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From: jsloan@wright.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Ethers, Copper, Fiber, Microwaves, Etc.
Message-ID: <203@wright.EDU>
Date: Tue, 1-Dec-87 08:07:13 EST
Article-I.D.: wright.203
Posted: Tue Dec  1 08:07:13 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Dec-87 05:38:35 EST
References: <3044@phri.UUCP>
Organization: Wright State University, Dayton OH, 45435
Lines: 35

Some time ago I helped write an RFP for a 10 Mb/sec ethernet-to-ethernet
link via microwave (thanks, Kent England at BU for the info!). We have
since contracted with the vendor and installation should be completed
around Christmas. In the process there has been some mutual education
between the microwave group and the networking group on campus.

There are now incredibly cheap (a few thousand $s) microwave systems,
with dishes that you could put in a briefcase, that could conceivably
be pushed to 10 Mb/sec over very short distances. How long will it be
before it will be cheaper to run networks between adjacent buildings on
a campus or research park etc. using these tiny microwave systems
instead of running copper or fiber? I suspect the major cost would
be the ether bridges on either end that may be necessary (and maybe
not), but it could also be that you would want packet filtering with
bridges even if you used copper or fiber.

I remember reading about lasers doing similar things. Also an
interesting thought.

Our RBOC bid a optical fiber link. Although their ethernet-to-ethernet
product (if its not vaporware) was not available by our deadline, this
too is an interesting idea, not for short distances (a solution which
has been around for a while) but for long distances, like over five
miles or more. Managing a geographically dispersed ethernet would be
challenging, but the functionality is appealing.

Anyone have any concrete ideas on any of this? Those little microwave
dishes are looking better and better.


-- 
John Sloan                     Wright State University Research Center
jsloan@SPOTS.Wright.Edu       3171 Research Blvd., Kettering, OH 45420
...!cbosgd!wright!jsloan               (513) 259-1384   (513) 873-2491
Logic Disclaimer: belong(opinions,jsloan). belong(opinions,_):-!,fail.