What is wimax, how to use it, how to get started?

WiMAX is defined as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access by the WiMAX Forum, formed in April 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the IEEE 802.16 standard,

officially known as WirelessMAN. The Forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and

DSL".

The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards, which was established by IEEE Standards Board in 1999, aims to prepare formal specifications for the global

deployment of broadband Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks. The Workgroup is a unit of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee.

Although the 802.16 family of standards is officially called WirelessMAN, it has been dubbed “WiMAX” by an industry group called the The WiMAX Forum. The mission of the Forum is to

promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products. The acronym WiMAX expands to "Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access".

The first 802.16 standard was approved in December 2001 and was followed by two amendments – 802.16a and 802.16c to address issues of radio spectrum and inter-operability,

respectively. In September 2003, a revision project called 802.16REVd commenced aiming to align the standard with aspects of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute

(ETSI) HIPERMAN standard as well as lay down conformance and test specifications. This project concluded in 2004 with the release of 802.16-2004 and the withdrawal of the earlier

802.16 documents including the a/b/c amendments.

Amendments to the standard
An amendment to the standard, IEEE 802.16-2005 (formerly known as IEEE 802.16e), addressing mobility, was concluded in 2005. This is sometimes called “Mobile WiMAX”, after the

WiMAX forum for interoperability.

Active amendments:

802.16f – Management Information Base
Amendments in development:

802.16g - Management Plane Procedures and Services
Amendments at pre-draft stage:

802.16h - Improved Coexistence Mechanisms for License-Exempt Operation
802.16i - Mobile Management Information Base
802.16j - Mobile Multihop Relay
802.16k - Bridging

Certification
Because the IEEE only sets specifications but does not test equipment for compliance with them, the WiMAX Forum runs a certification program wherein members pay for certification.

WiMAX certification by this group is intended to guarantee compliance with the standard and interoperability with equipment from other manufacturers. The mission of the Forum is to

promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products.

IEEE 802 refers to a family of IEEE standards about local area networks and metropolitan area networks. More specifically, the IEEE 802 standards are restricted to networks carrying

variable-size packets. (By contrast, in cell-based networks data is transmitted in short, uniformly sized units called cells. Isochronous networks, where data is transmitted as a steady

stream of octets, or groups of octets, at regular time intervals, are also out of the scope of this standard.) The number 802 was simply the next free number IEEE could assign, though

"802" is sometimes associated with the date the first meeting was held - February 1980.

The services and protocols specified in IEEE 802 map to the lower two layers (Data Link and Physical) of the seven-layer OSI networking reference model. In fact, IEEE 802 splits the OSI

Data Link Layer into two sub-layers named Logical Link Control (LLC) and Media Access Control, so that the layers can be listed like this:

Data link layer
LLC Sublayer
MAC Sublayer
Physical layer

The IEEE 802 family of standards is maintained by the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee (LMSC). The most widely used standards are for the Ethernet family, Token Ring, Wireless

LAN, Bridging and Virtual Bridged LANs. An individual Working Group provides the focus for each area.

General

The IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard is truly a state-of-the-art specification for fixed broadband wireless access systems employing a point-to-multipoint architecture. The initial

version was developed with the goal of meeting the requirements of a vast array of deployment scenarios for BWA systems operating between 10 and 66 GHz. As a result, only a subset of

the functionality is needed for typical deployments directed at specific markets. An amendment is almost finished to do the same for systems operating between 2 and 11 GHz.

Additionally, the IEEE process stops short of providing conformance statements and test specifications. In order to ensure interoperability between vendors competing in the same market,

the WiMAX technical working groups were created by the leaders in IEEE 802.16 technology.

The 802.16 standard, amended this January by the IEEE to cover frequency bands in the range between 2 GHz and 11 GHz, specifies a metropolitan area networking protocol that will

enable a wireless alternative for cable, DSL and T1 level services for last mile broadband access, as well as providing backhaul for 801.11 hotspots. The new 802.16a standard specifies a

protocol that among other things supports low latency applications such as voice and video, provides broadband connectivity without requiring a direct line of sight between subscriber

terminals and the base station (BTS) and will support hundreds if not thousands of subscribers from a single BTS. The standard will help accelerate the introduction of wireless broadband

equipment into the marketplace, speeding up last-mile broadband deployment worldwide by enabling service providers to increase system performance and reliability while reducing their

equipment costs and investment risks. Overview of the IEEE 802.16a Standard, WiMAX and the IEEE 802.16a PHY Layer, IEEE 802.16a MAC Layer, Differentiating the IEEE 802.16a and

802.11 Standards - WiFi versus WiMAX Scalability, The WiMAX Forum-Interoperability for 802.16 Compliant Systems,

Traderock The Definitive Source for Wireless Technology and Business

Who is the manufacturers of these wimax systems, hardware, chips, software, following are a few companies that makes these units. Traderock will supply any of these solutions as you

decide

APERTO

Aperto Networks has been a leading contributor to IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN standards, making sure that key technical features such as QoS and link adaptation enhancements

were supported to stringent carrier requirements. Aperto Networks was the first company to deliver IEEE 802.16-class systems in 2000.
 
The combination of standards completion in March 2003, official launch of the WiMAX Forum in late 2003, Aperto pushed forward to the development of PacketMAX – one of the first

systems submitted for WiMAX certification. These efforts provide a solid base contributing to the ongoing development of WiMAX products now with outdoor fixed and indoor installed

subscribers based on IEEE 802.16-2004 and evolving to portable and mobile systems based on IEEE 802.16e in the future.
 
Technical Firsts:
First to implement a carrier-class QoS profiles (up to 16 service flows) to support simultaneous voice and tiered data services.
First to enable up to six different adaptive link parameters per subscriber for high throughput, peak performance, and interference resilience.
First to support a medium access control (MAC) scheme using burst mode time division multiple access (TDMA) that can scale from a few users to hundreds per sector.
First in the industry to over enhanced IP networking functionality such as virtual LAN (VLAN) support, IP routing, and Dynamic Host Configuration protocol (DHCP) server.
 

Pre-WiMAX broadband wireless providers have often been constrained by low-level networking and interoperability issues – limiting their service offerings to raw bandwidth and basic

Internet access. These providers are realizing that while the new WiMAX standard helps ensure compatibility, it does not by itself result in an optimized solution that satisfies the whole

range of operational and subscriber requirements. Aperto’s industry-leading PacketMAX™ infrastructure permits service provides to focus on their key business: offering competitive and

profitable services. PacketMAX lets providers differentiate themselves from their competition by delivering the broadest array of services architected around a fully optimized WiMAX

solution.
 
Aperto PacketMAX is specifically designed to enable service offerings that drive revenue. These services include:
 
Voice
Can voice be the “killer app” for WiMAX? There is good reason to believe that many users will utilize fixed wireless voice as their lifeline to the outside world. PacketMAX systems leverage

Aperto’s unique quality of service (QoS) features to delivering best-of-breed voice service offerings. For more information, Contact Traderock at www.traderock.com .
TDM
Despite the current trend toward IP convergence, demand for TDM services is still growing. The need for providers to deliver mobile voice and data drives expenses upward and increases

operational complexity by requiring rapid deployment of new cell sites to handle the increased traffic. Many large and midsize enterprises have sizable investments in TDM-based systems

for private voice, and must continue to provide high-quality service. Leased-line costs can account for up to 30% of operational expenditures for mobile operators backhauling cell site

traffic. PacketMAX technology can dramatically lower these costs by effectively emulating circuit-switched services over the lower-cost WiMAX link. For more information, Contact

