https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Call Center/Command


xG Technology demonstrates xMAX

xG Technology demonstrates xMAX

Technology transmits over 18 miles using very little power in limited test
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 1st December 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Despite being faced with logistical complications caused by Hurricane Wilma, Florida-based xG Technology twice demonstrated last month the long-range capability of its xMAX solution, transmitting a data stream capable of high-quality video 18 miles using low power levels.

In the Nov. 10 demonstration, xG transmitted a 3.57 MB/s data stream on 10 MHz of spectrum in the unlicensed ISM 900 MHz band using just 35.8 mW of power from its omnidirectional whip antenna on an 850-foot tower to a patch antenna on a 12-foot mast. The off-the-shelf antennas combined for 14 dB gain.

“The message is: It’s real,” Chris Whiteley, xG Technology’s vice president of business development, said. “It really works, and it’s so big that we can’t get our brain around it.”

Indeed, the notion that an entity could become a broadband wireless provider without investing in any spectrum is compelling, especially when xG officials say the company’s receiver — the key to the solution — is “simple” and can be built “dirt cheap.” As a result, an xMAX system can be deployed much more cheaply than networks using other technologies.

“It reduces the costs of deploying broadband services; it finally makes it affordable,” Whiteley said. “It changes the economics, and it’s been the economics that have slowed the deployment of broadband services.”

And the data rates achieved in the demonstration are “as bad as it gets” for xMAX, said Joe Bobier, xG Technology’s president of operations and inventor of xMAX. No carrier signal — which would have required 6 kHz of dedicated spectrum — was used, reducing the data rate by about 25%, he said. In addition, many common techniques to improve performance were not used in an effort to keep the demonstration as simple as possible, he said.

While one Internet report described the Nov. 4 demonstration as a “low power/long range shot heard round the world,” many industry observers question whether xMAX is vastly superior to other modulation schemes. Princeton professor and IEEE fellow Stuart Schwartz said he understands the skepticism.

“There are still things they have to overcome: they have to try it in an urban channel, they have to try it when there are interferers around, and they have to try it in a multi-user environment,” Schwartz said. “[But] I thought it was a fairly impressive demo.”

And xMAX has plenty of room to grow. Whiteley noted that xG used just 10 MHz of the 26 MHz of spectrum available in the ISM 900 MHz band; using the entire band would result in a commensurately faster data rate. In addition, Schwartz said there is no reason that xG should be compelled to operate at such low power levels.

“It’s true, they covered 18 miles of swampland, and it was essentially line-of-sight,” Schwartz said. “But, don’t forget, they [used less than] 50 milliwatts. They can use up to 1000 milliwatts [without violating FCC rules]. So, if you are in an urban area, and you want to send it toward Miami, you boost up your power. And, because you’re using lower frequencies, it goes through buildings better.”

No in-building demonstrations were conducted, but Bobier said xG has run in-building tests with a rudimentary receive antenna on the interior of hotels and other buildings along the beach in Fort Lauderdale about 7 miles from the tower.

“When we were testing, we were in the middle of those buildings at the ground level and were getting an incredibly strong signal … [with a power level of] close to 200 milliwatts,” he said. “We almost had too much signal; it was almost saturating the receiver, there was so much signal.”

If proved to realize the lofty promises made by xG, the Flash Signaling technology at the heart of xMAX will have a “revolutionary” impact on the communications industry, said Rick Mooers, xG Technology CEO (MRT, September, page 40).

While the notion of inexpensively entering the wireless broadband ISP market is compelling, the technology also promises to let current spectrum owners reuse their airwaves. For instance, Whiteley noted that a public-safety agency with an 800 MHz voice system could use xMAX to provide high-speed data over existing spectrum without interfering with the voice system.

“What that would do is … give you two sets of networks,” Whiteley said. “And that’s important for service providers that don’t want to scrap their whole network but want to transition into it. That holds true for coaxial cable and phone lines, as well; you can send a second information-bearing signal without disrupting the current use.”

Although the long-range, fixed wireless application was demonstrated, xG’s signaling technology also can be used at shorter distances. In the lab, xG has transmitted a data stream of 2 MB/s over a distance of 40 feet using just 3.16 nanowatts of power, Schwartz said.

Mooers said xG has secured the funding it needs through early 2007, including an initial commercial rollout during the second half of 2006. Meanwhile, Mooers said he continues to seek large partners that are better positioned to commercialize xG’s solution, as well as help the small company deflect potential regulatory and legal threats that could undermine efforts to get the technology to market.

In pursuit of such an arrangement, Mooers said xG has signed letters of intent or non-disclosure agreements with Intel, two smaller chip manufacturers and Microsoft, although Microsoft has not reciprocated as of press time. In addition, xG has had discussions with Cisco Systems, Apple Computer and several investment banks, he said.

Tags: Call Center/Command content Operations Wireless Networks

Most Recent


  • Things to know about IWCE 2024: The basics 
    Welcome to the “All Things IWCE” column, where we will provide news and information that is designed to help you prepare for the IWCE 2024 show. In this article, we’re covering all of the main things we believe you should know at this stage.    Where will IWCE be in 2024?    IWCE takes place from March […]
  • Industrial Inspection robot dog gets upgrade; humanoid robot video released
    Unitree Robotics has released a new version of its quadruped robot, Unitree B2, for industrial inspection use cases. The new robot design has lidar for obstacle detection and navigation, a standing payload of around 264 pounds and a battery life of four to six hours. In a video demonstration, the new robot is shown climbing […]
  • Five takeaways from the House FCC oversight hearing
    The House Energy & Commerce Committee held an FCC oversight hearing on Thursday, with a “Biden broadband takeover” theme, focusing largely on Republican concerns with the FCC’s efforts to reinstate Title II and enact digital discrimination rules. The hearing also covered the FCC’s lapsed spectrum authority and the Biden administration’s spectrum policy, as well as funding shortfalls […]
  • Sorond named NextNav's CEO to pursue location services, 5G
    Mariam Sorond, a wireless executive who previously worked at companies including VMware, CableLabs and Dish Network, will take over the CEO role at NextNav, the company announced. “Having devoted my career to advancing and commercializing innovation in technology, I am thrilled to continue this journey at the helm of NextNav,” Sorond said in a release. “I […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • L3Harris unveils P25-LTE device that is designed to meet stringent new fire standard
  • Open-source tools for the IoT ecosystem
  • New Orleans-area 911 center inks multiyear APEX deal with Carbyne to replace call-handling system
  • xG Technology demonstrates xMAX
    Newscan: Feds recover millions from pipeline ransom hackers, hint at U.S. Internet tactic

Commentary


Things to know about IWCE 2024: The basics 

5th December 2023

Land mobile radio (LMR) systems are just as vulnerable to cyberattacks as any other networks used in the public-safety sector. Here’s what to do about it.

  • 1
7th November 2023

September 3GPP Plenary meetings feature Release 18 progress, Release 19 beginnings

13th October 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.