Equipment

Resources:
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  • Wireless Equipment Distributor Directory
  • Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Laird Technologies Jeff Goldman
[December 3, 2008] Having acquired Cushcraft, Pacific Wireless, Antenex, AeroComm, and Centurion Wireless (among others), Laird Technologies now boasts a product line with over 12,000 different SKUs of antennas.

Funambol: Open Source Wireless Alex Goldman
[November 25, 2008] We first covered this company a year ago. Now that cellular is the biggest challenge that WISPs are likely to face (other than government-funded fiber), it makes sense to consider offering mobile wireless data services (not voice) to your customers.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Wireless Interactive Jeff Goldman
[November 19, 2008] The California-based company makes everything from high-power radios to customized cable assemblies.

Exalt Offers Backhaul Alex Goldman
[October 22, 2008] This equipment company specializes in backhaul radios for WISPs and cellular companies worldwide.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Ubiquiti Networks Jeff Goldman
[October 1, 2008] Ubiquiti's Wi-Fi products, both embedded radios and complete solutions, are designed to optimize both price and performance.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Tranzeo Wireless Technologies Jeff Goldman
[September 24, 2008] Tranzeo's product line includes a broad range of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi mesh, and WiMAX solutions.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Redline Communications Jeff Goldman
[September 17, 2008] Despite its increasingly diverse customer base, Redline says it remains focused on the needs of wireless ISPs.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Trango Broadband Wireless Jeff Goldman
[September 10, 2008] Trango offers both licensed and unlicensed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless solutions.

The Network of Wisper Wireless Alex Goldman
[September 8, 2008] Able to afford more than the average WISP, this wireless provider is already delivering the traffic of the future, such as video and VoIP.

Setting Up a Hotspot Best of ISP-Lists
[September 4, 2008] WISPs share advice on adding a hotspot to your network.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Andrew Jeff Goldman
[September 3, 2008] The company's long history goes all the way back to its founding as a sole proprietorship in 1937.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Alvarion Jeff Goldman
[August 20, 2008] The company's broad product portfolio includes fixed and mobile WiMAX solutions as well as unlicensed 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 900 MHz products.

BelAir Networks Shows Mesh Lessons Were Learned Alex Goldman
[August 14, 2008] A new and improved product is being deployed in municipal networks across the U.S.

If You're Building a Small Tower Best of ISP-Lists
[August 11, 2008] Veterans say it's better to go with a prefab tower than to try to design your own, and that it's obvious where to go to get one.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Ceragon Jeff Goldman
[July 30, 2008] The company's high capacity microwave backhaul solutions are designed to help operators transition between TDM and Ethernet networks.

Tower Climber Safety Best of ISP-Lists
[July 29, 2008] Those with experience in the WISP business take tower safety and tower climbers seriously.

Mikrotik Heat Issue Solved Best of ISP-Lists
[July 25, 2008] A member of our ISP-Wireless list reports a problem with Mikrotik boards, and then gets the solution from Mikrotik support.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: LigoWave Jeff Goldman
[July 23, 2008] The joint venture between Deliberant and Wilibox offers a growing line of high performance wireless products.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Deliberant Jeff Goldman
[July 16, 2008] With over 2,000 customers worldwide, Deliberant focuses on providing affordable wireless equipment backed by solid and accessible support.

NETGEAR Releases Open Source Wireless-G Router Naomi Graychase
[June 30, 2008] NETGEAR announced today that it has released a new open source Wi-Fi router, the Open Source Wireless-G (WGR614L; $69).

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: Proxim Wireless Jeff Goldman
[June 25, 2008] Proxim's equipment is designed to provide WISPs with a complete, centrally managed solution. The company incorporates brands from Western Digital, YDI, Agere, and Terabeam, as well as several others.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: E-ZY.net Jeff Goldman
[June 4, 2008] E-ZY.net's aim is to make high performance wireless equipment available at a very low price point.

Wireless Equipment Manufacturer Directory: BelAir Networks Jeff Goldman
[May 28, 2008] BelAir's multi-radio mesh networking products are designed to maximize capacity in urban and suburban WISP deployments.

Wireless Equipment Distributor Directory:
HD Communications' WirelessNetworkProducts.com Jeff Goldman
[May 22, 2008] HD Communications offers free design services with its wireless equipment—just pay a small upfront fee, and that fee is then credited towards the price of any equipment the company sells.

Link Technologies' PoweRouter Alex Goldman
[May 9, 2008] Aiming to take on the Cisco 7200 series, Link Technologies has adapted MikroTik technology to high end deployments.

Wireless Equipment Distributor Directory: Creative Wireless' WiFi-Parts.com Jeff Goldman
[April 23, 2008] WiFi-Parts.com's customers get the benefit of Creative Wireless' years of experience as a WISP.

