[jeeg]

Hasn't NMU already had such a system in place for quite awhile. I know I could access it from my house when we lived in town two years ago. A couple of my coworkers who were taking classes could access it from the med center where we worked.
They may be widening the coverage area but that's no biggie.

[SpaceGhost79]

License paves way for WiMAX

Northern has been granted an Educational Broadband Service (EBS) license by the Federal Communications Commission. EBS is a type of wireless spectrum that supports high-speed Internet access using “WiMAX” technology.

A special thanks to NMU alumnus Kevin Boyle '81 for his role in helping secure the license.

The license will allow NMU to better serve the university’s growing commuter and off-campus populations with broadband access to critical course related materials, expand the collaborative efforts between area K-12 schools and NMU students fulfilling student teaching requirements, and continue the development of new wireless services that are critical to the Teaching, Learning and Communication (TLC) technology initiative.

"Our new EBS license takes Northern’s technology to a new plateau by expanding our wireless network in a way that will make handheld and notebook devices truly portable. WiMAX wireless technology is a global standard for cutting-edge technology that will help provide our students and faculty fast, reliable access to the future’s multi-media content and communication demands. It means much greater wireless penetration throughout the central portion of the Upper Peninsula," said NMU President Les Wong.

Congressman Bart Stupak said the increased wireless penetration afforded by WiMAX will be valuable on two fronts: “It will not only enhance learning for NMU students; it will be very helpful from an emergency services perspective and the ability to keep more citizens informed. With Wi-Fi, the coverage is about 100 to 150 feet. With WiMAX, it’s miles.”

Essentially, yes, wider coverage. MUCH wider coverage. I live a mile west of campus and I don't get the network at home. I believe there are just certain areas round town you can access NMU's campus and I think that's because NMU installed some boosters a few years ago to stretch the signal to certain spots (like Third Street). But that doesn't mean everyone who lives between campus and Third Street gets the signal. Not by a long shot. The signal isn't "stretching" from campus to Third Street. It's very concentrated. For instance, my friend literally lives across the street from campus and he can't get NMU's wireless at his house. And a few years ago I couldn't get the signal outside the University Center. I could inside, but the moment I went outside about 30 feet away from the building it was very shoddy. As Stupak said, it doesn't stretch very far.

Think of it this way, as one website explained. NMU is currently on Wi-Fi. Think of Wi-Fi as a cordless phone at home. How far does that cordless phone reception stretch? Hence why my friend can't get the network at his house across from campus. Now think of WiMAX as a cell phone, which you can carry anywhere in town and get a reception. You're talking blanket coverage.

Now then, you take what's currently limited, and you expand that to the entire city of Marquette, Harvey, who knows, maybe even out towards Negaunee and Ishpetucky and that's a lot of NMU faculty, staff, students, and whoever else can tap into it that will no longer have to pay for Charter or AT&T at home. Be it a few hundred or a thousand subscribers, locally that's a lot business for Charter to lose as we're not a big area to begin with and they already have enough problems after filing for bankruptcy.

[jeeg]

Thank you for sharing that article, I had not seen it yet I learned something new and now understand the difference (roughly) between the two.

Originally Posted by SpaceGhost79

Be it a few hundred or a thousand subscribers, locally that's a lot business for Charter to lose as we're not a big area to begin with and they already have enough problems after filing for bankruptcy.

It's very nice for the students/employees but it won't affect the corporation much. Charter is in..... off the top of my head.... at least 19 states with the large majority of it's money coming in from both the east and west coasts. This area is just a small drop in the bucket.
Cable has always been it's main money maker anyways.

[FESTER]

I have up.net DSL here out in the sticks and it has been fine. Rarely any problems.