SPEEDLAN PH9000 Series routers enable service providers to extend their network reach and deliver broadband wireless access to more customers than ever before. By removing line-of-sight (LOS) issues caused by large buildings, hills, and other obstructions, service providers can reduce network deployment costs while maximizing their broadband wireless investment.

At the core of the PH9000 Series is PacketHop, a technology that overcomes traditional line-of-sight obstacles through multihop IP routing. Using PacketHop, each PH9000 wireless device acts as both the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) and a repeater for other devices in the area. Internet traffic is routed between devices using multihop IP routing, expanding the network as new devices are added.

The SPEEDLAN PH9000 Series was designed to operate at the edge of the wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) where LOS challenges most severely limit user connections. PH9000 products are designed to maximize the service provider's penetration rates by overcoming LOS challenges and expanding to new markets that could not otherwise be served. The PH9000 is equally well-suited for small business, multi-tenant units, and bandwidth-hungry residential customers. Because it is a non-invasive solution, the PH9000 works well in residential environments and eliminates the need for a wireless adapter to be installed inside an individual's computer.

SPEEDLAN PH9000 series products present an unparalleled level of performance and features, including Network Address Translation (NAT) and Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) Server. NAT increases network security and allows the occupants of an entire building to share a single global IP address. DHCP Server allows IP addresses to be assigned dynamically at the remote building. Distributing these administrative functions to each remote building significantly reduces the "administrative overhead" traffic that must travel back to the service providers headquarters.

SPEEDLAN PH9000 Routers may also provide a standalone network solution or can be used to enhance penetration in networks constructed with SPEEDLAN 8000 Series products. In fact, the PH9500 serves as a gateway to both the PacketHop portion of the network as well as to the SectorPRC (8000 Series) network. The combination of a SectorPRC and PacketHop is a complete end-to-end solution for ISPs. SectorPRC, used to overcome the hidden transmitter problem with long distance links, and PacketHop, used to increase the density of coverage within a neighborhood Pico cell, will enable ISPs to overcome LOS problems and expand their potential customer base.

The SPEEDLAN PH9200 and PH9400 connect to the PH9500 units to further maximize the subscriber reach in an area. Both the PH9200 and the PH9400 have PacketHop functionality. The PH9200 and PH9500 mount remotely on a tower. The PH9400 serves as a shelf-mount unit.

Introduction | Application Example | Application Expansion | Features & Benefit | Top

Features Chart PH9200 PH9400 PH9500 Standard, Shelf-mount   Yes   Outdoor, remote-mount Yes   Yes PacketHop Yes Yes Yes Sector PRC/PacketHop gateway     Yes IP Routing Yes Yes Yes SNMP & Web-based management Yes Yes Yes NAT Yes Yes Yes DHCP server/client Yes Yes Yes Firmware upgradable via ftp/telnet/rlogin Yes Yes Yes

Introduction | Application Example | Application Expansion | Features & Benefit | Top

In the diagram above, the ISP has installed three SPEEDLAN 8000 Series radios, two SPEEDLAN LM100 microwave radios, and several PH9000 Series products.

Broadband Backbone Links
The LM100 units provide full-duplex 100Mb/s backbone links to other areas of the MAN (two areas linked in the upper left of the diagram). These 100Mb/s microwave backbone links provide the necessary bandwidth for network expansion and eliminate bandwidth bottlenecks.

Sectorized Base Stations
Three base stations have been installed here on three nonoverlapping 2.4GHz channels. The three 8000 Series base stations provide 11Mb/s connectivity to three sectors of the network-effectively giving the ISP a 33Mb/s base station from which to increase the network penetration and user density. Each remote base station uses directional antennas to achieve maximum distance and to prevent interference from the other base stations. These sectorized base stations then connect to SPEEDLAN PH9000 routers located in small subnetworks ("Pico cells") throughout the sectors.

Non-line-of-sight Pico Cells
The PacketHop Pico cell detail illustrates network connectivity of three Pico cells by SPEEDLAN PH9000 products. Previously, the ISP could not reach these areas due to line-of-sight limitations. The PH9000 series overcomes LOS limits such as hills and trees (shown). The PH9500 unit provides the connectivity both to the 8000 base station as well as to other PH9000 series nodes within each Pico cell.

Building a PacketHop Network
PacketHop routers send and receive transmissions from small omni directional antennas. Each wireless router can forward traffic on to another nearby router within line-of-sight. This feature eliminates the need for direct line-of-sight from every router to a central base station. When building a PacketHop network, start with a PH9500 router. This router has two interfaces: PacketHop and SectorPRC. The SectorPRC interface enables connectivity to the larger network and easy scalability as new customers join the network. Then, simply expand the PacketHop portion of the network into Pico cells (shown above) by adding additional routers. These new PH9200 and PH9400 routers only require line-of-sight to any other PH9000 router in the Pico cell - making network growth easy.

Introduction | Application Example | Application Expansion | Features & Benefit | Top