MIMO

The Air-Stream Wireless Network Planning Team reported at our last meeting that they are currently testing the feasibility of using 802.11n on 5.8Ghz to increase through put on back haul links in the network. As with all things the best way to learn is by doing and this hands-on experience will be invaluable to the ongoing viability of the network into the future. Current testing is demonstrating exceptional performance over distances with links of 10kms showing it maybe possible to achieve synchronous data-rates of 90Mbps.

Some of the technology currently being tested include:

• MikroTik Router OS
• Routerboard RB433 and RB800
• Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. Rocket Dishes
• Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. Rocket M

More information soon...

Air-Stream Wireless is pleased to have the opportunity to review the new range of AirLive Access Points designed using their new ClearSignal Technology.

ClearSignal Technology is a new advanced filtering system designed to cancel out signal interference on the 2.4GHz band to improve user connection reliability and speed in congested areas.

Two units have been donated to Air-Stream Wireless by AirLive.

Air-Stream Wireless is very pleased to announce that AirLive, OvisLink Corp have provided two of their new WN5000R 802.11n wireless routers to put through their paces. With the success of our initial review of the 802.11n standard we have kept looking for other user-friendly equipment to conduct further field tests and the AirLive WN-5000R seems to certainly fit the bill.

The units operate on a standard 12V supply ideal for PoE and have the added feature of operating in AP Bridge Mode providing a great opportunity for point to point tests without need of firmware hacks or fussing with software drivers. AirLive also offer an extensive range of both indoor and outdoor wireless products, founded in 1993 they produce over 200 products in hundreds of locations around the world. Although not yet available in Australia we feel that it won’t be long before they are, as AirLive have had the forethought to include many features useful to the wireless enthusiast and professional alike, that other more familiar brands leave out.

The ratification of the IEEE 802.11n-2009 ammendment occurred in October 2009 and paves the way for standards based implementations of the latest WiFi technologies including multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) to provide higher data transfer rates than 802.11a/b/g. The following pages are dedicated to the review of 802.11n equipment and other related MIMO projects that Air-Stream Wireless members have had the opportunity to test. Air-Stream is actively seeking to build and prove a high speed long distance link using 802.11n with a data throughput of at least 100 mbps.

Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, Inc. has donated two WRT300n Routers to Air-Stream Wireless which will allow us to conduct some grassroots testing on the 802.11n standard in the field, and explore these features under an Open Source firmware such as OpenWRT. Which was made possible through the support and encouragement of Jerry Clancy of ClearNet Communications

The 802.11n draft standard implemented in the WRT300N uses a technique called "MIMO" (multiple input, multiple output). MIMO technology capable of 300Mbps "By leveraging multipath reflections of a radio signal, and transmitting multiple signals in a single 20MHz radio channel, MIMO multiplies both data rates and reliable coverage area without using additional frequency spectrum, and without causing interference with other Wi-Fi devices and networks.