Best of the Best of the ISP-Lists: Wi-Fi Interference Best of ISP-Lists
[December 24, 2001] Members of the ISP-Lists examine truth and tall tales in pursuit of a method of freeing their airwaves from interference.

The Art of War Driving Best of ISP-Lists
[December 18, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list share wit, wisdom, and stories about fighting the latest iteration of bandwidth thief. No hacker tool is as terrifyingly powerful as Windows XP.

Surround Your Wi-Fi Gear With An AirFortress ISP-Planet Staff
[December 11, 2001] Fortress Technologies introduces a suite of products that take 802.11 security up a notch with a Layer 2 system.

Cisco Says Interplanetary Internet Doable Jim Thompson
[November 30, 2001] Cisco hopes to enable your wireless Internet service to shoot for the moon.

C and Ku Satellite Bands Best of ISP-Lists
[November 28, 2001] Members of the ISP-Satellites list discuss the relative advantages of cheap Ku band service and expensive C band service.

Improving WLAN Security Lisa Phifer
[November 26, 2001] We examine tools—and basic security procedures—that are available to everyone.

LOS Today, Transition To NLOS Tomorrow Gerry Blackwell
[October 16, 2001] Spike Broadband says FUD factor impeding non-line of sight technological advance is no reason to dally. Stick with existing line of sight technology and get building your wireless ISP today.

WiFinder Helps Uncover Hidden Access Points Gus Venditto
[October 9, 2001] Few locations are publicizing that they offer the service just yet. Could your wireless customers use a searchable directory of public 802.11b access points?

Wi-Fi Cardiology Best of ISP-Lists
[October 4, 2001] If you have an opportunity to provide wireless Internet service within a hospital, treat that opportunity with caution. Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss how to do it right and what can go wrong.

Glass That Cuts Signals Best of ISP-Lists
[September 19, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list share the secrets of tinted glass. Although most glass will not affect a radio frequency (RF) signal, certain special types can degrade a signal.

So What If It's A Little Rusty? Best of ISP-Lists
[September 11, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list grapple with the undeniable fact that some of the towers currently used for wireless services are rusty or even completely unsafe. Please don't risk your life.

First Glimpse Of 802.11a Ted Stevenson
[September 5, 2001] It's finally in silicon. The long-awaited 54Mbps technology that's expected to light up the 5GHz radio spectrum is available and being tested by at least one chip supplier. Learn how it fared in our offices.

Agere ORiNOCO AS-2000 Lisa Phifer

Television News Gets Me Down Best of ISP-Lists
[August 2, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list define and discuss the frequencies used by mobile television Electronic News Gathering (ENG) crews. You'd be surprised how close ENG can get to 2.5 GHz.

Setting up a Satellite Service Best of ISP-Lists
[July 31, 2001] Members of the ISP-Satellites list discuss setting up satellite Internet service for the local public library's bookmobile. It's far more complex than 802.11b, and the price of satellite bandwidth is stratospheric.

My Jurassic Antenna Will Last Forever Best of ISP-Lists
[July 25, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list debate the expected life of fixed wireless broadband equipment. This is a business and financial issue as well as a technical issue—how long before you need to buy a new antenna?

Dual Mode 802.11a+b Chipset For Now and...Later Matthew Peretz
[July 24, 2001] Envara's WiND chipset is designed to create interoperability between current 2.4 GHz WLAN implementations and future 5 GHz network upgrades.

Securing 802.11b-based WISPs Gerry Blackwell
[July 19, 2001] Every WISP operator with a network based on 802.11b standards—and that's quite a few by now—knows about the technology's egregious security flaws. If you don't know, you're asleep at the switch.

Someone Shot Down My Solar Panel Best of ISP-Lists
[July 16, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss the vagaries of solar power. There's more than bad weather to worry about when you hoist those pretty, shiny power sources. Some say they're for the
birds. . .

Everybody Talks About Fog Best of ISP-Lists
[July 10, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list report from the field on the effect of fog on 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz fixed wireless broadband Internet service. Fog effects laser more than it effects RF signals, but it can degrade RF signals too.

Ride the Horizontal Wave Best of ISP-Lists
[June 29, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss choosing between horizontal and vertical polarity. It's yet another issue to look at when setting up a fixed wireless broadband Point of Presence (POP).

Take Me To Your Leader Best of ISP-Lists
[June 12, 2001] Curious about a new tower in your area? Members of the ISP-Wireless list share the secrets of finding its owner. Check out the Feds—the FCC and the FAA might be able to help you.

