White Space Tests Struggle On Third Down - Devices fail to detect & avoid signals at NFL game...Devices fail to detect & avoid signals at NFL game... 08:59AM Tuesday Aug 12 2008 by Karl Bode tags: business · wireless · alternatives · networking Tipped by TK Junk Mail The FCC recently announced (pdf) they've started field testing of "white space" broadband devices. The technology uses white space spectrum -- partially freed by the migration to digital television -- to offer un-served consumers inexpensive (theoretically) Internet access via the airwaves. The majority of testing is being conducted in the Maryland suburbs, but tests also occurred last weekend at a preseason NFL game to determine whether the devices could detect and avoid wireless signals. One microphone vendor says they couldn't: "Simply stated, the prototype devices were unable to consistently identify operating wireless microphones or distinguish occupied from unoccupied TV channels," said Mark Brunner, Shure's senior director of public and industry relations. "More troubling, the devices failed to detect the presence of wireless microphones when switched on--an occurrence that takes place multiple times during any NFL game." However, there's different types of white space devices from different vendors, and a few avoid nearby spectrum differently. Motorola instead uses GPS-based geo-location technology and an FCC database of known spectrum license holders to steer clear of used spectrum. Results from the FCC's tests should be released in a few weeks. |