ARCi Debuts High Capacity 5 GHz System
Campbell, Calif.-based Advanced Radio Cells,
Inc. (ARCi), maker of 5 GHz, license-free equipment, introduced sub-$500
CPE pricing for its 20 Mbps subscriber transceiver/antenna plus modem. This
cost-effective and aggressively priced product is based on ARCi’s high capacity
point-to-multipoint wireless solution; it is available today.
Jim Bertonis, ARCi president and chief executive officer, said the
combination of a sub-$500 CPE, while delivering 20 Mbps, full duplex broadband
wireless performance is a major milestone for the firm.
“Now, with a cash flow positive return in just twelve months ISPs can afford
to cost effectively invest in growing a solution for those markets that were
cost prohibitive,” Bertonis said.
Bertonis added that the system is being well received by the marketplace.
“Our solution is proving itself in the market right now. Our ISP clients are
ecstatic with their ability to grow new revenues by offering broadband services
to previously dark communities, without sacrificing profitability and
performance,” Bertonis said.
Operating in the 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum, ARCi’s broadband wireless
Internet delivery system leverages the DOCSISa-based standard platform to
deliver a high-capacity, carrier-grade wireless system capable of covering a 78
square mile area.
The system can be scaled up by the addition of antennas and/or sectors as an
ISP’s bandwidth demand grows. Each antenna sector adds 10Mbps (or 20Mbps)
incremental capacity, up to 100 Mbps per base station. Consequently, the
solution offers very attractive per-subscriber cost, making a deployment
business model equally attractive.
On the base station side, the system includes a DOCSIS W-CMTS (Wireless-Cable
Modem Termination System) that is expandable as the ISP’s subscriber base grows,
a 10/100 BaseT switched hub, upconverter, network management software plus a PC
server, and one AR1255-1 10Mbps sectored antenna. It is a ready-to-deploy system
that can be installed in hours. Such a base station starts at under $25,000.
The system confers all the benefits of the rich feature set provided by the
industry standard DOCSIS. The ARCi solution comes ready with quality of service
(QoS) management that will support toll-quality voice (VoIP) service, which can
translate into additional revenue for the service provider. The system is also
upgradeable for future video services. ARCi has been shipping the system and
have been successfully deployed by several service providers across the U.S.
Additionally the ARCi system solves the backhaul problem for feeding distributed
Wi-Fi hotspot access points. For those who must see before believing, ARCi
operates a demo site in San Jose, Calif.
Wireless AP Designed to Root Out Rogue Users
3e Technologies International (3eTI), also
known as AEPTEC Microsystems, has teamed up with AirWave
Wireless, Inc. to deliver a new wireless access point (AP)
capable of uncovering unwanted users.
According to 3eTI, its new 3e-522AW Wireless Access Point provides one of the
more comprehensive wireless local area network (WLAN) security and
management solutions available on the market today. Through a single console,
the AP is capable of monitoring and controlling access to a wireless network. In
tandem with this release, 3eTI also debuted its 3e-522GW Wireless Gateway, which
offers customers the increased security of AESand 3DES without sacrificing
performance.
Wai Sing Lee, Frost & Sullivan analyst, said the
3eTI/AirWave wireless integrated solution increases security, improves network
performance, and reduces support costs.
“The combined solution from AirWave Wireless and 3eTI is based on industry
standards for authentication and encryption, can handle fluctuating numbers of
end-users and, most unique of all, can scan and detect unauthorized access
points on the network,” Wai said.
Greg Murphy, AirWave Wireless president, ensured that all access points are
configured to comply with network security policies and are capable of tracking
all user information, including bandwidth usage.
“Rogue access points are one of the most common security breaches of wireless
networks today,” Murphy said. “With the 3e-522AW Wireless Access Point and the
AirWave Management Platform, IT can detect rogue APs and unauthenticated
clients, create dynamic VLAN tunnels, and automatically discover any new access
points connected to the network.”
The AP was recently put to the test by the University of California’s Hastings College of
the Law. Eric Noble, UC Hastings IT director, gave the 3e-522AW and AirWave
Management Platform rave reviews.
“In an urban setting, there is very little I can do to prevent outsiders from
associating with one of my APs,” Noble said. “With the 3e-522AW Access Points
and AirWave, I know that no unauthorized users are going to see any of my
network.”
Because security functions are embedded into the AP itself, Noble did not
need to add any additional network hardware, reprogram any routers or switches,
or install new software on users’ PCs.
The 3e-522AW Wireless Access Point delivers the robust and secure 802.11b
wireless LAN connectivity, and supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and 10/100
Ethernet for high-speed LAN connectivity. It also integrates AES, 3DES, and
802.1x security while delivering industry-leading throughput.
The new 3e-522GW Wireless Gateway with cable/DSL interface provides
security-minded users with AES and 3DES encryption, access point/gateway
deployment options, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality. The
3e-522GW Wireless Gateway provides superior throughput even with AES enabled.
3e Technologies International and AirWave Wireless are demonstrating the
integrated wireless network management and security solution at COMDEX in Las
Vegas this week. The 3e-522AW Wireless Access Point, the AirWave Management
Platform, and 3e-522GW Wireless Gateway are available through CABLExpress or at
3eIT direct.
U.S. Robotics Joins Wi-Fi Alliance
U.S. Robotics’ 22 Mbps wireless networking
devices are now backed by the global seal of interoperability for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) 802.11-based WLAN products. As new member of Wi-Fi
Alliance, U.S. Robotics is now providing Wi-Fi certified Internet access
equipment nationwide.
The certification recognizes that U.S. Robotics products have undergone
strict, rigorous testing at an independent laboratory, and the Wi-Fi certified
logo assures users that the products are tested and compatible with all other 11
Mbps 802.11b wireless standard products.
The following U.S. Robotics 22 Mbps wireless networking equipment is Wi-Fi
certified as interoperable at 11 Mbps:
- USR2210: U.S. Robotics 22Mbps Wireless PC Card for laptop computers.
- USR2216: U.S. Robotics 22Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter for desktop computers.
- USR2249: U.S. Robotics 22Mbps Wireless Access Point enables users to securely
share files, Internet access and peripherals with multiple users when combined
with U.S. Robotics 22 Mbps PC Cards or PCI Adapters.
For three decades, U.S. Robotics has been one of the world’s leaders in Internet
access, delivering millions of modems worldwide. It’s about time it jumped on
the wireless bandwagon and certified that its equipment is interoperable with
current Wi-Fi standards.
Reprinted from ISP-Planet.
