What’s the deal with SkyPilot? It’s another mesh networking system using a modified “802.11a-like” mesh backbone.
SkyPilot claims it can provide near line of sight connections up to four miles (with an outdoor antenna) and 2 miles (with an indoor antennas). Maximum line-of-site is said to reach up to 20 miles.
How do they do it? SkyPilot uses an Atheros 5002 chip but modifies the protocol for improved backbone connections. The SkyGateway (basestation) and SkyExtender (repeater) have an EIRP of 44.5 dBm. The $400 subscriber units incorporate 17db antennas for 42.5 dBm. Base stations using six, 18dBi sector antennas, are said to cost $2,499 while mesh extenders go for $350. It’s lots cheaper than WiMax — at least for now.
Mesh competitors include BelAir Networks, Bandspeed, Firetide, Nortel, Strix Systems and Tropos Networks.
- BelAir Networks (right), uses a similar 6 sector design and a patented, multiple point-to-point mesh backhaul (pdf) which is said to provide a robust backhaul for medium- and largescale WLAN networks. The company is anticipating that it will introduce a WiMax product sometime in 2005.
- Bandspeed, which also uses a 6 sector access point, offers switching capabilities at its AP. Their 940K is said to be IEEE 802.11a, b, and g standards compliant and utilizes spatial division multiple access (SDMA) sectorized switching.
- FireTide Networks utilizes more conventional-looking outdoor and indoor routers. By simply plugging HotPoint wireless mesh routers into standard AC power outlets, Firetide claims they can provide a simple and reliable alternative to standard Ethernet cable. Their mesh routers include three standard 10/100 Ethernet ports for connecting both access points and non-wireless devices. It uses proprietary software based on technology developed by SRI (as does Packet Hop which spun off from SRI). Their technology makes a mesh network appear like a multiport Ethernet switch. Firetide is working with Pronto Networks.
- Strix Systems supports multiple RF technologies, so you can build the network that s right for you. Their Access/One Network can accommodate any combination of 802.11a/b/g and BlueTooth technologies.
- Tropos mesh gear is used in Cerritos, California. That network consists of 90 Tropos Networks’ 5110 ‘ruggedized’ 802.11b Wi-Fi outdoor radios. Each of the boxes acts as an access point and a mesh node, with a range of as far as a quarter of a mile. The shoebox-sized mesh cells use Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol, which, it is claimed, can eliminate up to 95 percent of traditional wired backhaul needs.
All these mesh networking vendors (and probably lots more), are proprietary. That means you’ll have to stick with one vendor. They are also after the Homeland Security checks, now burning a hole in the pockets of municipalities. The question everyone wants answered, is it better to build on top of the current public service radio network with interoperable Project 25 radios, go with a cellular provider like Verizon or Nextel for “enhanced” mobile data, build a proprietary municipal mesh network, invest in a proprietary “4G” solution like Flarion or Arraycomm or wait for a standardized mesh or “4G” solution like 802.20 or 802.16? Maybe a mix of technologies is the right solution.
Don’t ask DailyWireless. We don’t have a clue. Tell us what you think. MeshDynamics founder and CTO argued that mesh networks don t scale and got lots of publicity (for better or worse).
An evolving standard, 802.11s (doc), aims to define a standardized MAC and PHY layer for meshed networks. The next meeting of the 802.11 Working Groups is the 2004 IEEE 802 Plenary Session in Portland, OR, July 11-16, 2004. It will bring together 802.11/.15/.16/.17/.18/.19/.20/.21 Working Groups, eyeball-to-eyeball. DailyWireless will be there.
Related articles on DW include; Mesh Projects & Gear, Pronto & Firetide, Mesh in Baton Rouge and Elsewhere, Mesh Goes Boingo, and Mesh Standards?
