Ruckus Wireless has partnered with a number of vendors of Metropolitan Wi-Fi network systems to improve interoperability between Ruckus Wireless products such as the Ruckus MetroFlex DZ that are used as Customer Premise Equipment and Metropolitan Wi-Fi networks.
The initial Metropolitan Wi-Fi vendor participants in Ruckus Interoperability and Open Testing (RIOT) are:
This is an entirely logical development in the evolution of Metropolitan Wi-Fi networks. The intial promise of such networks was that "ordinary Wi-FI devices" such as those built into laptop computers could be used as access devices. However, the technology of Metropolitan Wi-Fi networks has largely not lived up to that promise because Wi-Fi signals do not propagate very well through foliage and buildings, and Wi-Fi devices built into laptops and other devices transmit at very low power levels (as well as having relatively poor receivers). So, higher-power, directional antenna "bridge" Wi-Fi devices such as Ruckus' MetroFlex DZ are often required to relay signals from Metropolitan Wi-Fi devices mounted on streetlights into the building and then to Wi-Fi devices within the home.
Incorporating more sophisticated Metropolitan Wi-Fi technology into Metropolitan Wi-Fi networks, such as Access Points incorporating beam forming offered by Wavion Networks may well obviate the "physical layer need" for devices. However, another reason to use bridge devices is that such devices can better interoperate with Metropolitan Wi-FI networks, bringing management, monitoring, and "mesh control" into the customer premises:
Under the RIOT Metro program, metro partners are invited to test and validate complete end-to-end solutions, trial and tune services, ensure technical interoperability and leverage unique functionality and features to optimize higher-layer applications.
Ruckus Wireless is impressive that they are developing highly-differentiated Wi-Fi devices for, among other things, distributing Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) within the home.
By Steve Stroh
This article is Copyright © 2007 by Steve Stroh
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