White Space Radio To Be Tested In Cambridge

judgecorp writes "White space radio, the technology which could provide broadband networks by using TV spectrum more efficiently, will be tested in Cambridge. A consortium including Microsoft, BT and the BBC will check the technology does not interfere with TV, and test it for mobile broadband and telemetry. The regulator, Ofcom, has already set out likely terms for legalising white space radio and seems on track to approve it soon."

Comments

Maybe in the US???

[edumacator]

The use of white space radio has been proposed in the US, but has mired in arguments.

Maybe if the Brits can pull this off, we'll see some limited trials in the US soon...maybe.

Re:Maybe in the US???

[rbrausse]

at least the terminology is already US-based, pg. 14 explains the changed wording from 'cognitive devices' to 'white space devices' with

In the US the term WSDs has become common usage and we see no value in having different terminology for the same device.

A rational and straight-forward motivation issued by a public authority? I'm *shocked*

Re:Maybe in the US???

[rbrausse]

as a more serious side note: according to this article the Rice University in Houston is actually testing white space radio in the US

Re:Maybe in the US???

[JasterBobaMereel]

Of all the UK regulators Ofcom seem to be the most sensible ....

they have even taken the Broadband companies to task over their 'unlimited' broadband (which is limited) and 'up to' speeds which are unobtainable unless you live in the telephone exchange ...

Re:Maybe in the US???

[Anonymous Coward]

There are dozens of trials already on-going in the US. See Clydesville, etc. ShowMyWhitespaces.com (or SpectrumBridge) probably has some info on trials.

I spoke with one company, Carlson Wireless, last week. They hope to *complete* FCC certification in September. If you have $7000 and a good use case for experimental license, you can buy a six pack of radios today (AP plus five clients). I think that will get you a 4Mbs down/ 1Mbs up connection good for, maybe three?, miles, even going thru trees. Unfortunately as a WISP, I'll have to wait for the radio prices to come down.

Neul, the company doing this trial in Cambridge announced gear two weeks back. It said "contact us to purchase", so I did. A few days later the response was $24,000 US for two radios. But they are claiming that the chipset will be down to $5 in 2013. I hope so! Their radio had better specs, claimed to transfer 12Mbs. (a full TV channel is about 19Mbs I think, I've been hoping for 14Mbs after accounting for overhead etc)

A very exciting time for rural broadband!

Re:Maybe in the US???

[Anonymous Coward]

Rice University is awesome when it comes to the frequencies =]

It's Going To Happen

[SplicerNYC]

Too much money at stake for high-stakes players. They'll saw off a couple of corners to make it fit.

Re:The BBC sucks

[Anonymous Coward]

Right on brother, looking forward to enjoying more of the quality entertainment offered by ITV.

Re:Cheetoh dust in glans - PLEASE HELP

[MichaelSmith]

Can any of you suggest a course of action?

Nothing that won't get you arrested.

Re:The BBC sucks

[ciderbrew]

I couldn't agree less. Look at the crap ITV and 4 put out. Go to 4OD and see just how crap the Channel 4 back catalogue is for science. iplayer is worth the fee. Popularism and fighting for high ratings vs cost just makes for lowest common denominator tripe. A programme with Jim al-khalili talking about the history of chemistry would have never of been made by ITV. You'd get Ant and Dec's fink'king and kemister'rey and stuff. You may like x factor; but please don't make me suffer it.

The way of the world....

[Anonymous Coward]

Five'll get you 20 that what will happen is that, if the Brit technology works, US agreement to implement that technology will be delayed artificially, until the US have some home-grown product which can compete. ..just like the mobile phones on airliners story....

Frequency purity

[the_raptor]

And like the power meter monitoring devices and intra-house networking over power cabling the devices emissions will stick to their allocated spectrum like a politician sticks to their promises.

Amateur radio was a fun hobby while it lasted. But Ofcom is leading the charge worldwide in killing it off (or at least forcing Hams into using only high power SDR digital modes). It is fun when Hams have to pass a test, pay a license fee, stuck with specially licensed equipment, legally required not to cause interference etc, and any jackass with an unlicensed spectrum can crap all over the radio spectrum with regulators doing nothing.

Re:Frequency purity

[ewanm89]

Okay, say good bye to all your wifi, you do know that the 2.45 GHz band is a ham primary band. 2, Ofcom was the first to ditch licence fees. Low power morse, or multi frequencies modes are still in use and are great for low power, one can bust through most interference without the need of major power.

Re:Frequency purity

[megabeck42]

Uhh, Hi. Yeah. Sorry, The 12cm/13cm band is 2.3-2.31Ghz and 2.39-2.45Ghz. It doesn't overlap the entire ISM allocation. People are still welcome to use channel 11 on their wifi routers... or use those fancy 5GHz radios.

Re:The BBC sucks

[AlecC]

According to some of the linked articles, the intent is the exact opposite: to use bandwidth allocated to TV but not locally in use to provide broadband, particularly in rural areas.

Re:Cheetoh dust in glans - PLEASE HELP

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Ask her if she likes Cheetos.

White Space Radio

[royallthefourth]

Why are they broadcasting country music into space??

Re:White Space Radio

[Anonymous Coward]

Duh - They are obviously to racist to broadcast Jazz and Blues.

Re:White Space Radio

[kat_skan]

Because the only known safe way to dispose of country music is to dump it into the sun.

Re:Cheetoh dust in glans - PLEASE HELP

[erinpolerimos]

Uhmm... Your that desperate coz your out of topic. :)

Cambridge, England

[bill_mcgonigle]

In case the rest of you got your hopes us.

Re:Cambridge, England

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, duh, the British Broadcasting Corporation and British Telecom are involved in the trials, they are hardly likely to test it in any of the other Cambridges.

Re:The BBC sucks

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm glad you like it. You're welcome to pay for it.

I don't like it, don't want it and will not pay for it.

What next ? An act of Parliament to force me to buy pink wellies because someone in Chelsea likes them ?

The BCC should be split up and made available as discrete encrypted subscription services. You want it ? You pay for it. Don't want it ? No problem.

Re:The BBC sucks

[rich_hudds]

Well we live in a democracy and people keep voting for parties that have it in their manifesto. Personally I'd pay the licence fee for the radio alone. Radio with adverts is hell.

What happens when the white space disappears??

[Shirley Marquez]

I see a huge potential problem lurking with whitespace devices. What happens when additional licensed broadcasters come along and the whitespaces that these devices are counting on are no longer available? There will be a large installed base of users who will suddenly be very unhappy...