStrike]

BPL has much higher speeds. And it doesn't seem to require as much equipment to create the network. WiFi needs a tonne of towers

 

[saintm]

I think that is especially true in Pretoria. We have a *lot* of hills and things to overcome.

 

[Darth Garth]

Is there a site which shows you how the Knysa WiFi works ???.
Is it any good ???.

Also what mesh kit are they using ???.

Is it open to the public ???.

 

[rpm]

Hi Kaspaas

I think one of the main reasons is that they don’t have to get ICASA approval to use 2.4 or 5.8. WiMax is an obvious option, but again spectrum can be problematic. GTS has indicated that they may use wireless technologies as needed, but at this stage BPL may be the easiest technology to use with the least regulatory problems.

Regards,

RPM

 

[Spamtheman]

Line of sight, and generally poorer perfromance than claimed by manufacturors. While impressive feats of connectivity are possible using WiFi, nothing beats a fixed line.

 

[Highflyer_GP]

Not to mention higher latencies if you go wireless. While WiFi maybe be established, at one point it wasn't. Think of BPL as a potential for growth, and once it becomes more established then we have more options available to us.

 

[skydog]

I read the articles about Knysna going Wifi and Pretoria going BPL.

Why even consider BPL if Wifi is available as the mode of end user connectivity?

WiFi does not require expensive enduser equipment and is a well established technology. The skills base to get a WiFi connection up and running is widely available.

I love the (limited) free aspect of Knysna WiFi - maybe the main difference is that BPL won't be free to anybody but a selected few.

BPL might have a backbone use connecting the WiFi access points.

Are there any hams out there that know what sort of interfernace if any BPL is going to cause. I seem to remember some people saying something about it

 

[Origin248]

Are there any hams out there that know what sort of interfernace if any BPL is going to cause. I seem to remember some people saying something about it

The last time I checked BPL has the problem with radiowave pollution; I.E. it sends large amount of radio noise into the 1- 3 mhz (I think) radio frequency. The thing is that these frequencies are those used by aviation and military communications.

I believe they are still trying to get around this problem and that's the reason why there are hundreds if not thousands of trials that are being ran around the world right now.