On Fri, 14 Nov 2003, Frank Keeney wrote:
> > Wireless Networks Gain Spectrum: > > http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1212&e=1&u=/washpost/20031114/tc_washpost/a38286_2003nov13&sid=96168964 That's great news! The author *did* manage to munge the facts a bit. In the article he states that 255 more 'frequencies' (implying channels) would be made available. What he *should* have said is an additional 255 MHz! The FCC has reassigned from 5.470 to 5.725 GHz. These changes represents an 80% increase in the amount of 5-GHz spectrum available to unlicensed devices. Tha bad news: A portion of the new band was secondary allocation for HAM use. This leaves only 25 MHz remaining of the 5.650 to 5.925 GHz band for Amature use. The ARRL (American Radio Relay League) has opposed past Wi-Fi Alliance (WECA) efforts to expand the 5 GHz franchise for unlicensed users. In comments to a 2002 petition, the League said WECA failed to establish any current need for additional spectrum and that the FCC may not be able to enforce rules against harmful interference to licensed users. Since this new allocation is intended more for infrastructure use, ie. bringing high-speed data access in rural areas, signal spread will be limited due to use of directional antennas. I see no reason the two can not co-exist. -Glen
