WiMAX
WiMAX (short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)[1] is a Wireless Broadband technology which as based on the IEEE 802.16 standards. It provides wireless Internet access to large areas, similar to how WiFi provides access to small areas. WiMAX is currently a competitor to LTE technology.[2]
History
WiMAX development began in the early 21st century. A major investor and proponent of this technology has been the Intel Corporation. They have manufactured many WiMAX chipsets, and also been a vocal supported for some time. In 2008, Sprint Nextel Corporation and Clearwire Corporation agreed to merge their WiMax efforts to spread 4G (fourth generation) coverage across the United States.[3]
Capabilities
Each WiMAX transceiver is capable of providing Internet access to about 3,000 square miles, with a range (radius) of 30 miles. This area of coverage can be increased with the instalation of additional distributed towers, which are linked by microwave communication. Using the tower-receiver model, WiMAX networks are able to service many devices at a time within its range. They also has the ability to hand off connections from one tower to another in the same manner that cellular phone networks operate.[3]
WiMAX networks can permit communication speeds of up to 75 Mbit/s, although this speed is diminished when other devices are connected and communicating.[2] The speed at which devices can communicate also depends on how they connect. Users can connect to WiMAX networks just as they would to WiFi networks, using an integrated or attached WLAN adapter. This offers convenience, but not as much speed as the second option. The other way to connect to WiMAX is using an antenna dish, within line-of-sight of the tower. This offers much greater speed, but must be wired or relayed to individual devices from there.[3]
WiMAX Forum
WiMAX technology standards are set and maintained by the not-for-profit organization WiMAX Forum. They work with companies to improve and maintain compatibility, by providing information and certifying new hardware. They are continuing to expand the WiMAX technology as well, which such projects as WiGRID. The name "WiMAX"was alos the creation of the WiMAX Forum.[2]
WiGRID
The Smart Grid is one of the evolving WiMAX technologies. Put simply, this is a method to distribute wireless Internet access using the power grid. Power lines already emit electromagnetic radiation, but in most cases, this is nothing more than useless radio noise. However, WiGRID puts these emissions to use, and enables two-way communication by varying these EM emissions and detecting slight variations on the power lines caused by response signals from connected devices. Although much weaker, individual devices can transmit a strong enough signal to generate a slight inductive charge on the power lines, which can be detected. In the end, this technology turns the entire power grid into an enormous WLAN antenna.[4]
