Sprint's nextgen network - WiMAX

rickster · EVDO Junkie Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 216

That's something I've always found odd. They fought for number portablity but no one's putting screws on to force carriers for hardware portablity. Now we're seeing the same needless BS on with wireless data equipment.

Ben Miller · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:00 am Post subject:

I really don't mind it. If you look at it, GSM phones (Cingular, T-Mobile, etc.) can be used with any carrier. You just have to buy an unlocked phone and swap SIM cards. Very few people actually do this because it is so darned expensive. You end up paying an extra $150 or so if you want an unlocked phone, so most people choose to use a phone that is locked to a single carrier instead.

I will admit that it's frustrating having a Sprint phone that can't be switched to Verizon (or any other CDMA service provider) if I become dissatisfied with Sprint. In the end it probably wouldn't matter because I'll gladly take the subsidy on the initial purchase of the phone.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Sprint doesn't plan to subsidize WiMAX devices - we'll pay full price, which supports the possibility that they won't lock the device to carrier. Is it possible that WiMAX devices are post-install programmable to carrier in lieu of sim cards?

Ben Miller · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:55 pm Post subject:

Anything's possible, but I would be highly skeptical of any claims from Sprint that they won't subsidize devices. Service providers of all kinds tend to subsidize all kinds of equipment in order to get people to subscribe to the service.

The other problem is that Sprint is going to use 2.5 GHz. If T-Mobile chooses WiMAX for their BWA network, it will be in 1.7/2.1 GHz. Cingular and Verizon have different frequencies that they own. If you buy a WiMAX card from one company, there is an excellent chance that it won't be compatible with the frequency spectrum being used by another company.

Now, if you go to other countries and if 2.5 GHz is used in those other countries, then you might be able to roam.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

Good article about challenges of mobile WiMAX. Perspective is that fixed WiMAX used as a backhaul has more potential than mobile WiMAX.

http://www.telecommagazine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=AR_2307

Ben Miller · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject:

Fixed WiMAX does have great potential, but there's no money in fixed wireless. It's all about mobility, baby.

rickster · EVDO Junkie Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 216

I thought one major reason for the fixed wireless WIMAX was an economical means to bring backhaul to MIMAX towers on the fringes.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

No surprise that Sprint will also use fixed WiMax as a backhaul but they are talking about using it internally as a backhaul instead of (or as backup to) T1 lines to perhaps cellsites and other mobile WiMax sites.

Pretty cool...

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=104349

Ben Miller · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:35 am Post subject:

I definitely think that fixed backhaul links is an appropriate use for WiMAX, but remember that fixed WiMAX has nothing to do with Sprint's announcement of a NextGen network. Sprint's big thing was that they would build out WiMAX as a mobile access technology, which is where the money is.

Wayne Swanson · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:37 am Post subject:

ClearWire http://clearwire.com/index.php is rolling out WiMax in a number of markets. They also have a VoIP service for thirty bucks that runs on their network, but I can't imagine why Skype or Vonage wouldn't work.

Honolulu is one of the markets that is currently being opened, and there is a media advertising blitz that wouldn’t fail to get anyone’s attention.

Currently the only WiMax modems (CPE) available are AC powered making them somewhat less than mobile, however Airspan http://www.everythingusb.com/airspan_16eusb_mobile_wimax.html has announced a USB WiMax CPE but I have not seen any available for sale. I suppose it would be possible to install one in a vehicle using an AC inverter, then drive a WiFi router, but that would limit service to the immediate vicinity of your car.

ClearWire uses the CPE’s MAC address to populate the Access Control List (ACL) on their network to control access to subscribers much like Cellular providers use the phones ESN to identify customers.

I’m not sure if their policies allow purchasing the CPE from a third party and providing them the MAC, but being an ISP instead of a phone company. The relative low cost of building an infrastructure would encourage competition, my guess is that they will once the hardware is available.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 2004

This USB WiMAX product brings back the question whether WiMAX devices will be tied to carriers.

xchpstang · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:35 pm Post subject:

Wayne Swanson · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject:

xchpstang · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:35 pm Post subject:

A little bit outdated but it says "in addition, in August, Clearwire launched its first broadband wireless network in Jacksonville, FL. The network, using NextNet technology, is a precursor to upcoming WiMAX networks and uses technologies very similar to WiMAX and offers comparable features that are expected to be available in a full-scale WiMAX network. It provides high-speed broadband wireless service throughout most of the greater Jacksonville area. Customers of the Clearwire network in Jacksonville simply connect their computer to a NextNet modem with an Ethernet cable, power it up and receive Internet access anywhere within the Clearwire coverage area. No software installation or system configuration is required."

For all intents and purposes EVDO is comparable to WiMax where it is deployed in a metro area and access is not limited to a hot spot. I have tried Clearwire in my area and perhaps it is better compared to EVDO since speeds are signal dependent and it has the exact same limitations as EVDO. In my case I cancelled since the coverage in my home was poor due to distance to the tower. Since they use 2.5Ghz I think the reach on the towers is very minimal. My home is 3 miles from the tower in a moderately populated suburb and could barely get a signal, let alone decent download speeds.

In a nutshell, WiMax is not quite here yet.

Wayne Swanson · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: