Our service is based on Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology, originally designed for use by the military. It is a frequency modulation technique that utilizes the entire transmission band in a prearranged scheme. Spread-spectrum is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security. For these reasons, the signal is highly resistant to noise, interference and interception. Security of transmissions is provided with user authentication and data encryption. FHSS allows many users to simultaneously share the same frequency band.
- Immediate Connectivity - Subscriber is "Always On"
- Reduced Deployment Costs
- Service Provided in Areas Overlooked by Competitors
- High Capacity - Thousands of Subscribers per Location
- Coverage reaches beyond competing technologies like DSL, cable and other wired systems
- Large Coverage Radius
- Simultaneous High-speed Data and Telephony
- Fast Access to the Internet and other IP-based Services
The radio equipment used by Trificient has the following characteristics:
- Employs both point-to-point and point-to-multi-point broadcast
- Operates at a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbs on point-to-point
- Uses Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum topology
- Uses the license-free 900, 2.4 and 5.8 GHz ISM frequency bands
- Broadcasts strong signal distance of 15+ miles for point-to-point broadcasts
Reasons why wireless Internet access is growing:
- Fast Access to the Internet and Other IP-Based Services
- Immediate Connectivity - Subscriber is "Always On"
- High Capacity - Thousands of Customers per location
- Additional Broadband services: VPN's, VLAN's
- SNMP Management Support
- Easily Scalable Architecture
- Mature, Field-Proven Technology
Advantages of Wireless
- Quick and Easy Expansion of Services
- Offers Services Where Competitors Cannot or Will Not
- Minimal Delay from Order to Installation
- Redundancy of Signal Transmission to Alternate Antennae
The basic difference between wireless and hardwire communications systems is the medium of transmission. Hardwire systems communicate via copper wire, coaxial cable, and/or fiber optic cable that is physically connected between the transmitting and receiving systems. Wireless systems communicate by transmitting and receiving signals via Radio Frequencies without actual physical connection between the transmitting and receiving systems. Wireless is, therefore, less expensive in terms of infrastructure development because a large population base can be served without the need to run wire or fiber to each individual users facility.
Wireless permits rapid implementation of service to a large number of potential users because it is not dependent on installation of hard wire; rather, installation of a single tower mounted antenna system will typically provide immediate coverage of an area of five miles in all directions from the antenna location. Multiple antenna installations can provide Internet access to a very large geographic area in a fraction of the time needed to provide similar service using hard wire. Wireless and hardwire systems are similar in terms of reliability, availability and maintainability. And, because infrastructure development costs are lower, wireless service is usually less expensive than comparable services provided via hardwire interface.
A typical wireless ISP consists of one or more omni directional antennae mounted on an elevated structure. The omni directional antennae are used to transmit and receive signals from subscribers (users). The omni directional antennae are connected to a parabolic (dish) antenna that is aimed at a similar antenna located at a network operations center. Within the network operations center are radio receivers, transmitters, high speed network servers, a variety of computing equipment, uninterruptible power supplies, routers, and similar equipment. The network operations center maintains a physical connection to a set of high speed, broad band communications circuits, (typically multiple T-1s and/or T-3s.) Those high speed circuits provide the interface to the Internet Backbone, and ultimately, to the rest of the world. Each user of wireless ISP is provided with a small transceiver (transmitting and receiving device) that is mounted on their house or building. The transceiver is connected to the user computing system via a wire and interface card. No modem is required.
The user accesses the Internet through their “browser” of choice (Netscape, Microsoft Explorer, etc.). The data generated by the user flows through the network interface card to their transceiver and is transmitted through space. The signal is detected by the tower mounted omni directional antennae, fed to a tower mounted transceiver where it is amplified and fed to the dish antenna. The signal is then radiated, line of sight, to the dish antenna at the network operations center. There it is received, fed through the network servers to various routers and communications interface devices to the Internet Backbone system via the T-1 and/or T-3 high speed circuitry. Incoming data simply follows a reverse of the path followed by outgoing data.
Generally speaking, about 80 percent of the homes or businesses within a five mile radius of the antennae location will be able to access the Internet via a wireless system. However, there are a number of factors that can inhibit such access; topography is the principal limiting factor. Potential users who are not within line-of-sight of the tower mounted antennae are sometimes unable to establish communications because of the topography. However, that is not always the case. Frequently locations completely shielded by hills are able to reliably interface with the system via signal relay stations. Other factors that can inhibit access are shielding from man-made structures and dense vegetation (principally fully leafed trees). Most of these inhibitors can be resolved by placing the user antenna in a more favorable location or by increasing the power of the antennae using an amplifier.
Adverse weather does not affect the system in any significant way. As with hard wire systems, redundancy in mission critical components is employed to ensure uninterrupted service. The experiences of another wireless ISP, located in the mountainous region of western North Carolina, where severe weather including heavy rain, hail, lightening and high winds has led to virtually no interruption in service over a period of three years.
The network operations center will provide floor space for the installation of computing equipment (primarily servers), transceivers, network interface devices, and uninterruptible power supplies. It will provide space for technician work areas (assembly and repair), test equipment, spare parts, and inventory. The facility will also provide office space for management, sales and administrative personnel.
All of the hardware, software, and communications devices needed to implement the system described herein are readily available and being used daily, all over the world. All such devices have well established track records for reliable performance. The risk of system outages due to equipment failure are always present in this type of business. To mitigate that risk, 100% redundancy will be employed at each mission critical point within the system. The risk of electrical power failure will be mitigated through the use of uninterruptible power supplies and portable electric generators.