Yesterday I heard the term "Fiber to the Node" for the first time. I found the following definition:

FTTN (Fiber to the Node) refers to an access network in which fiber is used for part, but not all of the link from the OLT to the end-user. An optical to electrical (O/E) conversion takes place at an active device called a Node. This Node typically serves a neighborhood or geographically similar area, which is larger than the typical service area in an FTTC deployment. The terminal network segment is usually twisted copper pairs or coaxial cable. Most current CATV and Telephony networks have FTTN architectures.

Eastlink Glossary

Apparently this is the idea of running fiber deeper into a neighborhood. SBC and Verizon announced FTTN initiatives on June 22, 2004. Fiber would be placed into communities and serve 300 - 500 homes. The last few thousand feet is still copper.

FTTC (Fiber to the Curb) is a variation of FTTN that gets fiber to within a thousand feet of each structure. The last leg is still copper of one sort or another.

I must learn more.........
2:18:43 PM    comment []

A Wired article on the Dan Rather scandal makes me laugh. I'm certainly no controversial blogger. My posts are pretty tame. Part of the fear of being a government employee, I suppose. But at least I'm part of the blogsphere. A kindred spirit.

I especially enjoyed this quote from the article:

"Whether a blog leans left, right or sideways, as a collective force they are working to keep reporters honest. Journalists may not like their methods -- having your work sliced and diced in public is no fun -- but the end result may be better-quality news."

It's fun to irritate the "elite" media.

Well, I've got to go. The refrigerator's calling..........
1:37:23 PM    comment []

Some of them are very expensive. Some have wireless capabilities. Their software is powerful and sometimes useful. Their screens are small. And non of them have much memory. At least not compared to my $300, 20 Gig, Apple iPod.

Who would pay over $500 for one of these small, memory-challenged, organizers? No one. At least not if it is from their own pocket. Corporate purchases of PDAs is the only thing keeping this market alive. Look at the results. iPod sales are through the roof. PDA sales are struggling. This in spite of the fact that most of us can't find any way to justify an iPod purchase for business purposes. Companies and organizations buy PDAs (at least most of the expensive ones) and individuals buy iPods.

PDA manufacturers are struggling to preserve their niche. I'll tell them how to sell more PDAs. Give me more than my 128 Meg for my $500. Couple a 20, 40 or 60 Gig hard drive with my PDA and over night your sales will take off. At least that's my prediction. It's the hard drive. That will make all those cool PDA apps more useful. Of course, then we would have to deal with the issues of using our PDAs to store personal music and video............
8:56:52 AM    comment []