RF on Board Best of the ISP-Lists
[June 1, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss building a wireless LAN for a large merchant vessel, and come up with some creative ideas for networking spaces separated by waterproof steel walls.

Kote Against Rain Best of the ISP-Lists
[May 28, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss methods of waterproofing antennas. Many use a 3M product called Scotchkote, and others are working with teflon to see what sticks.

Mutual Assured Survival Best of the ISP-Lists
[May 23, 2001] When you deploy DSSS in an area and a competitor deploys FHSS, how can you prevent interference? It's a question of peace or war—and don't forget the termites.

Platinum Communications Gerry Blackwell
[May 22, 2001] If the economics of fixed wireless broadband put you off the technology because you could not recoup CPE or installation costs from residential users, WaveRider has an option that could change your mind.

These Lines Will Reach Out and Grab You Best of ISP-Lists
[May 14, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list react to a personal encounter with a power line. Be careful if you're up in the air near one—they can grab your antenna if it gets too close.

Build Your Own Card—or Not Best of ISP-Lists
[May 11, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss whether or not you can save money by building your own wireless card. Before you try, take a look at all of the cheap cards on the market now.

Whoosh, Whoosh Best of ISP-Lists
[May 1, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss generating your own power for your antennas. Sound crazy? People are doing it already, but noise is sometimes a problem. Whoosh, whoosh.

Interfering Cordless Phones Best of ISP-Lists
[April 27, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss a new fear for fixed wireless broadband operators: Interference from 2.4 GHz cordless phones. Interference is rare but possible.

Wireless Privacy: An Oxymoron? Lisa Phifer
[April 26, 2001] ISPs deploying 802.11b for public broadband or fixed wireless Internet access should consider the risks associated with this emerging technology before network security is compromised.

Part 2: How to Pick the Perfect Antenna
Big Fun With The Technical Stuff Marlon K. Schafer
[April 18, 2001] It's a good idea to know your thingamajig from your whatchmacallit when it comes to installing fixed wireless systems, particularly if your 50-feet up a tower or dangling from a rooftop.

Part 1:
How to Pick the Perfect Antenna Marlon K. Schafer
[April 17, 2001] Fixed wireless wizard Marlon Schafer takes on antennas. In the first part of a two-part series, Schafer shares his expertise about what works for which wire-free network connections—and why.

Turning a Blind Eye to LOS Issues ISP-Planet Staff
[March 27, 2001] WaveRider debuts an easy-to-install system for SOHO users; SPEEDCOM introduces self-healing line-of-sight gear—both stretch the boundaries of fixed wireless access for users and providers alike.

Part 2: A Tenured Expert Gerry Blackwell
[March 13, 2001] In the first part of our series we took a brief look at the groundwork for starting a fixed wireless ISP. This time out, we get down to the nitty-gritty and ask some tough questions. Part 1: A Tenured Expert

ISP Planet Wireless News Briefs - March 7, 2001 Gerry Blackwell
• BIFS is Back
• BreezeCOM on a Roll
• Fuzion Enters Canada

The Invisible Service Best of ISP-Lists
[February 26, 2001] When potential customers ask you how secure your wireless broadband network is, what should you say? Members of the ISP-Wireless discuss this key facet of selling the service.

Part 1: A Tenured Expert Gerry Blackwell
[February 23, 2001] If you're thinking about adding fixed wireless access as part of your ISPs offerings—get ready to roll up your sleeves, dirty your hands, and most of all—learn from your mistakes.

Part Two: Wireless LAN Primer Lisa Phifer
[February 6, 2001] Radio signals are much easier to tap into than Ethernet connections, so making sure your wireless transmissions remain your transmissions requires a bit of WEP know-how.

Part One: Wireless LAN Primer Lisa Phifer
[February 5, 2001] The intrinsic allure of understanding wire-free local area networks is two fold—the systems are relatively simple to build and inexpensive to operate. Cheap and easy—two fundamental features required to build a potentially profitable service venture.

Do I Need a Laser Scope? Best of ISP-Lists
[February 3, 2001] From strobe lights to military hardware, members of the ISP-Wireless list have a variety of methods for ensuring that a customer gets broadband RF reception. For some equipment, however, the best method is just to read the manual.

Static or Dynamic IP? Best of ISP-Lists
[January 27, 2001] Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss whether their customers prefer static or dynamic IPs. Businesses report that there are fans of both, depending largely on the type of customer.

Part 2: Beware, Thieves! Gerry Blackwell
[January 24, 2001] Here's a question wireless ISPs owners need to consider pretty seriously. Could intruders with compatible radio equipment steal bandwidth and connection time from you or your customers?