Well, I heard back. Nice folks over there at Airgain.
The product is about 4-6 weeks away from complete. It doesn't have an FCC
cert. And its not clear they will even get one. Their model is to provide
these as OEM units for built-in systems.
What surprised me is that it's actually quite small. (I didn't look at the
dimensions first. :) The unit is about the size of a large coke from Carls
Jr. - 3 inches square and 8 inches tall.
It's designed to be a client-side bridge. Not an access point like Vivato.
And while pricing was elusive as features are being refined, they are
shooting for a consumer price target. So, expect around $100. (Yes,
dollar-sign-one-hundred.)
In the Cerritos environment they are planning use as a customer premises
antenna. They stated that the phased-array will pick up signals even in
multi-path environments. Increasing gain in non-line-of-sight installs,
which are common in community wireless networks.
As far as the way it works, I didn't learn much. Except that it switches
through the 8, 9, or 10 antennas very quickly ("milliseconds" was the term.
But I hope it's not 1000 milliseconds.) When a signal is found on the edge
between two panels, it will use both antennas.
They are doing some demos and report good results (grain of salt.) I am
hoping to get an eval and/or OEM unit when they become available.
That's what I heard!
-Mike O.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Mike Outmesguine
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 11:10 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [SOCALWUG] Phased Array WiFi Antennas
I'm waiting a callback from engineering or sales. But I agree with the
"switched antenna" theory.
It looks like a great design - or plan anyway. I think the way it works is
that it detects and transmits only on the panel on which the signal is being
received. So, all transmit energy only goes in the direction of the laptop.
In the case of their "omni" tower antenna, it looks like there are at least
8 different radiation patterns. That would be like having 8 narrow-beam
directional antennas on a pole. The effect makes this a high-gain
directional antenna that automatically adjusts direction 360 degrees around
the tower. Neat.
Comparing to Vivato is difficult - except that they both call their antennas
phased arrays. Vivato is a 180 degree pattern and probably has the same net
effect. That is, beaming the transmit energy towards the receiving antenna
instead of in a wide pattern.
I'll send another message when I hear back. Though it's always hard getting
pricing info unless the checkbook is open!
-Mike O.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Jim Thompson
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 10:50 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [SOCALWUG] Phased Array WiFi Antennas
I'm still trying to determine what provides the co-phasing.
At first blush, it looks like a switched antenna system to me. Also,
the gain ("10dBi over an omni with the same pattern"?) is fairly low.
On May 20, 2004, at 10:06 AM, Ronan Higgins, Cafe.com wrote:
> Frank,
>
> Have you tested these in the field?
> How do they compare with other phased array systems such as Vivato?
> How much do they cost?
>
>
>
> Ronan.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Behalf Of Frank Keeney
> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 1:25 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [SOCALWUG] Phased Array WiFi Antennas
>
>
>
> fyi
>
> "Based on phased array radar principles developed for the military,
> Airgain'
> s smart antenna solutions use patented antenna steering technology to
> direct
> the beam towards any active wireless device. Each smart antenna is
> capable
> of continuously monitoring network signal strength...."
>
> Nice photos and diagrams:
>
> http://www.airgain.com./AirgainAntennaConfigDS0304.pdf
>
> http://www.airgain.com./AirgainWirelessBridgeDS0304.pdf
>
>
>
>
>
> Frank Keeney
> Tel: 888-259-5110 x0
> Pasadena Networks, LLC
> Wireless Antennas, Cables and Equipment:
> http://www.wlanparts.com
>
>
>