Traderock at www.traderock.com .
Internet Access
Internet access is an indispensable part of any service providers’ portfolio. However, customers differ widely with regard to their precise bandwidth requirements, their desired level of

service, and their cost sensitivity. PacketMAX can help operators tailor specific services to the needs of the customer, extracting the maximum revenue for basic Internet access. For

more information, Contact Traderock at www.traderock.com .
Differentiated Offerings
The term “convergence” is quickly becoming a synonym for providing all services over the wireless link, whether fixed or mobile. This means a single operator needs to supply voice, video,

and data services to multiple end users simultaneously. In the case of multiple dwelling / tenet units (MDU / MTUs), the challenge is even greater because of the need to differentiate

multiple end users attached to the same subscriber station. The PacketMAX system can help overcome convergence challenges. For more information, Contact Traderock at

www.traderock.com .
Video
There has been some speculation in the industry about whether WiMAX can deliver video traffic profitably. PacketMAX systems help operators leverage the well-developed IPTV

ecosystem, enabling an end-to-end solution for live or streaming video. PacketMAX technology overcomes bandwidth / spectrum challenges to provide a multichannel video service. For

more information, Contact Traderock at www.traderock.com .

Aperto is committed to delivering standards based WiMAX solutions to market. Aperto’s solutions marketing department manages an ecosystem of technology and solution partners

dedicated to delivering pre-integrated, WiMAX solutions. Service providers can rest assured that Aperto powered solution interoperates with their preferred vendors’ element(s) in a

performance-optimized fashion.
 
Aperto’s Partnership Ecosystem is comprised of an array of enabling technology, solutions, networking, OSS/BSS, and system integrator partners.
 
Join Aperto Solutions Ecosystem
 
Enabling Technology:
Enabling technology partners provide the fundamental building blocks of PacketMAX subscriber units and base station unit hardware. Key enabling technology partners are supplying the

latest system on chip advances for 802.16-2004 fixed, indoor, and 802.16e based mobile solutions.  
   
VoIP Services:
VoIP services partners provide networking elements on the subscriber side and base station network side dedicated to enabling VoIP solutions over WiMAX. Examples of VoIP partners

include vendors of: Analog terminal adapters, integrated access devices, call control infrastructure (primarily SIP UAC/S), media gateways.
   
TDM Services:
TDM services partners provide the components required to interface PacketMAX to legacy TDM infrastructure. TDM services partners help drive enterprise voice, E1/T1 and mobile cellular

based applications.  
   
System Integrators:  
Aperto SI partners are fully trained and certified on installing and servicing Aperto systems. Aperto SI partners deploy end-to-end WiMAX solutions.  
   
OSS / BSS:  
OSS/BSS partners are a critical component of Aperto comprehensive solution strategy. Aperto OSS/BSS partners are supplying operational and billing support systems increasing network

efficiency and enabling enhanced operator billing models for tiered voice, video and data services for consumer and enterprise customers.  
   
   
Superior Technology + Industry Leadership = Wireless to the MAX
Aperto Networks is the technology leader in the most challenging segment of the WiMAX equipment market: carrier-class infrastructure. 
 
Aperto leverages its exceptional broadband wireless know-how to build the world’s most advanced and most versatile WiMAX base stations and subscriber units, enabling providers to build

IP-rich, point-to-multipoint and point-to-point networks that provide industry-leading quality of service options and unsurpassed subscriber density.
 
In 2002 Aperto Networks established its position as a broadband wireless leader with the introduction of the PacketWave™ product family. PacketWave systems now serve tens of

thousands of users in 65 countries. These systems feature a multiservices-intelligent design, highly scalable capacity and coverage, and dynamic per-subscriber link optimization. Unique

technical innovations help attract subscribers and increase revenue opportunities for service providers.
 
In addition to attaining the status of an acknowledged technological innovator, Aperto has led the broadband wireless industry in developing industry standards. Aperto was a founder of

the WiMAX Forum, and a founder and lead contributor to IEEE 802.16 and the ETSI-BRAN standards. 
 
