TV White Space & The Future of Wireless Broadband

DeviceGuru writes "The unoccupied radio spectrum between broadcast TV channels may soon become a source of low-cost, ubiquitous broadband connectivity. Earlier this month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission began Phase II testing of 'white space device' prototypes, to determine whether WSDs can operate without interfering with the other wireless devices commonly used in homes, offices, and public locations. A key advantage of white space wireless technology, compared to the combination of WiFI and WiMAX, is its TV-like ability to cover broad areas and penetrate walls and trees, using relatively low power levels."

Comments

Re:Does "white space" last forever?

[Ephemeriis]

The problem with this idea is that it assumes that TV broadcasting will always be done the way it is today with unused space between the channels. If "white space" equipment gets deployed it is going to create a massive problem for any attempts to change use of the existing TV spectrum. Any future users of this spectrum are going to have to work around the applications now running in what used to be the "white space".

If I understand correctly, part of what this device does is detect television signals and avoid spectrum that is actually being used. That is part of what is being tested. The idea is that these devices would be allowed to transmit over fairly large chunks of the spectrum, but that they would automatically detect what is actually being used for television and only transmit in the gaps between channels. That is why there's so much concern about these devices causing interference - nobody is sure how well this detection/avoidance mechanism is going to work.

If it does actually work like it is supposed to it won't matter if the white space between channels moves or vanishes - the device will stop using that chunk of spectrum and move to another. The only real problem you'd have is if you completely saturated the spectrum with television, which could happen. But in that case the devices would simply be unable to find any white space and would not be able to transmit - it wouldn't actually interfere with the television broadcast.

That's how it's supposed to work, at least.