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1Gbps Optical Wireless Network Might Replace Wi-Fi

Posted by timothy on from the line-of-sight-and-bouncy-bouncy dept.

Mark.JUK writes "Pennsylvania State University has developed a new method of indoor Optical Wireless network that does not require a line-of-sight and runs at speeds of 1Gbps+. The system uses a high-powered laser diode — a device that converts electricity into light — as the optical transmitter and an avalanche photo diode — a device that converts light to electricity — as the receiver. The light bounces off the walls and is picked up by the receiver. Traditional radio frequency systems (Wi-Fi , WiMAX etc.) do not require line of sight transmission, but can pass through some substances and so present a security problem. Light, in a room without windows, will not escape the room, improving security."

4 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Or, you could just use cables by ClosedSource · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is only going to work in the small area that the laser can get to, so cables might be a better solution.

  2. Headaches... by venkateshkumar99 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If the LASER is anywhere in the visual spectrum, the whole house could become a perpetual disco ;)

  3. security by wizardforce · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How many homes don't have windows? Of those homes, how often is it that there is a need to connect with a computer inside a closed room? Any system that can connect to a computer inside a closed room can also be connected to from outside the house. Any system that can't be connected to from outside the house also can not connect to a system with the door shut. The number of times the signal can bounce off walls would significantly affect the range of the system. So while a direct path between floors of a house may be 10 meters, the path through the house from the top floor going around everything that is opaque to the system might be 50-60 meters and quite possibly out of range.

    --
    Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
  4. Wrong on one count by dreamchaser · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The other point is that for most applications, it's simply unnecessary to improve over the speed of modern wireless.

    Uh huh, and 640K should be enough for anyone, and there's no reason to go to broadband when a regular old analog modem is sufficient for most applications, and...well you probably get my point by now.