INTRODUCTION:
WiMAX(Worldwide Interoperability For Microwave Access) is a wireless communications standard designed to provide 30 to 40 megabit-per-second data rate.
A fourth generation (4G) technology
WiMAX is technically also known as “IEEE 802.16”
WiMAX is a wireless communications standard designed for creating Metropolitan Area Networks(MANs).
It allows a user, to browse the internet on a laptop without physically connecting it to a router.
It involves microwaves for the transfer of data wirelessly
WiMAX system consist of:
1) A WiMAX tower, similar in concept to a cell-phone tower - A single WiMAX tower can provide coverage to a very large area as big as 3,000 square miles (~8,000 square km).
2) A WiMAX receiver - The receiver and antenna could be a small box or Personal Computer Memory card, or they could be built into a laptop the way Wi-Fi access is today
MODES OF OPERATION
Non-line-of-sight
Wi-Fi sort of service
A small antenna on your computer connects to the tower.
WiMAX uses a lower frequency range -- 2 GHz to 11 GHz (similar to Wi-Fi).
A fixed dish antenna points straight at the WiMAX tower from a rooftop or pole.
The line-of-sight connection is stronger and more stable, so it's able to send a lot of data with fewer errors
It use higher frequencies, with ranges reaching a possible 66 GHz.
At higher frequencies, there is less interference and lots more bandwidth
Line-of-sight
A WiMAX tower station can connect directly to the internet using a high-bandwidth, wired connection.
How It Works?
It can also connect to another WiMAX tower using a line-of-sight, microwave link.
This connection to a second tower (often referred to as a backhaul), along with the ability of a single tower to cover up to 3,000 square miles
It allows WiMAX to provide coverage to remote rural areas
Connectivity
Devices that provide connectivity to a WiMAX network are known as the “subscriber stations”.
Some of the portable units are:
Mobile Phones PC peripherals Laptops Gaming consoles MP3 Players
FEATURES OF WIMAX
Frequency bands - 2 to 11 GHz and 10 to 66 GHz (licensed and unlicensed bands)
Range – 30 mile (50-km) radius from base station
Speed - 70 megabits per second
Coverage-A single tower covers upto 3000 sq.miles so remote areas can easily get broadband access
Applications
According to WiMAX forum, it supports five classes of applications:
Multi-player Interactive Gaming.
VOIP and Video Conference Streaming Media Web Browsing and Instant
Messaging Media Content Downloads
Present research work on WiMAX
WiMAX2 is the present ongoing development in the WiMAX versions.
That is to increase the speed of existing WiMAX network.
Currently existing WiMAX versions provides minimum of 30 to 40 megabits per second of speed.
But the goal of the WiMAX2 is to get 100 Mbit/s for mobile devices and 1 Giga bits per second fixed type of WiMAX devices and 4G for next generation mobile network
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