Wireless Equipment Distributor Directory: Pasadena Networks Jeff Goldman
[April 2, 2008] Created by the founder of the Southern California Wireless Users Group, Pasadena Networks aims to be a one-stop shop for everything a wireless ISP might need.

Next Generation Backbone Radio Alex Goldman
[March 17, 2008] DragonWave has updated its product line and now offers 1.6 Gbps throughput using two signals, one on each polarization.

The Largest and Smallest ISPs Face Similar Wireless Challenges Alex Goldman
[March 10, 2008] Alcatel-Lucent's carrier class 9900 Wireless Network Guardian, announced today, works in the core to monitor application performance on wireless networks.

When Solar Power Leaves You in the Dark Best of ISP-Lists
[February 4, 2008] Renewable energy is great, but using it may force you to redesign your tower site.

Mesh Networks Thrive at Historic Resorts Alex Goldman
[October 22, 2007] Firetide's mesh equipment has found success in several verticals, but the vertical that's of greatest interest to WISPs is hospitality.

The 1 Gbps Full Duplex Radio Alex Goldman
[September 20, 2007] These radios aren't new, but it took us some time to believe they were real.

With AirEqualizer, NetEqualizer Returns to its WISP Roots Alex Goldman
[July 23, 2007] This AP will solve a common problem in a novel way.

WISPs Request AP Management Best of ISP-Lists
[June 7, 2007] When things go wrong, it would be nice to have an ultra-cheap box that could help the network operator figure out what happened and reboot the AP.

Propel Delivers Wireless Acceleration Alex Goldman
[June 5, 2007] It was an elaborate demo but it made its point. The technology allows ISPs to deliver VoIP and web service even over congested networks. And it works on other forms of broadband too.

Antenna Advice for a New WISP Best of ISP-Lists
[March 27, 2007] As members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss the relative benefits of various antennas, we provide additional information from the ISP-Planet archives.

DragonWave's Smaller, Better Radio Alex Goldman
[March 20, 2007] As components get smaller, performance increases and operating expenses decline. A pattern familiar to the computer industry has now arrived in the wireless equipment space.

Firetide Goes Long Alex Goldman
[January 30, 2007] Firetide's latest mesh nodes are able to provide either higher short range bandwidth or dependable (but smaller) long range bandwidth.

Routers for the ISP and WISP Best of ISP-Lists
[January 3, 2007] WISPs discuss the routers they use, focusing on price and support.

WISPs Choose Wireless CPE Routers Best of ISP-Lists
[November 13, 2006] WISPs are always looking for the least expensive equipment, but veterans warn that if you buy the ultra cheap stuff, you'll give yourself a customer support headache. Your APs can help too, if they're premium equipment.

Be Careful With Cables Best of ISP-Lists
[November 6, 2006] Members of the ISP-Wireless list share tips on running cables up your towers.

Many Many Radios in One Box Alex Goldman
[October 10, 2006] Touring the dismal floor of the Interop show in New York, we saw one thing that really intrigued us: a box with 16 radios in it. Here's the story.

Tropos Goes Multi-Radio Eric Griffith
[August 17, 2006] The primary complaint about Tropos MetroMesh equipment is obsolete with the debut of a dual-radio 11a/g node.

Outdoor Cable Best of ISP-Lists
[August 3, 2006] It's important to keep water out of the power cables for your outdoor wireless radios, but some solutions may not work as suggested.

A Choice of Routers Best of ISP-Lists
[June 27, 2006] WISPs say that there are clear differences between a pair of router vendors, and the co-founder of one of the vendors joins the discussion.

Motorola Competes with Low Cost Mesh Eric Griffith
[June 19, 2006] Providing a total solution for metro Wi-Fi with new gear and planning software puts Motorola in direct rivalry with Tropos.

WISPs Need to See Best of ISP-Lists
[June 13, 2006] Each WISP has their own method of monitoring the network, making sure everything's okay.

Ruckus Wireless Gerry Blackwell
[May 30, 2006] The best home networking solution for IPTV might be the wireless solution.

The WISP Box Alex Goldman
[April 18, 2006] A cantankerous self-described megalomaniac drops by our offices to describe the one appliance that every WISP needs.

Introduction to Netstumbler Eric Griffith
[March 3, 2006] Take a close look at one of the foremost free tools for WLAN discovery and optimization.

Wireless That's Faster than Fiber Kate Greene, MIT Technology Review, via BoingBoing
[February 23, 2006] Transmitting at at 71-76, 81-86, and 92-95 gigahertz frequencies, this product acheives speeds of up to 10 Gbps.

