WiMAX: How It Works

Posted on by paulb
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You have probably heard of this service before as it has been deployed by various internet service providers in the UK for a few years, though you may not know how it works. Well, we’ll tackle that in this article together with some facts about the said wireless technology.

What is WiMAX?

WiMAX is short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It operates much like Wi-Fi, but WiMAX allows for a wider range, higher speeds, and more users. The technology is looked upon as a possible solution to providing service to remote areas that don’t have cables and other infrastructure installed yet.

How does WiMAX work?

WiMAX needs two things to provide service. First is a transmitting tower (similar to a cell site), that is connected directly to the internet using a standard wired connection. A WiMAX tower can also get its connection from another tower in its line of sight, hence its application in providing service to rural and other remote areas. The tower can provide service to an area as large as 8,000 square kilometres. Second is a receiver. This can be an antenna installed outside a home, a router, or a built-in card in your computer. WiMAX doesn’t need a direct line of sight to its receivers to provide service, though its range does diminish for non-line of sight users. This isn’t much of a setback though, as non-line of sight service still covers 65 square kilometres.

While non-line of sight receivers do get service, line of sight antennas are still strongly suggested to get the best WiMAX service and to benefit from its maximum range and bandwidth.

WiMAX vs. Wi-Fi

WiMAX is often compared to Wi-Fi because they operate on similar systems and both provide wireless access to the internet. As mentioned above, WiMAX provides a faster connection (70mbps) than Wi-Fi (54mbps). WiMAX distributes shared bandwidth, so businesses and hundreds of homes can enjoy high speed internet. Range is WiMAX’s more notable difference to Wi-Fi, as the latter can only cover an area of about 30 square metres.

Anyway, WiMAX does present a lot of benefits, especially for communities, campuses, and businesses as it can provide large areas with high speed internet.

WiMax UK: What’s the difference between Fixed and Mobile WiMax?

Posted on by paulb
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Although both called WiMAX, 802.16d fixed WiMAX and 802.16e mobile WiMAX are two very different broadband technologies. The former, 16d, was developed to provide the “last mile” connectivity for homes and enterprises. The latter technology, 16e, was developed to expand mobile services. Both fixed and mobile WiMAX technologies, however, were developed to compete with and become alternatives to the current telecommunications and broadband Internet technologies.

There are stark differences between these two broadband technologies – making one the better choice over the other depending on your broadband Internet requirements.

Size, Source, Power Output and Broadband Range

The terminal devices or Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) for fixed and mobile WiMAX are different in size, energy source, output power, and range. Since the CPE for fixed WiMAX is positioned in a certain area and not constantly moved around, it can come in any size. The CPE and the base station are both powered by a direct power source instead of a battery. Along with a base station that can also support a high power output, you can expect fixed WiMAX to have a broadband Internet range of five to 40 kilometres.

The terminal component of mobile WiMAX, on the other hand, is made to be mobile, hence it’s small and relies on its host device’s main processor (such as a laptop or a cell phone). Since the base station requires a high power output, there’s an asymmetrical connection between the CPE and base station. This connection, along with the processing requirements for mobile devices, limits the range of 16e technology to two to three kilometres.

Cost

Most people think that using mobile WiMAX will cost less than using fixed WiMAX, but this assumption is incorrect.

Using fixed WiMAX costs less than using mobile WiMAX for several reasons. 16e’s terminal component needs the host processor of a laptop or a handset as an energy source and for processing requirements so you’ll also be paying for these devices. Taking into account the signal range of a mobile WiMAX CPE, you’ll need several units to cover the same range that a fixed WiMAX CPE covers.

Which Is the Better Alternative?

The cost of getting reliable broadband Internet (such as fiber, satellite, and DSL/E1/T1) has risen over the years, so businesses and homes are looking for a more affordable yet equally reliable alternative. Both fixed and mobile WiMAX can provide the alternative broadband Internet needed, however, carriers in the UK have yet to choose between the two. Considering the cost of mobile WiMAX based on its processing requirements and signal range, fixed WiMAX is the cheaper choice. Rural areas and complexes that are underserved by traditional telecoms providers can use a fixed broadband solution that can provide Internet connectivity across a large geographical region.

As established, fixed WiMAX is the cheaper broadband alternative; however, the choice still depends on your personal or business requirements. If you need one for your business or for a large area such as a school campus, fixed WiMAX will be able to provide a wider signal range. If you’re getting broadband for personal use and you’ll be mobile, then mobile WiMAX might be the better choice.