Fixed Wireless Equipment

Agere's Latest Remote Outdoor Router

Agere's new outdoor router, the OR-500, promises a 10 mile range and supports Power Over Ethernet (PoE). Meanwhile, the company's new outdoor router software now has a plethora of new features.

by Wayne Kawamoto [July 9, 2002]

Agere Systems announced the availability of its new OR-500 Remote Outdoor Router and a more powerful version of its Outdoor Router software (OR 4) for ORiNOCO point-to-point and point-to-multi-point wireless networks. According to the company, its OR-500 is a 2.4 GHz remote outdoor router that has a range of up to 10 miles and offers 11 Mbit/s bandwidth, 128-bit encryption, and support for routing and Power Over Ethernet (PoE).

Based on the ORiNOCO AP-500 platform, the new single-radio OR-500 is designed to be an alternative for enterprises and wireless ISPs (WISPs) that do not require the extra radio capacity of the ORiNOCO dual-radio slot OR-1000 Outdoor Router. And at $795, the OR-500 may be a cost-effective and flexible solution for adding new nodes to an outdoor router network.

The new outdoor router software, which is Version 4 of the ORiNOCO Outdoor Router software, is designed to provide features such as spanning-tree support, RADIUS-based authentication, and RADIUS-based bandwidth throttling. Spanning tree support should improve network reliability by automatically creating alternate links should one segment fail.

In addition, RADIUS-based authentication should enable clients to access the network only after being authenticated by a central RADIUS server. RADIUS-based bandwidth throttling can define and control how much bandwidth is delivered to each end node, which may enable WISPs to create new revenue streams by providing and marketing various levels of service products. In addition, the new software is designed to double the number of supported remote devices for each central outdoor router (COR) from 64 to 128.

"Our Internet access customers range from homes to small businesses to banks and law enforcement," said Glenn Wilson, CEO of M33 Access, a large wireless ISP based in Michigan with a 20,000 square mile footprint. "By using the new ORiNOCO Outdoor Router software and hardware, we can now better provide the additional reliability, security and customized service plan options that they require." "With the release of the OR-500 and Version 4 of our Outdoor Router software we have made it easier and more affordable than ever before to configure and set up outdoor wireless networks," said Andre van Hees, director of development for Agere Systems' Radio Backbone Systems. "Whether you are building a network from scratch or adding to your existing ORiNOCO outdoor network, you will find that the new OR-500 and OR software provides the network flexibility and functionality that you require, all at an affordable price with the ORiNOCO guarantee of quality and reliability."

On June 17, 2002, Agere Systems and Proxim signed a definitive agreement for Proxim to acquire the 802.11 wireless local area network (LAN) equipment business of Agere Systems, including its ORiNOCO product line. Proxim will acquire assets primarily used by Agere in this business, including a broad offering of wireless LAN products such as access points, broadband gateways, outdoor routers, and network management software for both indoor and outdoor environments. Agere will retain its 802.11/Wi-Fi chips, modules, and card business. The companies anticipate that the transaction will be closed within 60 days subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Availability and pricing
The OR-500 is available now at an MSRP of $795.

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