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WiMAX and Wireless Networks
Introduction | How WiMAX Works | Poised for Success | Getting Started
How WiMAX Works
A WiMAX Network consists of two parts:
• A WiMAX tower, similar to a radio or cell-phone tower. - A single WiMAX tower can provide coverage to an area up to 3,000 square miles.
• A WiMAX receiver - The receiver and antenna could be a small box, PCMCIA card, or built into a computer the way WiFi access is now.
The WiMAX Network connects directly to the Internet through a WiMAX Hub (a high-bandwidth, wired connection). It also sends a radio signal to a WiMAX tower using a microwave link. This connection is what allows WiMAX users to access high speed, area-wide coverage.
WiMAX Connection, Speed and Coverage
WiMAX sends data from one computer to another via radio signals. A computer equipped with WiMAX capability receives data from the WiMAX Hub, using encrypted data keys to prevent unauthorized users from stealing access.
WiMAX is designed to handle up to 70 megabits per second. Even when that 70 megabits is split up between hundreds of businesses and residential connections, it provides at least the equivalent of cable-modem transfer rates to each user.
A WiMAX Network will cover a radius of up to 30 miles with wireless access. The range is due to the 5.6 GHz spectrum used and the power of the transmitter.