I hate to sabatage this 3650 thread, but I cant help myself, when 802.16e is mentioned for PtMP....
1) Ubiquiti Mimo AP - $89, capacity up to 150 mb, (or maybe 50mbps might be more fair, for avg 20 Mhz channel 2x pole). 2) Mikroik AP MIMO- $400, capacity: same as Ubiquiti, but with Spectrum Analysis, and a bit of hassle added. 3) Wimax 802.16e AP (1 antenna) - $9000, capacity: more efficient use of 25 mbps. 4) Wimax 802.16d AP - ?? $2000 - $7000 ??, capacity: same as Legacy TDD OFDM, or CDMA OFDM if small channel in 3.65G. 5) Legacy TDD OFDM- $1800, up to 25 mbps. Better management than wifi 6) Legacy CDMA OFDM AP- $300, capacity like 14 mbps. 7) Legacy DSSS TDD - $1300, 10mbps In the transition from Legacy to next adjacent generation, the decissions might have been tough. I get it, when some justified WiMax. But as we jump to the current day, represented at the top of the chart with items #1 and #2, it is almost silly to even see 802.16e in the line-up. Ubiquiti offers 1/100th the price, at 2x to 6x higher capacity than Wimax, dependant on how you look at it. Lets get real, will a WISP still consider Wimax-e, just to get a few feature enhancements, that is if they were to use their OWN money? Sure, we might choose WiMax for a grant, when WiMax will help prove "Never able to reach profitabilty, without aid". But thats a different game. Now, we also have to consider, just about all carriers other than Sprint, has preferred and will choose LTE. Its inevidable that LTE will extinguish the 802.16e carrier market, so we cant even argue 802.16e will help our exit strategy, anymore. Dont misunderstand me, I dont doubt WiMax's technology. Its good stuff. So my question is, when will 802.16e manufacturers admit their original target market, game plan, and price list is ancient history? Will recent industry developments force WiMax 802.16e carriers to lower their price points down to the levels that are in line with the WISP market's expectations? Surely, its technically possible to reach those price points, Ubiquiti proved that, even if with Wifi chipsets. Arguably, Intel could reach the same scale with 802.16e instantly, if manufacturers lowered the AP cost to sub $2000. Will the BTOP/BIP program prevent price drops? Why lower price, when Grant programs could keep the price high for atleast 3 more years, beyond what the private funded operators would normally allow? Ubiquiti has set the bar high for our industry, and has got to be the largest disruptive force to the ISP industry since Cogent drove transit low cost. Wimax has a challenge in front of them. They lost the carrier market, and if you ask me, they'll lose the WISP market to, if they dont lower their price and up their game. I agree, WISPs would rather a full featured WiMax product, but when its being compared against a $90 product that is like Wifi on steroids, its a new game. I predict there will be numerous manufacturers this year filling the market that Mikrotik is currently leading the effort to tackle. Its the markets where its realized that a $99 AP is not necessary, and compromises like giving up spectrum analysis cant be accepted, but where manufacturers will challenge themselve to see how close to the price point they can get, without compromising advanced features. History showed us that Consumers will choose Linksys over Cisco. Eventually Cisco realized they had to become Linksys, in some capacity. Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
