WiMAX could interfere with satellite communications?

Yeah, all those sticky sweet stories about WiMAX actually happening this decade or possibly showing up in a device or two were really getting on our nerves. Now it seems the "little wireless standard that couldn't" is back to form with a report from the Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG). Apparently those folks found "conclusive" results of "unacceptable" levels of interference from WiMAX of satellite signals in the C-band. Naturally, it sounds like this group's primary purpose is to come up with data like this to protect that satellite spectrum turf, but it's disconcerting nonetheless, and we'd love to hear from the WiMAX camp on the issue -- if it comes down to a choice between mobile broadband and a new season of Meerkat Manor in HD, we don't want to be the ones making the hard decisions.

[Via New Scientist]

[abarrow Posted Mar 17th 2008 12:20AM]

This really is happening. C-Band satellites are the bread and butter of communications into Africa (KU-Band doesn't penetrate heavy rain), and WIMAX has been identified as a great replacement for the non-existent wired infrastructure in Africa. I've experienced this interference first hand - it's a real problem. C-Band VSAT systems have been there a while and local communities and businesses are depending on them, and now WIMAX is making that impossible in some areas.

The systems definitely clash, and this isn't something that can be fixed soon. Both WIMAX and C-Band satellite are needed to build up areas that don't have the infrastructure.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2008 9:22AM]

fuck the c-band it's old & needs to go away... the c-bands are the old rotating satellite users who couldn't get cable back in the 80's. hey it's 20yrs later maybe you should update your fucking technology grandpa.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 7:34AM]

Greatest...picture...ever. The alien needs a laptop with a 404 error or something though...

[mullingit0ver Posted Mar 16th 2008 10:21PM]

They should just roll with Software Defined Radio. Signal interference is silly in the face of this technology; it's like saying that only one person can wear a blue shirt, because if two people wore a blue shirt they would screw everything up.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 9:19AM]

Real simple: Companies who use radio technology like WiMAX will have purchased that spectrum in that area. That company OWNS that spectrum and is allowed to broadcast whatever signal it likes in that spectrum. They may own a certain frequency(s) in Orlando, but different frequencies in Chicago. Just because WiMAX has been certified to work in a bunch of different frequencies, doesn't mean that it will be licensed by the company that uses it (i.e. Sprint & Clearwire) in that same band. I don't see how the FCC would allow that. If Sprint or Clearwire bought 2.5 GHz from the FCC, then they have the right to operate in that space... anyway GPS runs off of 1575.42, 1227.60, & 1381.05, WAYYY differently than anyone trying to mess with WiMAX.

If some satellite broadcasts in the 2.5GHz range and of course Sprint &/or Clearwire broadcast in a different range but their carriers SCREW UP and bleed over, then I would be concerned... but I doubt that Motorola and other companies providing the hardware will screw that up that bad.

This is just propaganda against WiMAX or someone without any knowledge read that WiMAX could theoretically operate in the same frequency space as common satellite frequencies and freaked out. Do some homework next time. Tards.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2008 1:17PM]

How would this interfere with Satellites? Having had a WiMax set up for over a year i don't understand how it could possibly interfere with a satellite. The system that I have is a line of sight antenna that transmits to the tower at the main station. The maximum operating distance "They say" is 15 miles and that is with the use of a reflector. standard is 7 miles with out the reflector. Now I'm not a WiMax expert nor do I claim to be. but isn't a satellite farther out than the maximum operating distance? Also the satellite isn't really line of site to the transmition tower or the antenna. So how would it interfere?