The
white space odyssey continues, with manufacturers of all backgrounds and sizes salivating so heavily over the bountiful frequencies opened up by the
DTV transition that they're willing to
fight the NAB in a corporate cage match of epic proportions. Microsoft, part of the White Spaces Coalition and a company that's
not always had success at this whole frequency-sharing thing, isn't giving up yet, presenting a paper this week at ACM SIGCOMM 2009 describing yet more new approaches and algorithms that would allow white space communication that functions like traditional WiFi devices -- but with ranges measured in miles instead of feet. Dubbed WhiteFi, the tech would include algorithms to enable both access points and clients to zero in on the same locally disused frequencies without stepping on the toes of other broadcasters. It certainly sounds like a consumer-friendly implementation, and something we'd very much like to deploy at the 442 acre Engadget compound in northwestern Montana (it's three counties away from the nearest hotspot), but we're not entirely convinced this latest approach will find any more success at appeasing/defeating the NAB than any of the prior attempts. [Warning: PDF read link]
[Via
dailywireless.org]
posted Aug 19th 2009 8:11AM
WhiteFi? Is there anyway we can low rank the entire article?
Why what's wrong with a colour associated with a technology?
Who cares if it happens to be the colour white? Don't worry, they're referring to white-space broadcast spectrum. Not anything else you can think of. But why would you think of that so quickly anyways?
At least his name isn't mr.pink.
Microsoft needs a new hit, whether it be Bing, Win7, Zune or this white space stuff.
It's not just Microsoft, it's Google, Dell, and a whole host of others working on this new tech.
Could you imagine if people who didn't password their networks got this!
They don't even have to be open hotspots. They could be Fon.com hotspots, or some similar service that is free for sharers and low cost for anyone else. Combine that with portable VoIP handsets, and they could be the first free for sharing International wireless voice network.
Engadget has a 422 acre compound ?!?!
Damn, you beat me to it.
O_o
its actually a plantation in the antebellum south.
a plantation you say....
i think it was meant to be worded "Engadget's compound with a 442 acre view"
*442 acre compound not included
I was more so surprised it was located in northwestern Montana.
They forgot the decimal. It's actually .422
Good ol' discone antennas.
Hard to go wrong there. Unity gain though.
Why can't they measure in kilometres not miles and metres not feet.
METRIC FTW
Because if they did that the majority of people coming here would have absolutely no idea what kind of range they have. They'd see "meters" and think "Well, I guess that number seems kind of high. Better go to google and look up how many meters are in a mile again."
I'm from the US, but I agree. I HATE our system. Metric doesn't confuse me so it would be better since the entire rest of the world uses metric.
You are a liar. All Americans agree to do the exact same things and think in the exact same ways. There's no way you can be American and like Metric. It's un-American and any dissent will be flagged. You know what I mean.
Well damn, then all the physicists in America must not be American huh?
Hopefully they can succeed in doing this, it is a lot of work and will require a high level of technical research to bring it to market but will be worth it to bypass the telecom blockade.
If only the gov't leased the old tv spectrum out or sold parts of it to many companies instead of selling it to the highest bidder who will sit on it just to keep competition out. But that's our government they want instant money now and don't care about the long term future.
Yes, but will I people able to communicate with the dead?
Only if they use DarkFi
I think it's important to note these companies are merely trying to display potential capabilities, of course I know each has its desired goal to influence the bottom line and longevity of the company as tech companies need to invest in, yes...new tech. In the tech and Informatics world the term 'ubiquitous computing' has been around since the late 80's I believe. This is the idea that computers will become as ubiquitous and accessible as something like paper, that we wont think that 'I'm using a computer'. Maybe I'm getting too abstract, so I digress...What I'm getting at is that this will enable ubiquitous computing because of mobility...mobility is the key. This is enable us to possibly do away with cell technology all together, with VoIP running on a MAN (metropolitan area network). This will also increase the accessibility of the Internet to all. It will make the Internet just like TV and the cost would be incredibly low. IPv6 will enable us to enhance security (among many others) as DHCP goes away and it can be regulated like telephone numbers.
True broadband, always connected mobile tech will enable us to usher in a new era of UC. Bad reception inside buildings would end, femtocells and seamless network migration. Syncing of devices would end because it will be possible to access to all of your data, in real time...as cloud computing becomes a reality. Think of it as the old terminal/mainframe system.
Hasn't Mr. Gates spoken about the idea of 'being connected, all the time'?...this is where the big M will make a huge move (along with others).
This is what I study and I hope to get into MIT's MBA program...I hope to get in on this on the ground floor. It is indeed an exciting time to be in the high-tech industry.
Allowing Microsoft a foothold on this kind of market is just another playbook:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend_and_extinguish
What you talkin about willis? Don't tell me you would believe in brotherly love and togetherness with competition if you owned a multi billion dollar corporation? You would be the first!
It is all a game even when someone dies.
Ryan, don't be silly- his beloved Apple doesn't believe in that, so why would he? He's just whiny because Apple isn't doing it first.
No thanks Microsoft - I already have Packet Radio...lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_radio
Looks like WhiteFi will use the UHF unused television frequencies between 54-698 MHz (TV Channels 2-51).
I thought that was what the Home Shopping Channels and Billy Mays were doing?
God rest his soul..