RFI
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [RFI] Metricom wireless network

To: David Jordan <wa3gin@erols.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Metricom wireless network
From: dj2001@mn.rr.com
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 15:58:04 -0600
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
Hi again Dave,

NO there is no problem with rfi. We're discussing two different systems here. One is the power companies meter network and the other which was a curosity thing with me is the Meticom boxes. They (Meticom) are not causing any problem that I know of. It sounds like a good system.

Dale





HI,

Don't have any information for you regarding the future prospects of the network. When the company went bankrupt the assets went to the owners of the light poles, the building owners where the WAPs were located. It is a challenge to resurrect the network but it is sure a neat network. Would be great for a public safety gov. owned network.

The input freq. is 900mhz and output is 2.4g back to the WAP. The 900 makes it easy to penetrate buildings, etc. Because the protocal is proprietary no one has broken the code, so it's fairly secure. Add VPN to it and you've got one hell of wireless data network. I'm getting over 200kbps speeds at work where we're testing it.

That is about all I can tell you. If you really think it's causing you RFI you can unplug it from the lamp fixture. They get the power from the lamp pole, usually 125VAC, the power supply will run on anything from 80-208VAC. Unplug the lamp, then unplug the sandwich, then put the lamp plug back in. You probably can get the Power Company to do this for you but again I don't think this is the source of your RFI.

73,
dave
wa3gin

dj2001@mn.rr.com wrote:

Hi Dave,
I had this curiosity about the boxes still hanging on the street lights here in Bloomington Minnesota, they're all over the place. So I looked with my binoculars to get a name or id of some kind and that's what I found. Are they going to revive the network here? I would think it'd be a tough road against cable.
If you have any other information please pass it along.
Dale



What would you like to know about Metricom? I'm one of a few guys that is re-lighting the network here in VA. The company is back. They have turned up Ricohet in Denver, San Diego and looking at some of the other 17 major metro areas.

 73,
 dave
 wa3gin

dj2001@mn.rr.com wrote:

Ok, I went up to one of the boxes hanging from the street light and wrote down the name with the aid of my Nikon binoculars. It is by Metricom. Check out the link below.
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-269362.html?legacy=cnet
Dale




Hi John, dident recognize you with the new/old call.

The boxes according to the power company guys I talked to are not the same ones for reading the meters. They are bigger square metal units mounted on power poles, these are small white things hanging from the light standards with antennas hanging under them, unless I was fed some incorrect information. I should take my binoculars out and read the lable underneath and take a picture too. By the way how do the meters get the signal to the receivers? I don't see an antenna anywhere on my meter.

Dale



Hi Dale -

  I believe the boxes you are referring to are very much in use for their
  designed purpose - remote reading of utility meters.

73,

John W0DC

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: <dj2001@mn.rr.com>
  To: <rfi@contesting.com>
  Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 3:52 AM
  Subject: RE: [RFI] Bush and BPL


       only
    >they will involve broadband wireless access points and future
    >technology.  I  don't believe this is showing up on anyone's radar
    >screen yet.

    They tried that around here and the company went BR.  The boxes with
    the little antennas are still hanging on the light standards.  i
    should get a pix and post it just for fun.


_______________________________________________ RFI mailing list RFI@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi


  _______________________________________________
  RFI mailing list
  RFI@contesting.com
  http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi



_______________________________________________ RFI mailing list RFI@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>