That's Why They Call it a Truck Roll Best of ISP-Lists
[February 21, 2006] It's a key tool for any WISP business, although it's more like a tool belt: a very, very big tool belt.

A Tower Too High? Best of ISP-Lists
[January 9, 2006] For wireless broadband, it may be possible to obtain access to a tower that's too tall.

Gigabit Wireless Best of ISP-Lists
[January 5, 2006] Although it can deliver impressive throughput, WISPs report that wireless radios in the 60 GHz and 70 GHz spectrum range are suited only to certain applications.

WISPs Warn: The Weather Outside Is Frightful Best of ISP-Lists
[December 9, 2005] Members of the ISP-Wireless list warn that the latest cold snap will challenge your equipment, yourself, and even your coffee.

APs to Sensors and Back Again Eric Griffith
[December 2, 2005] Security companies are, more and more, using standard Wi-Fi access points as sensors. They say this protects customer investments—much to the joy of the infrastructure vendors.

Solving the "Down at 3 AM" Problem Alex Goldman
[November 15, 2005] Some problems are so annoying, it's worth starting your own equipment company just to solve them.

Sereniti Smart Home Networking Service Joseph Moran
[October 31, 2005] What this combination 802.11g router and subscription security service lacks in flexibility, it makes up for in simplicity.

From Chaska to The Alamo Alex Goldman
[August 2, 2005] This hotspot solution provider is interested in deployments large and small, anywhere in the world.

Covering Your Ass Best of ISP-Lists
[July 19, 2005] WISP owners share advice on what equipment to use to protect yourself when you or your colleagues climb a tower.

AirReferee Calls the Shots Eric Griffith
[July 11, 2005] Startup Rotani says its new technology works as well as Pre-11n—and may do even better by countering interference.

WISPs Loved KarlNet Best of ISP-Lists
[April 26, 2005] Some equipment from a key innovator in the early stages of the wireless broadband revolution is no longer being supported, WISPs say. But Terabeam says that's just not accurate, and encourages WISPs to contact the company.

Dialup Backup Best of ISP-Lists
[March 29, 2005] Many WISPs are offering dialup backup failover for business links, and there's plenty of equipment that makes it possible.

WISP Equipment: You Can Get What You Need Alex Goldman
[February 8, 2005] This WISP veteran has tested plenty of equipment. It has finally found an AP that can serve a large number of customers.

Big Fat Freakin' Backhauls Alex Goldman
[January 18, 2005] A Tampa-based WISP needs high capacity radios for the core of its network and one company is delivering them.

Double the Wireless Bandwidth Alex Goldman
[January 12, 2005] A wireless equipment maker specializing in the 18 GHz to 26 GHz range has announced a seriously improved product.

Is You AM Or Is You Ain't My Tower? Best of ISP-Lists
[January 4, 2005] Learn Watt you're doing before attempting to place fixed wireless broadband equipment on a tower used by a radio station.

Motorola to WISPs: We Get It Alex Goldman
[December 21, 2004] Sure, the core of the company deals with the telcos, but Motorola's CANOPY division has been selling to WISPs for years.

Anybody Got a Light? Best of ISP-Lists
[November 30, 2004] Who knew? In the wireless space, a strobe light or disco ball could be vital to your operation.

WISPerMapper Flexes its Price Alex Goldman
[September 28, 2004] Based on software developed to monitor Dartmouth College's own network, WISPerMapper is designed for wireless broadband networks of all sizes, and now the pricing is more reasonable (but also more complex).

Rockstar Goes Mobile Gerry Blackwell
[September 7, 2004] The developer of ISP system software (now called Aramova) thinks the future for all Internet access—not just Wi-Fi based—is with the aggregators.

Printer Tech Company Seeks WISP and Hotspot Operators Alex Goldman
[August 23, 2004] A new value-added service will soon be available for wireless service providers.

The Guys You Depend On Best of ISP-Lists
[August 3, 2004] How good are your antennas? How good are the towers they're on? Be warned—you may be depending on some guys you don't know.

The Rules of Rohn Best of ISP-Lists
[August 3, 2004] It's okay to buy a cheap tower if it's a brand name tower, but it's not okay to cut installation costs.

Grounding Your Business Best of ISP-Lists
[August 3, 2004] Although wireless antennas are situated in tall towers, the laws of physics demand a connection to the ground.

List of Commercial WLAN Analyzers Lisa Phifer
[July 20, 2004] ISPs looking for a commercial WLAN analyzer have plenty of options, generally offering more features than open source alternatives.

Open Source WLAN Analyzers Lisa Phifer
[July 20, 2004] ISPs looking for an open source WLAN analyzer have plenty of options.

