Not all of them are using Radio Mobile although many are. The basic Radio Mobile plots are not the only tools they have to use. They also need advanced GIS tools to convert the Radio Mobile plots to something in vector file format. Radio Mobile plots are only images and do not scale when zoomed in or out nor do they tell any other data attributes in a mapping database such as the speed information or the carrier who offers the service there.
If WISP's would provide the data they most certainly use it. Most of these mapping contractors are people who do not have any broadband experience. They are tasked with asking for and gathering data. Some person made up the data request for WISP's thinking that they need all this information so that they will not constantly have to go back and forth once they sit down to do the process on each carrier. Most of the RF engineering staff these states have do not understand that WISP coverage can be generated in a much more simple way than they are requesting. Ask the WISP's in Illinois who have dealt with me. My way is much simpler for them to deal with. Radio Mobile can and will generate very accurate maps in a skilled set of hands. I have been using the program for 15 years now and helped in its development with Roger. I have compared it to the various $50,000 and up commercial RF tools I had at my disposal over the years. It's just as good as what I have seen those tools kick out. The real world WISP experience is also nice for additional input but not too many have taken the time to do so. The semiannual map update process is a lot of work. The data that comes in is usually a mess from almost all carriers and there is a huge amount of post processing that needs to be done. Each state has to run the data sets through a standardized error checking tool before submission to the NTA for structure and uniformity. We are not allowed to send the data to them without a clean error check tool. It can be a very daunting process. WISP's are a very important element to showing how well a state is covered yet most states don't yet realize it nor do they have an understanding of the industry or the personalities of those who run those businesses. That is not going to change any time in the near future so if the WISP industry wants more respect it would be in their best interests to be as cooperative and helpful in the mapping process as possible without giving up all their personal business data. It can be done, I am doing it with the Illinois WISP's and Matt Larsen has done it with my help in his states he covers. Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: Greg Ihnen [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 5:34 AM To: WISPA General List Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WISPA] Providing data to NTIA for Broadband mapping? To me that hardly seems like a "study" if all they're doing is making predictions with the same tools the WISPs make their predictions with and publish them. And for that they want all the intimate details of your business? The WISPs have Radio Mobile as well as all the real world experience with actual signal strength measurements and knowledge of where there's signal but it's not useable due to interference or Fresnel zone issues etc. Greg On Aug 3, 2011, at 10:45 PM, Cameron Crum wrote: In TX I know they just used radio mobile. On Wed, Aug 3, 2011 at 9:13 PM, Brian Webster <[email protected]> wrote: No they are producing RF engineering maps and studies using RF propagation tools. Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com <http://www.wirelessmapping.com/> www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: Greg Ihnen [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 7:18 PM To: [email protected] Cc: 'WISPA General List' Subject: Re: [WISPA] Providing data to NTIA for Broadband mapping? Brian, That's interesting. So they're actually making field measurements? I suspect the state's RF staff is probably limited and stretched thin in attempting to cover all the WISPs in the entire state. Their number of measurements would have to be far below that of the WISP operator who has rssi data from every CPE plus all of their pre-sales measurements. Added to that how often could the state's RF staff be resampling? It seems like the state would be much better served to accept the coverage data from the WISP which would have to be more complete and up-to-date. If what they really want is coverage then that's the shortest route. There's always a temptation in data collection to get everything you can so you won't have to get more later if your focus changes and you want to look at something else. That's what Google's Street View in trouble. Greg On Aug 3, 2011, at 5:41 PM, Brian Webster wrote: The states who have their own RF staff are generating RF plots and creating a polygon shape file of the coverage area the same as the cellular industry have provided. Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com <http://www.wirelessmapping.com/> www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: Greg Ihnen [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 12:21 PM To: [email protected]; WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Providing data to NTIA for Broadband mapping? They're conducting RF propagation studies? Is that not already cut and dried? How will their findings be presented? Will they be published? Greg On Aug 3, 2011, at 10:37 AM, Brian Webster wrote: Brett, I am the mapping data coordinator for the Illinois portion of the National Map. They are asking for so many details in anticipation that they need to conduct RF propagation studies. If you don't want to provide so many details but still want to participate in the map you can provide them with a coverage are map and tell them the maximum upload and download advertised speeds for those areas and they should be happy with that. Matt Larsen and I went through the process with Nebraska. Took a little convincing to get them to accept it but they ultimately did. Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com <http://www.wirelessmapping.com/> www.Broadband-Mapping.com <http://www.Broadband-Mapping.com/> _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/> Version: 10.0.1390 / Virus Database: 1518/3807 - Release Date: 08/03/11 _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/> Version: 10.0.1390 / Virus Database: 1518/3807 - Release Date: 08/03/11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1390 / Virus Database: 1518/3807 - Release Date: 08/03/11
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
