[RFI] Metricom wireless network

[dj2001 at mn.rr.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 at 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 at 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 at mn.rr.com>
>>>>>>   To: <rfi at 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.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>