Cingular (a.k.a Mobitex, Bell South Wireless Data (Formerly RAM Mobile
Data))
http://www.bellsouthwd.com
SF Bay area coverage map
http://www.bellsouthwd.com/covapp/start.html?map_file=sw0_reg&layer=1
Blackberry and RIM (Research in Motion)
http://www.blackberry.net
http://www.rim.net
Two way email and messaging. No browsing. One version delivers
email directly to customers MS Exchange server. Uses various
networks depending upon model.
RIM 957 (Almost a PDA)
http://www.goamerica.net/html/showcase/products/rim_957/
RIM 950 (for Mobitex/BSWD network)
http://www.goamerica.net/html/showcase/products/rim_950/
RIM 850 (for Motient/ARDIS network)
http://www.goamerica.net/html/showcase/products/rim_850/
Motient (Formerly ARDIS)
http://www.motient.com
Formerly Motorola's wireless network for IBM field service.
Covers most of SF Bay area and parts of SCZ and Monterey counties.
http://www.motient.com/find/
CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data)
19.2Kbits/sec max. Numerous resellers. No Monterey Bay
coverage.
$40 to $60/month unlimited. No roaming charges.
Bell Atlantic
http://www.bam.com/wireless/sanfran.htm
(coverage map)
GoAmerica
http://www.goamerica.net/html/showcase/service_plans/unlimited.html
Omnisky (CDPD reseller)
http://www.omnisky.com
Based on Palm Pilot V PDA and Novatel Minstrel V CDPD modem.
$40/month.
http://www.novatelwireless.com/prodserv/index.html
Aeris.net
http://www.aeris.net/aeris_web/products_index.html
Uses forward and reverse cellular control channel to send control messages
and status messages to various machines at 50 baud. Used mostly for
monitoring, telemetry, and alarm systems.
Sprint Broadband (formerly Wavepath)
http://www.sprintbroadband.com
2.5GHz MMDS bi-directional wireless. Various data rates to 1.5Mbits/sec.
Transmitters on San Bruno Mt and Monument Pk (Milpitas). $50/month
+ $200 hardware. 1.5-5Mbits/sec down, 256Kbits/sec up.
Coverage
map
Starband (formerly Gilat)
http://www.gilat.com
http://www.starband.com
(formerly Gilat-to-home)
Satellite bi-directional service. About 400Kbits/sec average
download, 16Kbits/sec upload. 600msec min latency. Uses Echostar
(Dish) network.
Sold through dealers. $500 for the radio. $200 for installation.
$70/month. 1year contract.
DirecPC (Hughes)
http://www.direcpc.com/index2.html
http://www.orbitsat.com/cyberstore/Directpc/Main.asp
Satellite downlink with telco return. Miserable latency.
400Kbits/sec download. AOL handed Hughes $1.5billion cash which will
partly be used to create a two way satellite service.
Tachyon
http://www.tachyon.net
Geosync satellite. bi-directional. Various speeds for $300
to $1500/month. $4000 for the terminal. Resold through ISP's.
http://www.tachyon.net/current.html
Cidera (formerly SkyCache)
http://www.cidera.com
Various satellite based services for ISP's. However, if you're
into usenet news, this is a good way to get lots of MP3's, stolen software,
copyright violations, porno, etc, for about $250/month.
http://www.cidera.com/services/usenet_news/
ISP-SAT
http://www.isp-sat.com
2-4Mbits/sec newsfeed via GE3 satellite. About $250/month.
Terabeam
http://www.terabeam.com/default.asp
http://www.airfiber.com/index.htm
(hardware vendor)
622Mbits/sec via laser "mesh" rooftop network.
Silicon Valley North (Petaluma)
http://www.svn.net/services/wireless.html
900Mhz, 2.4Ghz, and 5.7Ghz ISM wireless ISP. Speeds to 10Mbits/sec.
Sonic.net wireless
http://www.sonic.net/sales/dsl/broadlink/
Wireless DSL via BroadLink. Requires seperate contract from Broadlink.
http://www.broadlink.com/maps.htm
(coverage maps)
Transbay.net
http://www.transbay.net/prices.html#wireless
Innetix
http://www.innetix.com
Antenna farm on top of AboveNet building in San Jose. 900 and
2.4GHz ISM. Great connectivity.
SOHO Wireless (Network Systems Technologies)
http://www.sohowireless.com
Antenna farm on top of MAE West building in San Jose. 2.4GHz
ISM. Coverage of downtown San Jose area.
SFLan
http://www.sflan.com
I dunno what to say about this one. Each user becomes a message
passing node on their wireless lan. Connectivity largely depends
upon connectivity via other users.
