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story category Two Sides of a Coin: WiMAX / Wi-Fi
Is one better than the other for municipal wireless?
(old news - 03:38PM Sunday Aug 05 2007)
tags: wireless · municipal
Tipped by TKJunkMail See Profile
When it comes to citywide wireless deployment, there are two competing services: WiMAX and Wi-Fi. PCWorld.com took a look at both sides this week. The benefits cited for Wi-Fi include that it’s low-cost and devices are already equipped to use it whereas WiMAX requires new devices (including your own pricey portable modem that must be plugged in for use). On the other hand, WiMAX is reported to be the technology of the future and some are arguing that we’ll need to make the switch sooner or later (with 3-5 years being the target time frame). Most people agree that these two services aren’t mutually exclusive but that one will always dominate the market.

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Forums » Two Sides of a Coin: WiMAX / Wi-Fi
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TKJunkMail
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Intel is already developing chips for WiFi/Wimax laptops

»www.intel.com/network/connectivi···ileWiMAX
Intel® WiMAX Connection 2250 is a low-cost system-on-chip that supports IEEE 802.16-2004 and IEEE 802.16e-2005, enabling WiMAX modems for use with fixed or mobile networks. Intel® WiMAX Connection 2250 is optimized for cost effective WiMAX modems and benefits from the economics of combined IEEE 802.16d and 802.16e volumes in equipment. The cost effectiveness of Intel® WiMAX Connection 2250 is further enhanced by its modem designs featuring Ofer-R, Intel's single RF System on Chip, Wi-Fi/WiMAX multi-band solution.

Intel® WiMAX Connection 2250 also gives service providers a path to a Centrino® Mobile Technologies-ready network by utilizing the profiles that are expected to eventually be integrated into Centrino® Mobile Technology based notebooks.
If anybody actually rolls out Wimax(Sprint ??), I think WiFi/Wimax chips for laptops will be ready.
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SuperCPA
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join:2002-11-28
Dayton, OH

Agree...

For the WiMAX/Wi-Fi debate, until someone comes up with a combined solution, Wi-Fi will rule the hot spots.
rradina

join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

Why will one always dominate?

I think the two are more complementary than in direct competition. Certainly, there is overlap with respect to a road warrior's PDA/laptop in StarBucks but how does WiMax compete in a home or corporate office setting where many computers want to share internal resources or a single land-line connection to the Internet? Did I miss the low power "personal" WiMax announcement? Isn't WiMax designed to replace last-mile wires and WiFi home/office (LAN) wires?

I'd love to have a WiMax modem connected to my home WiFi router so I can eliminate the cable/telco wires to my house. Isn't it plausible that someday it's cheaper since there's far less infrastructure to maintain?
jniamehr
Premium
join:2003-10-09
Roslyn, NY

Has WiMAX even been deployed anywhere?

Like the title says, has WiMAX been deployed anywhere? have actual people like you and I have been able to use it? WiMAX will require new devices but Im sure will be subsidized by carriers just like cell phones are and cable modems too

mpelle4456
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Tacoma, WA
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Re: Has WiMAX even been deployed anywhere?

If I'm not mistaken, Clearwire is WiMax. »www.clearwire.com/index.php They've deployed all over, including here in the Seattle/Tacoma area.

I know a couple people that have 'em, and they like it. Another of my friends is looking at getting it for his boat - Clearwire offers coverage to most of Puget Sound.

They have several tiers, the top being 2 mb/s down and 256 kb/s up for $50 a month. The only problem I see is that they require at least a 1 year contract (I prefer month to month).

My money for the immediate future is on WiMax. It just makes more sense than WiFi - at least outdoors, where you need to cover, say, a whole city.

For household or business use - in a single building - WiFi is a good choice (although gigabit Ethernet is much better).
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John Galt
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Re: Has WiMAX even been deployed anywhere?

said by mpelle4456 See Profile :

If I'm not mistaken, Clearwire is WiMax. »www.clearwire.com/index.php They've deployed all over, including here in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
Just to clarify, Clearwire is "WiMax-like", at least up to this point in time. The previously installed gear is NOT compliant with the WiMax specification, although there have been several recent announcements that they are going to start installing compliant systems from this point on.
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John Galt
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1 edit

Don't Even Know The Difference

Most people can't even tell you what the difference between the two is...

There is no reason that precludes the use of both within the same MAN system. There will be a significant overlap in time between the two technologies.

EDIT: Change to more gooder grammar.
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HIPAR

@verizon.net

Why this comparsion

Yea they are both radio networking systems. But isn't that where the comparison ends. Wimax is for subscription services like Sprint is doing. Wi-Fi is what I have in my house for my home network. Wi-Fi is short range hot spots. Wimax is designed for long range from big towers.