Aperto’s superior technology, coupled with the company’s leadership role in setting standards, gave birth to the PacketMAX™ family of WiMAX-compliant products. All the advanced

technologies and features that originally distinguished the PacketWave line have been integrated into the WiMAX-Certified™ PacketMAX system. What’s more, Aperto has taken advantage

of its extensive broadband wireless expertise and in-depth WiMAX involvement to integrate powerful new enhancements into the PacketMAX product line.
 
Today, Aperto’s WiMAX infrastructure enables service providers in markets of every kind to profitably deliver wireless voice, data, and video services. Whether they are serving developed

markets or emerging economies, Aperto’s WiMAX products fundamentally change the economics of delivering voice and broadband services, allowing carriers to offer a wider variety of

services to more customers using less equipment. 
 
Profit-Generating Broadband Wireless Solutions
Aperto PacketMAX™ Family
As a WiMAX Forum™ founding member and key contributor to the 802.16 standard, Aperto has taken the lead again in the WiMAX era by launching the PacketMAX family of

WiMAX-compliant carrier-grade broadband wireless access products.
 
Aperto PacketMAX products are designed to meet the demanding capacity, quality, and scalability requirements of today’s service providers. Combining Aperto’s field-proven technologies

and cutting-edge enhancements with the robust and feature-rich WiMAX technology, the PacketMAX system offers providers a high-capacity platform that maximizes revenue and profits

by reliably delivering compelling data, voice, and video services. The family includes modular, stackable, and micro base stations, and a selection of indoor and outdoor subscriber

equipment.
 
Aperto PacketWave® Family
Serving tens of thousands of users in 65 countries, the pre-WiMAX standard Aperto PacketWave product family incorporates advanced technologies that provide quick deployment, high

spectral efficiency, multiservices optimization through advanced quality of service, and ease of installation and configuration. The system’s unique technical innovations help attract

subscribers and increase revenue opportunities for carriers. The PacketWave family comprises a suite of base stations, subscriber units, and point-to-point bridges that provide an array of

deployment options for delivering robust wireless data, voice, and video services.
 
Aperto WaveCenter™ EMS
Aperto WaveCenter EMS is a carrier-class element management system (EMS) that manages PacketMAX and PacketWave wireless equipment. The software’s intuitive graphical user

interface and powerful management tools increase productivity in network operations centers. With the ability to discover and inventory equipment in real time, WaveCenter EMS ensures

fast deployment of Aperto equipment and provisioning of customers. Its highly scalable and reliable architecture lets providers deploy and efficiently manage very large networks of base

stations and subscriber stations. Northbound interfaces provide integration into higher-level network management, billing, and operations support systems.
 

Building on proven technologies and incorporating the latest WiMAX-compliant features, the Aperto PacketMAX system gives network operators the multiservices infrastructure they need

to take full advantage of the business opportunities offered by broadband wireless. PacketMAX delivers the critical elements required to extend services to a wide range of subscribers –

ranging from large enterprises and public-sector organizations to multitenet buildings and residences – using a single, standards-based platform.
 
PacketMAX boosts profitability and accelerates return on investment by providing:
A suite of advanced technologies that have already proved themselves in systems installed in 65 countries, serving thousands of subscribers
WiMAX-driven economies, including mass-produced silicon, superior scalability, and multivendor interoperability
Flexible, pay-as-you-grow capital expenditures
Future-proof platforms designed to upgrade easily and support future mobile WiMAX standards
A multiservices infrastructure integrating advanced quality of service (QoS) capabilities that can deliver up to 8,000 service flows per sector, and up to 16 flows per subscriber unit
Integrated voice-over-IP (VoIP) capabilities that include intelligent overbooking, flexible packet classifiers, IP address conservation, payload header suppression, and powerful packet

processing
Well-differentiated data services that feature innovations such as continuous queuing, sophisticated flow handling, comprehensive filtering, time-division duplexing (TDD), and an

integrated routing capability
Carrier-level reliability to minimize disruptions and ensure service-level agreement (SLA) compliance
High system-link budget and extensive cell range at high modulations, resulting in greater capacities and more expansive coverage areas
Comprehensive WaveCenter EMS™ [WaveMAX EMS?] element management that helps monitor and control up to 10,000 network elements
Reduced business risk with field-tested technologies, support for all major frequency bands, economical upgrade paths, and compatibility with Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture

(ATCA) specifications
 

Aperto® Network’s PacketWave® point-to-point product line features a number of advanced technologies, several of which were introduced to the point-to-point wireless market for the

first time by Aperto.
 
Link distance and spectral efficiency are two of the most fundamental values in any point-to-point wireless product, and Aperto excels at both of them. Aperto’s Link Distance is one of

the longest available in its price range. The system gives the operator the choice to use a variety of antenna types, thus enabling even larger link distances with higher gain antennae.

Aperto’s Spectral Efficiency (or how many bits it can pack in the available bandwidth) is one of the best in the industry. Up to 20 non-overlapping channels are made available in the 125

MHz of spectrum in the 5.8 MHz ISM band, as compared to the 4-6 channels available in most other products.
 
The PacketWave point-to-point product offers a unique feature that enables the operator to synchronize multiple co-located point-to-point links. This enables the operator to do the

following:
 
Re-use the same channel in multiple co-located links, under the constraint that any two links are separated from each other by at least 90 degrees. For example, using a single 6 MHz

channel, the operator can put up four point-to-point links at a single location.
If there are multiple channels available, then several links can be co-located, under the constraint mentioned above.
 
 
Aperto uses a number of technologies to make the wireless link more robust to multipath and interference, including:
 
ARQ or Automatic Re-Transmissions
Adaptive Coding and Modulation
Automatic Frequency Selection
Antenna Diversity
 
 
Working together seamlessly, these technologies enable the system to keep operating smoothly, even with packet error rates as high as 5-10%. This enables the system to operate in

OLOS/NLOS environments, as well as in crowded license exempt frequency bands where Interference is an un-avoidable fact of life. 
 
Aperto is alone among broadband wireless vendors in offering a Flexible Channel Size, which can vary from 6 MHz down to 4 MHz. In license exempt bands, it increases the number of

available channels and makes it easier for the operator to find clean chunks of spectrum in a crowded environment.
 
In addition several tools are provided to facilitate the configuration and management of each base station system (i.e. base station, each channel and all SUs served by this base station).

Those tools include:
 
The Advanced Installation Manager to facilitate quick installation and initial configuration of the point-to-point units. This tool also enables the installer to correctly point the antenna, by

plotting the received signal and SNR levels. Note that this pointing can be done at either end of the link.
The Web-based Graphical User Interface for remote monitoring and configuration of the point-to-point units.
The Upgrade Manager (UM) for software upgrade support
SNMP
 
These tools provide all functionalities to the service provider to configure, manage, control and monitor each of PacketWave systems. 

An intuitive GUI and powerful tools increase productivity of network operations centers. With the ability to discover and inventory equipment in real time, the WaveCenter EMS system

ensures fast deployment of Aperto equipment and provisioning of customers. It also provides powerful tools to ensure robust operation of the wireless network and network elements and

also accelerates the resolution of problems.
 
Centralized Network Management
WaveCenter EMS provides full FCAPS (Fault, Control, Accounting, Performance, and Security) capabilities making network information easily analyzable thereby allowing the network

administrator to make fast, intelligent choices. Information is displayed in intuitive screens while the underlying real-time and historical performance data gathered from each device is

stored in a central relational database. WaveCenter EMS includes an embedded SQL database so no additional software is required.
 
Highly Scalable / Distributed Architecture
WaveCenter EMS employs a highly efficient IP-based distributed client/ser