HMMWV
http://www.hmmwv.net
2.4GHz ISM wireless in Santa Clara.
MobileStar Network
http://www.mobilestar.com
Wireless internet access in Starbucks, hotels, convention centers and
airports.
Wayport
http://www.wayport.com
Wireless internet access in hotels, convention centers, and airports.
Nokia Wireless Routers (formerly Rooftop Communications)
http://www.nwr.nokia.com
Each user becomes a message passing node on their wireless lan.
2.4GHz ISM band radios.
ISP access is currently through merr.net (but nothing appears on their
web pages). Bought by Nokia.
Teledesic
http://www.teledesic.com
Medium earth orbit (1400km) satellite system with 288 planned birds,
that has spent more money since 1990 than Iridium, and delivered zilch.
Still waiting.
Clearwire
http://www.clearwire.com
Not available in BA yet. Manufacturer of wireless connectivity hardware.
They may be worth watching as Verio is reselling their technology in Dallas-Ft
Worth TX area, and might be induced to offer the service locally if sufficiently
rationalized.
Accelernet (Houston TX)
http://www.accelernet.com
UHF TV downlink, ISDN or dialup return. Not available in BA yet but
basically a good idea.
Angel Technologies
http://www.angeltechnologies.com
HALO (High Altitude Long Operation) aircraft that flys in a 2.5 mile
dia circle at 10 miles altitude. Sort of a low flying satellite.
Use hardware will include a steerable VSAT dish to follow the aircraft.
Skystation
http://www.skystation.com
ISP in a 13 mile high balloon. Not available in BA. Scheduled
to test in Los Angeles area in 2002.
Bluetooth
http://www.bluetooth.com
This is NOT a wireless ISP. It's a technology endorsed by about 2000
companies designed to get rid of wires and cables. Speed is 1Mbit/sec.
Freq = 2.4GHz ISM band. FHSS.
Home RF
http://www.homerf.org
Yet another 2.4GHz ISM band wireless conglomeration using frequency
hopping.
Time-Domain Wireless
http://www.time-domain.com
Cell phones and wireless by spreading the signal over almost the entire
RF spectrum (DC - 2GHz). In theory, the average power in any frequency
band is so low (and almost undetectable) that there should be no interference.
They also claim that no FCC approval is required because no test equipment
can measure such low power over such a wide bandwidth.
Astrolink
http://www.astrolink.com
9ea GEO birds with gobal coverage. Bi-directional and bandwidth
on demand. 2001 launch date.
CyberStar (Loral)
http://www.cyberstar.com
3ea Ka-Band GEO birds with global coverage. Currently testing
via SkyNet-Loral.
FREE SF Bay Area Wireless 802.11b access point list
http://www.toaster.net/wireless/aplist/
Bay Area Wireless User Group
http://www.bawug.org
High speed internet access via satellite index
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Data_Communications/Wireless/Satellite_Communications/
http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Telecommunications/Satellite/
These are mostly for commercial carriers and people with money.
WISP (Wireless internet service providers) lists and directories
http://www.cmc.com/lars/engineer/wireless/w-isp-list.htm
http://dmoz.org/Business/Industries/Telecommunications/Wireless/Service_Providers/Internet/
http://www.wirelesstcp.net/frames/compare.html
http://www.toaster.net/wireless/community.html
http://www.bbwexchange.com/wisps/index.htm
WAP Services Directory
http://www.wapall.com
Directory of wireless LAN hardware.
http://hydra.carleton.ca/info/wlan.html
http://www.bbwexchange.com/Broadband%20Wireless%20Vendors/a.htm
Wireless Communications Alliance (of Northern Calif)
http://www.wca.org
Wireless Integration Magazine
http://www.broadband-guide.com/wi/
Broadband Wireless Magazine
http://www.broadband-wireless.com
Spread Spectrum Scene
http://www.sss-mag.com/
IETF Mobile IP Working group.
http://www.ietf.cnri.reston.va.us/html.charters/mobileip-charter.html
Wireless Data Store (Mail Order PDA, GSM, CDPD, etc)
http://www.mobileplanet.com/wireless/
Problems with satellite TCP and extensions.
http://ctd.grc.nasa.gov/5610/tcpextensions.html
http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-tcpsat-res-issues-12.txt
Linux Wireless
http://www.rage.net/wireless
http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/
How to do your own wireless link.
Wireless design aids, calcs, and construction hints
http://www.qsl.net/n9zia/index.html
http://www.ydi.com/calc.php
Mikrotik
http://www.mikrotik.com
Router software and hardware specifically for wireless.