Upgradable Radio Promises Cheaper Point of Entry Alex Goldman
[June 29, 2004] Answering the concerns of its own customers, DragonWave has implemented a pricing strategy common in other areas of the IT industry but new to fixed wireless broadband.

Orthogon Systems Demonstrates Planning Tool Alex Goldman
[May 25, 2004] When the OFDM equipment maker's CEO visited our offices as part of a quick U.S. tour, he brought a fascinating planning tool and several decades of RF engineering experience.

The Benefit Of Their Experience Gerry Blackwell
[Febraury 24, 2004] It's a sign of maturity in the WISP industry: one of the oldest WISPs is building a WISP management software product.

Move the Router, Shift the Paradigm Alex Goldman
[Febraury 17, 2004] Mesh architecture—an intriguing and innovative way to deploy Wi-Fi networks—takes a big step toward maturity as a result of this evolutionary development.

Building Big, Invisible Bridges Alex Goldman
[Febraury 10, 2004] The wireless Internet is complex and invisible. One company claims its bridges build links where none were possible before.

An Updated AirMagnet Eric Griffith
[October 30, 2003] The latest versions of AirMagnet's laptop monitoring and analysis software handle the full WLAN triumvirate (802.11b, a, and g) as well as offering a number of new features.

Tower Basics Best of ISP-Lists
[August 26, 2003] Our ever-more wireless world has a love-hate relationship with broadcast towers. Sure, they're a must for good RF reception, but everyone considers them an eyesore. So, what are the rules governing the erection of towers?

Bridging the Wide-Open Spaces Best of ISP-Lists
[July 29, 2003] More and more, WISPs are circumventing wire-line backhaul—either because it's not available, or because it's easier or cheaper to do it with RF. New equipment is helping make this a reality.

Loooong-Haul Wireless Best of ISP-Lists
[July 1, 2003] WISPs search for ways of overcoming the lack of available wired backbone/backhaul connections—or simply to beat their high cost. When customers are a long, long way from NOCs, challenges multiply and choices shrink.

Dragonwave Sees a Backhaul Future in 24 GHz Alex Goldman
[June 27, 2003] 24 GHz spectrum is now available for point to point deployments only—which is great, because that's exactly what ISPs need it for.

Antennas for the Birds Best of ISP-Lists
[June 17, 2003] One of the hazards of being a wireless ISP is that a variety of natural forces can interfere with your external infrastructure—such as antennas—wreaking havoc with your signal.

Simplified WLAN Analysis: The AirMagnet Attraction Part 3 Lisa Phifer
[March 25, 2003] In the third part of our three part analysis, we talk to a WISP to find out how useful the AirMagnet is, and also learn about future AirMagnet products.

Simplified WLAN Analysis: The AirMagnet Attraction Part 2 Lisa Phifer
[March 18, 2003] In the second part of our three part analysis, we show how the AirMagnet can be used to conduct site surveys and to improve WLANs you have already deployed.

Wi-Fi Service Manager ISP-Planet Staff
[March 18, 2003] Bridgewater Systems' Wi-Fi Service Manager product will allow service providers to remotely manage the WLANs of enterprise customers, saving time and money.

Simplified WLAN Analysis: The AirMagnet Attraction Part 1 Lisa Phifer
[March 11, 2003] In the first part of our three part analysis, we describe the interface of this nifty tool that allows you to use a laptop or PDA to analyze a WLAN.

Proxim's Low-Cost Outdoor Wi-Fi Eric Griffith
[February 25, 2003] The point-to-multipoint Tsunami MP.11 will use souped-up 802.11b to provide connections to businesses and homes at distances up to 10 miles and speeds of 5.4 Mbps.

Vivato's Vivacious Waves Best of ISP-Lists
[February 18, 2003] Most new technologies make at least some waves. According to some observers, the recently announced "Wi-Fi Switch" from Vivato, Inc. may well cause a tsunami in the WISP community.

Winter Climbing Fashions Best of ISP-Lists
[February 4, 2003] Being a WISP means spending time in high places—which can be hazardous. Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss the ins and outs of dressing for wintery (and other inclement) weather on the water tower.

802.11g Products Available Eric Griffith
[January 14, 2003] The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has proved to be a hotbed for product announcements in the high-speed world of the 2.4 GHz 802.11g draft standard.

SanDisk's Wireless SD Card Has Memory Eric Griffith
[January 14, 2003] The first Wi-Fi network cards in the Secure Digital Input Output (SD) format will ship soon, and some will contain Flash Memory in addition to wireless connectivity.

Putting Water Towers to Work Best of ISP-Lists
[January 7, 2003] Water towers are a great place for wireless ISPs to mount antennas, but there's a lot to learn about how to keep everything fastened where it belongs.