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Google Unveils White Space Broadband Trial In Ohio
Hospital trial got one-year experimental FCC license
As we've been noting all week, with the FCC poised to craft new white space broadband rules on September 23, the sales pitch for the technology has reached a fevered pitch this week, with the FCC talking up the technology as a cornerstone of our broadband plan, and Microsoft showcasing a campus-wide white space network. Google has now posted an entry to their blog announcing they've been conducting a white space broadband trial in a hospital in Logan, Ohio, with an experimental one-year license granted by the FCC. Says Google:
quote:
First responder vehicles, hospital grounds as well as the health department are being equipped with high-speed wireless Internet access. Additionally, the hospital is using the network to manage its outdoor video surveillance system. To prevent interference with other signals, the network is using Spectrum Bridge's real-time TV white spaces database (to determine TV white spaces availability at any location, check out Spectrum Bridge's free search tool.)
White space technology takes the unlicensed and partially vacated spectrum created by the shift to digital television to create a new wireless broadband delivery system that can operate at significant range and through walls. While hyped as the greatest thing since sliced bread by the FCC and a coalition of companies (Dell, HP, Google, Microsoft), the technology has seen very slow traction over the last two years.
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88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

1 recommendation

88615298 (banned)

Member

The devil is in the details

Accoridng to Tvfool Logan, Oh is the middle of a OTA dead zone.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: The devil is in the details

I'm sure that wasn't well planned by Google and the FCC. It'll be interesting to see what conclusions are drawn from this test and how they might be extrapolated to areas with more congested spectrum.
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25

Member

Re: The devil is in the details

Are you sure?

Every major system implementation I have been in has started at a place in the company that would probably work with little issues and slowly expanded out to parts that would see more and possibly bigger issues.

You don't teach a child to swim by throwing them in the deep in.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

1 recommendation

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: The devil is in the details

That's why I stated it'll be interested to see the conclusions. Considering the FCC's 23 Sep vote, it seems to me that further "real" testing should've been conducted sooner for something that has potential to greatly affect existing services and spectrum allocations.

swallx
@oar.net

swallx to Skippy25

Anon

to Skippy25
that's exactly how I learned to swim.

DavePR
join:2008-06-04
Canyon Country, CA

DavePR to Skippy25

Member

to Skippy25
This is either a real-world test, or it isn't. The last 2 TV Band Device tests (Microsoft doesn't count) have been in the Appalachian mountains, in terrain shielded dead zones. Proves nothing.

I wonder if they let Barney load his gun in that town.
tman852
join:2010-07-06
Columbus, OH

1 edit

tman852

Member

dead zone

I live just 15 miles NW of Logan, it's an absolute deadzone for nearly all wireless signals unless your right on top of towers, it's very hilly, heavily forested and has one main highway (33) running through it which is the only decent spot for wireless coverage. GOOD LUCK
plunkman
join:2005-03-16
Greenlawn, NY

plunkman

Member

OTA Dead Zone = Perfect environment for trialing a new tech

A dead zone is a great place to start a trial of a new technology that uses this spectrum. Get the scalability bugs out in a somewhat pure environment and then figure out a way to deal with the interference issues that will come in a more crowded RF environment.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: OTA Dead Zone = Perfect environment for trialing a new tech

said by plunkman:

A dead zone is a great place to start a trial of a new technology that uses this spectrum.
One of the major debates with this technology is if it can accurately sense, and account for, transmissions in licensed frequency bands. If no/few transmissions exist, how can the technology's ability to handle interference accurately be tested?

DavePR
join:2008-06-04
Canyon Country, CA

DavePR to plunkman

Member

to plunkman
They could've done all that in a shielded indoors environment. Reinforced concrete tilt-up buildings with foil in the ceiling block UHF really well. A poured concrete structure will stop the TV band energy as well.

How will a device, built into a laptop, be sensitive enough to detect the TV station that you need a rooftop antenna to see? It's impossible.

This is BS. Google knows it, too.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

FCC considering selling to cell providers chs 14 -51 as well

White Space spectrum is supposed to be using unused TV channels 2 - 51. Based on the Spectrum Bridge search tool, at my house there are only 2 channels not being used already ch 2 and 40. And only 40 can be used for portable devices.

Now the FCC is discussing selling off channels 14-51 as well to cell providers, leaving only 2-13 for White Space.
»forums.highdefdigest.com ··· off.html

This whole White Space plan sounds like an abortion in the making.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: FCC considering selling to cell providers chs 14 -51 as well

said by FFH5:

White Space spectrum is supposed to be using unused TV channels 2 - 51. Based on the Spectrum Bridge search tool, at my house there are only 2 channels not being used already ch 2 and 40. And only 40 can be used for portable devices.

Now the FCC is discussing selling off channels 14-51 as well to cell providers, leaving only 2-13 for White Space.
»forums.highdefdigest.com ··· off.html

This whole White Space plan sounds like an abortion in the making.
If you don't like it, it must be a good idea.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

1 recommendation

openbox9 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Spectrum Bridge suggests that I've got two vacant channels available at my house too, both of which are over channel 20. And I agree, that as the FCC continues reclaiming spectrum from TV broadcasters for more effective use, such as mobile wireless communication devices, this white space effort becomes much less viable...or necessary.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: FCC considering selling to cell providers chs 14 -51 as well

said by openbox9:

Spectrum Bridge suggests that I've got two vacant channels available at my house too, both of which are over channel 20.
And of course that site UNDERCOUNTS the number of channels in my area thus increasing the potential of some moron using a frequency being used for DTV.

David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL

1 edit

David

Premium Member

Just think Ohio will test

Gcreep already installed and ready to go! Hopefully google can find time in their busy schedule to answer those 4 simple questions.