When will I be able to find Wimax devices at the local office suppy store for my home network? When will these Wimax devices that operate on license free frequencies be produced?

--- CHAS

phoneboy3

@shawcable.net

Re: Why this comparsion

Yea, WiMAX is STILL just around the corner. It's been that way for like 3 years now.

Ultimately laptops will do both. WiMAX is to WiFi what cordless phones are to cell phones. They are complimentary.
cluth

join:2004-01-06
Anchorage, AK

Re: Why this comparsion

said by phoneboy3 :

Ultimately laptops will do both. WiMAX is to WiFi what cordless phones are to cell phones. They are complimentary.
There will probably eventually come a time where cell phones and cordless phones will merge. There are already dual-mode handsets in use (cellular over long distances, WiFi over short distances), although they are far from popular and handoffs between cellular and VoIP networks have to be ironed out. I'd love to say that cellular wireless (using 4G+ technologies) will eventually become the sole technology used, but I think that despite any improvements in compression and encoding, there would be too much congestion for a system like that (which is why they are proposing microcells or something).

I like the comparison if WiMAX to the last mile and WiFi to the LAN, but the lines get fuzzier in the wireless realm since the boundaries of wireless signals aren't as set in stone. I do agree that cities shouldn't waste resources building MANs using WiFi, though. That just seems to be a waste of resources.

(No point to my above message--just my two cents...)
kcir

join:2005-07-30
Butner, NC
"Why this comparison" Cause someone needed to write an article and "They're complimentary. The End" Just didn't get past the reediting.

Michieru2
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Miami, FL
I am pretty sure Zyxel already sells a AP and card for WiMAX, although I heard the AP costs around $99
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Re: Why this comparsion

said by Michieru2 See Profile :

I am pretty sure Zyxel already sells a AP and card for WiMAX, although I heard the AP costs around $99
Really?

Link?
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Michieru2
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Re: Why this comparsion

»us.zyxel.com/web/product_categor···07175308
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John Galt
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1 edit

Re: Why this comparsion

Now all you need is a license to operate in those bands.

And that is only for CPE devices, not the AP.

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SD6

join:2005-03-26

Re: Why this comparsion

said by John Galt See Profile :

Now all you need is a license to operate in those bands.

And that is only for CPE devices, not the AP.

I don't understand your comments. You don't need a license for the CPE device, just the WiMax AP - right?

John Galt
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Re: Why this comparsion

said by SD6 See Profile :

I don't understand your comments. You don't need a license for the CPE device, just the WiMax AP - right?
Actually, you do. You cannot transmit in the bands if you don't have a license, regardless of whether it is an AP or CPE device. If you are subscriber to a service, your "license" comes to you through your subscriber agreement.

These devices are not available to the general public like normal WiFi devices are. You must have a license to operate emitters in a licensed band.
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SD6

join:2005-03-26

Re: Why this comparsion

Of course, the same thing as with cell phones. I was confused by your wording. The biggest difference between WiFi and WiMax is that anyone can throw up a WiFi WAP.

Michieru2
zzz zzz zzz
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Miami, FL

I will take your word for it, I have not really looked much into the item I just posted, nor did I call and asked about operation within the United States. But from first eye view it looks like a consumer grade WiMAX base station with a card to match.
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Diddy1

join:2003-07-19
Sidney, NE

said by HIPAR See Profile :

Wimax is for subscription services like Sprint is doing. Wi-Fi is what I have in my house for my home network. Wi-Fi is short range hot spots.
I have clients 9+ miles out with Wi-Fi A properly designed network will do tremendous things!
truocchio

join:2004-07-05
Miami Beach, FL

Sorry, WiMax will be on licensed bands. 2.5, 3.5 and 2.3Ghz.

Because it operates on a licensed band, Wimax we have less interference issues when compared to wi-fi and 5Ghz backhaul connections for MAN deployments. Other than that there is not that much difference between WiMax and the current gear that Proxim, Redline, Axxcelera, Alvarion etc etc already sell.

boogi man

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1 edit

wimax=clearwire

i have clearwire service instead of local telco or cable technically i can take the modem anywhere i want that has service and get connected but it's a little bulky for a truely portable device. for wimax to beat out wifi there's going to have to be some serious device shrinkage. i wonder also what will happen to battery life if they integrate wimax into laptops and somehow keep the range they currently have??

also maybe it's a washington thing i dunno but so far i've not seen anything that says they are faster than 1.5 down and 256 up and for that i pay $43 with taxes modem fees etc

edit:found the clearwire premium looks like it's the internet plus voip tier minus the voip
Forums » Two Sides of a Coin: WiMAX / Wi-Fi


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