What is WiMAX Technology

WiMAX system stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. WiMAX system technology is a telecommunications technology that offers transmission of wireless data via a number of transmission methods; such as portable or fully mobile internet access via point to multipoints links. The WiMAX system technologyoffers around 72 Mega Bits per second without any need for the cable infrastructure. WiMAX system technology is based on Standard that is IEEE 802.16, it usually also called as Broadband Wireless Access. WiMAX system Forum created the name for WiMAX technology that was formed in Mid June 2001 to encourage compliance and interoperability of the WiMAX IEEE 802.16 standard.

WiMAX technology often misinterpreted by the people by the names of mobile WiMAX system, 802.16d, fixed WiMAX system and 802.16e. Actually 802.16-2004 or 802.16d is developed by the third party as a standard and it is also referred to called as Fixed WiMAX system because this standard is lacking behind just because of the non-mobility feature that’s why it’s often called as Fixed WiMAX system. During the maturity period of WiMAX system technology system some of the amendments were made to the above mentioned 802.16d and they referred this amending standard as 802.16e. 802.16e introduced mobility and some other features amongst other standards and is also known as Mobile WiMAX system.

Less than one out of five people of the developed world and an even smaller, little percentage of people across the world have broadband internet access today. Existing technologies such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable, and fixed wireless are overwhelmed by expensive installs, problems with loop lengths, upstream upgrade issues, line-of-sight restrictions, and poor scalability.

WiMAX system is the next stage to a broadband as well as a wireless world, extending broadband wireless access to new locations and over longer distances, as well as considerably reducing the cost of bringing broadband to new areas. WiMAX system technology offers greater range and bandwidth than the other available or forthcoming broadband wireless technologies such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and Ultra-wideband (UWB) family of standards. It provides a wireless alternative to wired backhaul and last mile deployments that use Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOGS1S) cable modems, Digital Subscriber Line technologies (DSL), T-carrier and E-carrier (Tx/Ex) systems, and Optical Carrier Level (OC-x) technologies. (Jiffy Networks, 2006)

The general initiative of metropolitan area wireless networking, as envisioned with 802.16, begins with what is called fixed wireless. A backbone of base stations is connected to a public network, and each base station carries hundreds of fixed subscriber stations, which can be both public hot spots and fire-walled enterprise networks. Later in the development cycle of 802.16e, WiMAX system is expected to encourage mobile wireless technology specifically wireless transmissions directly to mobile end users, This will be similar in function to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and the one times Radio Transmission Technology (RTT) offered by mobile phone companies.

New organizations as well as individuals are increasingly adopting broadband, whereas those already using broadband are becoming dependent on it and are demanding better services with added benefits. To support this exceptional new demand, WiMAX system has emerged as a feasible solution, because of its inherent features that holds great promise for the future of wireless communications.

There has been a lot of excitement about WiMAX system and the impact that this standards based wireless network technology will have on the broadband access market. All this hype has generated great expectations, and the industry has responded with exceptional aggression and commitment toward taking broadband to the next level with WMAX system.

WiMAX Features

WiMax have lots of features to its name. Lots of limitations were found as the use of Wifi technology grew around the world, to overcome these limitations and to invent better and more efficient wireless technology was realized which turned out to be WiMax. WiMax have lots of features which helped in increase usability of WiMAX around the world. It is still not been used to its full potential that’s why there may be more features which may not be known as yet, more and more exploration is required to get WiMax technology to its full use, however we know some of its significant features which are important enough to mention.

Long Rang

Connectivity from long range is much highlighted feature of WiMax. Theoretically it is believed that WiMax technology provides range up 30 mils (50 Km). However in practical experience it is observed that it provides range up to 10 km which is still huge break through in long range connectivity. Users can connect to WiMax base station using SUI from their homes.

Mobility

Another significant feature of WiMax technology is the connectivity on move. This technology amaze the world hence increasing the use of WiMax in some parts of the world dramatically. Especially to the urban places where cables and other network equipments are not feasible to install. Using its long range feature it provides connectivity on such area where other means of high speed Internet are not available.

The other major mobility feature of WiMax technology is that connecting devices (Laptops, PDA etc) can move in certain area and still be connected to the network.

Interfacing

WiMax radio signals are broadcasted to its subscribers from base stations. Base stations are area where all necessary hardware is installed to provide WiMax with in its range. Since one Base station covers limited range so connecting multiple base stations to each other increase that much range for connectivity. Connecting multiple base stations to each other is not big task and can be perform in few hours.

Accessibility

Accessing WiMax base station is not a difficult task, its long range capability provides connectivity at home from base stations within the range. To get high speed internet it’s only required to be because subscriber to WiMax service providers. They will provide you appropriate hardware to become of the subscriber. Installing the hardware is very easy; it is just plug and play. Hardware mostly connects through USB ports or Ethernet and connection can be made by clicking just a button.

There may be several other features which will surely come up as the growth of WiMax technology increases.

WiMAX : Latest for internt

A general perception for WiMAX is that it delivers high speed data that is 70 Mbps 50 kilometers, but in factual situation WiMAX do some thing different. It increase Bit error rate if it operates at 50 kilometers, that’s why it important to use lower bitrates. If the range is low it helps in operating at higher bitrates.

As we know, there are majorly two types of WiMAX, fixed WiMax and Mobile WiMax, in fixed WiMAX network higher gain directional antenna is installed near the subscriber location which helps in increasing signal strengths, better data rate and throughput. However mobile networks are designed for indoors, it uses customer premises equipment (CPE) which is attached with computers and laptops or other WiMax products.

In mobile WiMax Omni directional antennas are used, which have lower-gain when compared to directional antenna; directional antennas are easy to use as they portable. 10 Mbps speed can be achieved within 10 km range if portable mobile WiMAX CPE used in line-of-sight. In contrast to this 10 Mbps speed can be delivered to only 2 km in urban areas as it is not possible to keep antenna on line-of-sight.

In current situation fixed WiMax throughputs 2Mbps at 10 km using high gain antenna. Higher gain directional antenna can be used with Mobile WiMax networks with good range and throughput but in result loose mobility.

As in all wireless or wired networks, the given bandwidth is divided among the users, it is same in WiMax also, available bandwidth is divided among the users in certain radio sector, and performance of the network can drop in case of many users in give sector. To improve the performance in this situation more radio cards are required to be installed in the base station for give sector.

Because of this varying performance of WiMax networks, lots architectures are incorporated into WiMax by independent development and within the 802.16j mobile multi-hop relay (MMR) task group.