The possibilities of open spectrum

[Michel Bauwens]

This interesting summary of the possibilities of open spectrum appeared in business week, here at
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2008/tc2008115_197440.htm?

It's an update to http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/open-spectrum-victory-in-the-us/2008/11/08 relating the victory for open spectrum usage in the US.


BW writes:

" The new airwaves, known as white spaces, could be used to create wireless hot spots akin to those created by Wi-Fi technology that let users communicate wirelessly within homes and throughout neighborhoods. But unlike Wi-Fi zones, these airwaves will enable faster downloads of large data files, such as video clips and feature-length films, over larger distances and at a lower cost. In a blog, Google co-founder Larry Page compared the technology to "Wi-Fi on steroids," adding: "I've always thought that there are a lot of really incredible things that engineers and entrepreneurs can do with this spectrum."

The spectrum's ability to transmit data and calls at long distances and through walls would allow cheap community broadband networks to cover city neighborhoods and even entire towns, bypassing and creating added competition with traditional providers of telecommunication services, such as Comcast (CMCSA), Verizon Communications (VZ), and AT&T (T). Motorola expects to cover 15 square miles with one access point using this spectrum and WiMax-like technology, which is currently used only on licensed spectrum. The setup would allow a new breed of carrier to rise up and provide wireless broadband in rural areas without having to dole out millions of dollars on spectrum. Motorola hopes to have new gear that works in white spaces within a year. "

[Michel Bauwens]

Interesting as an update, from http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/21671/?a=f :

"With the FCC decision, however, researchers and companies finally have the opportunity to turn prototypes into products, knowing that the gadgets could hit the market in the next couple of years. Companies including Motorola, Phillips, and Microsoft have all tested prototypes with mixed results and hope to have robust white-space devices soon.

Motorola is one of the first companies to have developed a white-space radio device that meets the basic requirements of the FCC. The device is smart enough to find and operate on free frequencies in its vicinity while controlling the strength of signals to keep them from interfering with those from other devices using nearby frequencies.

There are still lingering concerns over interference, however. This is one of the main reasons why white spaces have been off limits until now. Broadcast companies, which fund a huge lobby in Washington, were not keen on sharing their airwaves, and musicians were concerned that future white-space devices would interfere with performances using wireless microphones.

Motorola's radio finds occupied frequencies by accessing a database of registered television stations and wireless devices within its vicinity, which it determines by using GPS. Steve Sharkey, Motorola's policy director, notes that the device has a secondary way of finding free signals that involves just "listening" to the airwaves and scoping out free space. Sharkey believes that combining both methods will provide the best results."

[Sepp Hasslberger]

I have indeed been following the issue of the influence of microwaves on biological tissues and therefore on human health, but like marc I have not seen any specific research on the 700 MHz band vs. the 1.3 GHz and higher of the mobile phone band.

It would seem reasonable to assume that the former TV frequencies which are yielding up the white space band for a different use might be less damaging than the higher frequencies. We have lived with TV for several decades without obvious untoward health effects - other than from the propaganda we absorb, but that's a different question.

In microwave pollution, one important factor which "links" the activity of microwaves to biological rhythms seems to be the pulsing of packets of data at a low frequency of around 200 Hertz. This is close enough to the body's own frequencies (brain waves, heart rhythm and so on) to be a potential source of interference with body processes.

As an aside, we have a mysterious disappearance of whole colonies of bees in recent years. Bees are very close to the 200 Hertz frequency. It's the approximate frequency of their wing beat. And colony collapse disorder seems to have increased concurrently with the penetration of communication-related pulsed microwave radiation.

So while 700 MHz may be less damaging than the higher frequencies of one or more GHz, it will still carry the "packet" modulation.

Little or no research has been done on this, because officially, only thermal effects, i.e. the direct heating of tissues by microwave radiation as in a microwave oven are seen as actual effects on biological tissues. Low frequency lock-on and interference have not been - as far as I know - been the subject of real research designed to find whether or not there is a real danger. That is why we only have statistical indications, as marc says, of biological damage but little or no real data to guide our choice of software (packets or continuous signal) in the communication spectra.

[Michel Bauwens]

It seems to me that Sepp has been following this issue more closely, and you might alert him about this discussion, in case he missed it,

Michel

[Evolving Trends]

I don't mean to throw this off topic, but I would like to know if anyone been looking at the effect of this new spectrum (positive or negative) on microwave pollution?

I believe the now-abandoned analog VHF/UHF TV spectrum that's being opened at white space is around 700MHz which is much better news than the 1-3 GHz range for current cell phones because the latter coincides with wavelengths that are absorbed by water and fat in human tissue. The reason the 700MHz white space spectrum is so desired is because it can transmit much better through rain and atmospheric interference and I believe the longer wavelength also gives it better propagation characteristics. Passing through the body/wall is much better than being mostly absorbed. Much better for the device functioning and much better for people's health.

The transmitters themselves are generally far enough from most populations of people, but the handheld devices that communicate with those transmitters have been linked to tumors and cancers the same way smoking has been linked to cancer, i.e. statistical correlations with cause-effect spans of up to 15 years, so such are warnings to be taken with a grain of salt, but it's undeniable that there is a statistically significant correlation, and that's enough for some of us to be concerned.

I have done some research on microwave reflective fabrics and interesting headset technologies to protect against statistically significant microwave pollution (from affecting our bodies, brains). I believe the addition of 700Mhz is good news as explained above but I have not seen any discussion out there with respect to this hunch/suggestion.