The AT&T Labs broadband fixed wireless field experiment

We describe an ongoing broadband fixed two-way wireless field experiment conducted by AT&T Laboratories-Research in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Our experiment, which is one of the first two-way broadband fixed wireless systems offers an end-to-end broadband packet access service, with telecommuting as the primary application for our employee users. It operates in the 2.6 GHz MMDS spectrum, and is based on cable modem technology. We have developed a Web-based network monitoring/management tool that greatly enhances the ability to manage, diagnose, and optimize the system. The lengthy period of operation has allowed us to make observations about user behavior, weather-related channel impairments, and equipment performance. We have identified several design issues related to the application of cable modem technology to the fixed wireless environment. Also, we have measured a significant path loss effect arising from a combination of rain and foliage.