General Meeting
Like the topic says, Jack covered many functions of a spectrum analyzer. This may be the ultimate tool for an RF engineer. Jack showed us how it worked, what it does, and significantly, how to use it in deploying a wireless network. If you’ve never used an SA before, watch the video from the link below and prepare to be amazed. If not for the price tag, no wi-head should be without one.
Frank went over a few items of importance. Most significantly is the shutting down of AT&T’s wireless CDPD network by June 2004. Plus they will stop all new sales March of 2003 (4 months!) This will have major impacts to tried-and-true systems used by many vertical markets and the public sector (trucking, carriers, emergency, public infrastructure, etc.) AT&T would like all of these CDPD devices to be changed out for their GSM/GPRS (2.5G) cellular data service. However, at this time, there is no service plan cost-effective enough to allow a changeover. AT&T does not have an unlimited data plan in place. And the other major cellular providers that do have unlimited plans, have strict license agreements preventing commercial use. Oh well. Time marches on. We will all scramble to find a data solution before the shutdown. And we’ll love it!
Frank also talked briefly about the CTIA conference in Las Vegas. And The Wireless WarDrive-In was a smash hit. See links below.
People hung out for most of the night as always, swapping war stories, asking questions offline, that sort of thing. As always, a great place to share and enjoy!
Presenter:
- Jack Unger, author of Deploying License-Free Wireless Wide-Area Networks
- http://www.ask-wi.com/
Presentation Topic:
- Describe what a spectrum analyzer is and discuss it’s principles of operation
- Demonstrate what some different kinds of signals look like on the spectrum analyzer
- Present some techniques of using the spectrum analyzer to do a wireless site survey to locate interfering signals
- Answer any and all questions about using a spectrum analyzer
URLs mentioned at the meeting:
- http://www.ask-wi.com/ - Wireless Infonet & Jack Unger
- See Letter - ATT is shutting down the CDPD service over the next 18 months
- WarDrive-In - See a write-up and pictures from this gathering
- CTIA - Cellular and mobile Internet technology show
- Sierra Wireless - Manufacturer of various wireless cards (CDPD, 3G)
- Novatel - Manufacturer of various wireless cards (CDPD, 3G)
- MobileMark - Antenna manufacturer
- SCALE - SOCALWUG set up wireless at the So Cal Linux Expo
- LP Technologies - Spectrum Analyzer manufacturer
- ProVantage - Reseller of the AeroComm SA3000 Spectrum Analyzer
- email Mike@TransStellar.com to add to this list
Pictures:
Special Thanks to the following:
- LPBN for providing the video archive and live streaming of the show
- Pasadena IHOP and their big meeting room