Sprint XOHM

evdoman · EVDO User Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 61

Umm, no, I had stated "WiMax has theoretical close-range speeds of 70MB down, but in practical application, it decreases with distance, much like WiFi. Therefore, the actual speeds end-users might see are likely to be in the 10MB range..." becuase that was what I had read. Now I'm reading that it would be even slower than that in practical use. In any case, the point is that I'm still trying to solicit hard facts on why EvDO Rev B, with better penetration and comparable speed and cheaper deployment and the same backhauling needs as WiMax, is not the superior option.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

Well it will be interesting to see what Verizon does. Their primary stakeholder, Vodafone, is now on the WiMAX board. If Verizon goes to WiMAX, they'll need spectrum - 700mhz? Or they'll have to share EVDO with their existing voice network, and there's not much left. I'm sure Verizon will choose based on logistical issues, not what's the 'best'. They probably won't make a decision for another year.

Sprint may have made a logistical decision too. They had to use the 2500mhz spectrum or give it up. But WiMAX is more 'open' and allows for far more broader partnerships with other players than cell-based networks. I just don't see MP3 players and home appliances coming with HSDPA or UMB, paying a license to Qualcomm for every device. With WiMAX not having license issues, it's the obvious choice for consumer product makers.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

http://www.247wallst.com/2007/08/wimax-goes-to-j.html

NTT Docomo in Japan is deploying WiMAX. That significantly increases the chances that WiMAX consumer devices will be developed. Wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo and Sony announce PSPs and Gameboys with WiMAX within a year.

evdoman · EVDO User Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 61

Of interest: http://www.digitimes.com/bits_chips/a20070906PD211.html

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

I wonder when Sprint will start to sell WiMAX laptop cards. If they are going to rollout a few cities by the end of the year (October was mentioned a while back), you'd think rumors of specific devices would surface by now.

Here's an old pic of a Samsung WiMAX card...
http://wimaxcommunity.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=610217:Photo:2458

And a Samsung USB dongle..
http://www.wimaxcentury.com/product/4/Samsung_WiMAX_USB_Dongle_SPH-H1200

Here's a Motorola WiMAX card that Clearwire uses...
http://www.wimaxcentury.com/news/22/Motorola_WiMAX_card_for_notebooks_nearly_ready_for_market

Moreover, if the price is right, it may make sense for those buying EVDO cards to buy a WiMAX/EVDO combo card instead, even if WiMAX is not in your market yet. At least for those who travel, you may hit a market by next year that will have it.

Michael, do you plan to sell WiMAX/EVDO combo cards when Sprint starts the 3-city trial?

isamu · EVDO User Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 58

Will it be coming to the Los Angeles County area anytime soon? Very Happy

Michael · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:49 am Post subject:

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

You might need to register 4gstore and 4ginfo.com domains sooner than later. Smile

With Muni WiFi cooling down, it looks like there could be more focus on WiMAX.

http://www.redherring.com/Home/22736

I wonder if cities will get involved in subsidizing WiMAX for citizens instead of WiFi. Cities could offer streetlight poles for WiMAX repeaters instead of WiFi mesh. Using WiMAX as a backhaul to WiMAX repeaters for end users would make it very easy to install anywhere there is LOS. Only need power.

isamu, here are the cities that are supposed to get WiMAX next year...

Fox McCloud · EVDO Junkie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 599

Cleveland and Cincinnati...yet not Columbus. Hmm, this sure seems familiar. Hopefully Sprint will say "ahh, forget it", and do what they did with EVDO; go on a WiMAX spree across the majority of the mid and south-west Ohio regions.

I doubt it'll happen, but you never know.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

Found this on Clearwire. They have already rolled out 'fixed' WiMAX in these areas, which is not compatible with what Sprint is rolling out. But Clearwire would likely upgrade these areas to the same 'mobile' WiMAX flavor that Sprint is doing as they are now partners.

http://clearwire.com/store/service_areas.php

Fox McCloud · EVDO Junkie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 599

interesting....too bad they didn't have coverage a little farther north than that.

Clearwire, overall, though hasn't impressed me; unstable bandwidth and wacky latency....not sure if it's due to lack of backhaul or what.

xchpstang · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:

The fixed Wimax that Clearwire has now has no handoffs from site to site that I know of yet. Sprint's version will so Clearwire would have to change that. Their fastest service is also 1.5/256 so if Sprint is projecting 5 times faster then the bandwidth would have to be cranked up to 3-6 MB which would be 5 times faster than EVDO Rev A.

Fox McCloud · EVDO Junkie Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 599

well, until I have specific numbers, I wouldn't say, for sure, it'll be that fast.

Hopefully though, it will....I've been extremely disappointed with the turn EVDO has taken in the past few months.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

Sprint claims the first iteration will avg 2-4Mbps with possibly higher peaks to maybe 10Mbps. ClearWire trialled 'mobile' WiMAX in Portland recently and apparently did manage to get that range, but who knows if it was indoor/outdoor testing or how close to the site.

I'm not too optimistic with the first iteration meeting expectations but hopefully it will be better than EVDO out the gate. It won't have true handoffs between sites with the Wave2 chipsets that will apparently first be used. It will probably be another year or two before you can switch between sites uninterrupted. I think Wave4 chipsets. EVDO will be a nice backup if you're truly mobile, moving between sites, until the next iteration of WiMAX is released.