Tuesday, June 25, 2002

TowerStream Provides BWIA Bandwidth to 802.11b Hot Spots at WCA Conference I'm genuinely surprised that they're not touting this in an online press release that I can link to, but TowerStream (http://www.towerstream.com), a Broadband Wireless Internet Access service provider is providing Internet bandwidth to at least two 802.11b access points for the convenience of the attendees with 802.11b-equipped laptops and PDAs. TowerStream's solution provides up to 8 Mbps and neatly sidesteps the expense and hassle of procuring bandwidth via wireline T-1 for a conference. A small 5 GHz panel antenna tie-wrapped to any convenient outdoor mounting point, with cables snaking inside to the Customer Premise Equipment. A short 10baseT cable connects the CPE to an 802.11b Access Point. I'm told that installation took about an hour from showing up to service being available, with most of the time spent snaking the cable through an existing conduit. I'm told that TowerStream can provide service with as little as two day's notice (though that isn't advertised to their potential customers... yet.) I learned yesterday that the various contractors working on Boston's "Big Dig" construction project move their construction trailers every few weeks, and getting data and phone lines moved was a continual headache. Now, TowerStream's solution is being used not by the construction companies not only for Internet access (sending email, accessing web sites to see construction plans, etc.) but increasingly for displacing wired phone lines using the amazing Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) Voice Over IP (VOIP) phone service. Now when the Big Dig contractors move their trailers, at worst they have to tweak the antenna's direction and they're back online with Internet and phone service. -- Steve Stroh steve@strohpub.com 425-481-0600 Editor Focus on Broadband Wireless Internet Access newsletter http://www.strohpub.com/focus Broadband Wireless Internet Access weblog http://www.strohpub.com/weblog 9:24:37 AM

TowerStream - Wireless ISP In Boston TowerStream (http://www.towerstream.com) is a Wireless ISP in the Boston area providing T-1-equivalent (minimum) Internet Access service in the greater Boston area via a series of 5 or so Points of Presence (POPs). I became interested in TowerStream because they are using license-exempt 5 GHz spectrum in revenue WISP service in a major metropolitan area, something that the "experts" would tell you cannot be done... with any degree of reliability or success. One of the secrets to TowerStream's success is that they're deploying next-generation equipment from Aperto Networks, who I've written about previously and have been impressed with. Thanks to TowerStream and Aperto Networks, I was privileged to be given an impressive tour of TowerStream's primary Point of Presence in downtown Boston - the roof of the Prudential building. To give you some idea of just how different a company TowerStream is, they advertise T-1 Internet Access service for $499/month a two-week install time service on 30 second radio spots. When's the last time you heard a T-1 being advertised on the radio? For me, in Seattle, only at the height of the dot-com frenzy. An in-depth article of my impressions of TowerStream will be in an upcoming issue of Focus On Broadband Wireless Internet Access (http://www.strohpub.com./focus) Hotel Internet Access Done RIGHT! I'm currently at the Wireless Communications Association's WCA 2002 conference at Boston's World Trade Center. While I have access to the superb Press Room at WCA 2002, that's only available during the hours of the conference, and during those hours I'm typically busy attending presentations, conducting interviews, and seeing vendors on the exhibit floor. Hoping to get a bit of writing done in the hotel, I decided to risk my very tired and very beat laptop to survive one more trip to try to get a bit of writing done in the evenings while at the show. For the duration of the show, my family and I are staying at the Seaport Hotel (co-located with the World Trade Center). In each room, at a nicely-sized desk/dresser assembly, is a plate with an RJ-11 jack marked "ANALOG MODEM/FAX" and below it an Orange RJ-45 jack marked "LOCAL AREA NETWORK". Exhibiting near total cluefulness, there is also a 4-plex electrical outlet near the phone and data jacks for easy powering of laptops, cellphone chargers, etc. In a word, the Seaport Hotel is the first hotel that I've encountered that really, truly does Internet Accessright! (In fairness, the Seaport Hotel is an upscale hotel, with all the usual amenities.) While I've [very] occaisonally stayed in more luxurious hotels, none have ever done Internet access this right. * Internet access is via conventional Ethernet; no "gotchas", no unusual hoops to jump through to use it, no sign-on or registration screens on the web browser, etc. (other than a flashed-right-by-me disclaimer page.) Just plug in, reboot for a DHCP address, and you're online. * Via DHCP, you're leased a routable (not a NAT) IP address for 24 hours, minimizing headaches for users of VLANs, etc. * Speed is very reasonable - one speed test clocked in at 744 Kbps * Internet access via Ethernet is an included amenity - no extra charge for its use * Staff is reasonably competent about offering help and hints on getting connected (my laptop was slightly misconfigured, a result of floating between four different wired networks and three different wireless networks.) There is a short 10baseT cable in the room for your use (if you take it with you, you'll be charged) and the instructions (a small card tucked away where I didn't see it immediately) state that NICs, cables, etc. are available if needed. * While there's no charge for use of the Ethernet network connection, if you connect via modem, there is a per-minute charge. To me, this is a sign that the management of the Seaport Hotel is very techno-savvy. Phone lines (and PBX capacity) are much more expensive than including Ethernet wiring during construction and amortizing the cost of a T-1, hubs, etc. over many guests. -- Steve Stroh steve@strohpub.com 425-481-0600 Editor Focus on Broadband Wireless Internet Access newsletter http://www.strohpub.com/focus Broadband Wireless Internet Access weblog http://www.strohpub.com/weblog 2:49:07 AM

© Copyright 2002 Steve Stroh.