Friday, April 30, 2010

Implementation of wireless technology with renewable energy in Haiti

Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, geothermal. Most of the poverty countries have other benefits. Haiti is one of the countries that have sunlight and wind on most days. Wind power has a worldwide installed capacity of 157900 MW meanwhile the largest solar power plant in Nevada provides 354MW (www.wikipedia.com). Haiti will contribute many benefits from implementing wireless technology with renewable energy. Of course, the main problem is having the financial to support them.
Recently, The Solar Electric light fund support the solar electrification of 7 health clinics for Partners In Health (PIH) in Haiti (http://smart- grid. tmcnet.com/news/2010 /04/29/4760596 .htm). These clinics are located in the remote mountain of Haiti that does not have access to electric grid. Many of the Haitian clinics powered by gas generators and are always close to running out of fuel. Having a good sunlight most of the days, it would not be a bad idea to charge the batteries during the day to supply electricity to the clinics at night. In this way, more patients can obtain equal health care. What the people need the most is wireless network. Using wireless network, charged batteries can be detected instantly to supply unaided hospitals. Nano technology can be implemented here as well because it is low cost.
Haiti is also known of having windy beaches. Inexpensive wind turbines can be build beside the shore. Individual turbines must be connected with a medium voltage (often 12.5 kV), and power collection system. There should be a wireless network at this point to see if there is faulty equipment and etc. At a substation, this medium-voltage electrical current is increased in voltage with a transformer for connection to the high voltage electric power transmission system. In this way, people will be more educated as well. Probably, Haiti will be a developed country someday.
In conclusion, people in Haiti will benefit in many ways from using wireless technology with renewable energy. So, what say you?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Is Wi4 WIMAX by Motorola USA really 4G network?

The 4G network is supposedly provide a range of cost saving services to the community, a broader job market for the people, flexibility usage at anywhere anytime and expand the jobs of a device. I think that is what 4G network should be defined and not how other technology companies and wireless carriers defined. Wireless carriers and other companies that sells 4G product are for profit organization. We have to be aware of how the media is trying to trick consumers.
WiMAX also known as Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access, is a wireless broadband technology based on the IEEE 802.16 family of standards. Theoretically, WIMAX offers the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL. The specification of WIMAX and the definition of the 4G networks contradict with one another.
On April 8th 2008, Motorola Inc. announced that it is expanding the Motorola wi4 WiMAX with IEEE 802.16e standard WAP 450. The WAP 450 access point uses the 4G network common broadband base control unit. It also has a smaller common equipment cabinet and a more powerful tower-top RF module that can improve coverage and capacity by delivering up to 10 watts of power output per sector at the antenna port. More information can be obtained from www.motorola.com/wimax . Although Motorola wi4 WIMAX uses the 4G network common broadband base control unit, however the coverage of the 4G network versus the coverage of the WIMAX technology is different.
In Malaysia, P1 WIMAX (not related to wi4 WIMAX Motorola USA) is the only WIMAX operator in Malaysia. The marketing team in P1 WIMAX convinced many Malaysians that to use 4G wireless instead of other wireless networks http://www.p1.com.my/. People tend to get influence by advertisements on P1 WIMAX stating that “Super fast connections, no phone line, plug and play, great rates and extended coverage plan” same as the 4G broadband network. This creates a lot of confusion and misunderstanding of the 4G wireless technology definition.
Revert to the question, Is Wi4 WIMAX by Motorola USA really 4G network? Based from my research, I found that 4G network do not exist currently and that contradict WIMAX technology as 4G network.

How is 4G standard defined currently?

4G network also known as “beyond 3G” or “fourth-generation” wireless technology refers to the entirely new evolution with a complete 3G replacement in wireless communications. The 4G network is based on IP packet switched networks rather than the previous generations where 1G and 2G are circuit data. 4G has highest data transmission speed than previous generations wireless technology. The 4G network, assures voice over IP(Internet Protocol), data and high-quality multimedia in real-time (“streamed”) form at all time anywhere. The 4G network is not currently implemented. Many wireless carriers like Sprint are trying to sell the customers the idea that 4G is currently available. The 4G standards are based on two technologies.
These technologies are LTE (Long Term Evolution) standardized by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Projects) and the IEEE 802.16, an advanced air interface with data rates of 100 Mbit/s at mobile & 1 Gbit/s at stationary.
Sprint offers a 3G/4G connection plan, currently available in select cities in the United States. Sprint 4G covers more than 30 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010. Sprint currently offers 4G services in 27 markets, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., San Antonio and Seattle (www.sprint.com/4G). HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. HTC creates innovative smart phones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. HTC announced the first 3G/4G Android handset availability this summer (www.htc.com). Verizon Wireless announced their plan to joint venture with the Vodafone group to transition their networks to 4G standards LTE by the end of 2010. Currently, Verizon covers over 80 percent of the U.S. population with its high-speed 3G network. Bell Canada and Telus, major Canadian carriers, announced to cooperate together to transition their networks building towards a 4G standards LTE in Canada.
Sprint released Single-mode devices and dual-mode devices for 4G coverage (4G network defined by Sprint alone). Single-mode devices provide the end user to access the 4G network, where available. This device can be used on computers or laptops with an appetite for videos, games, email and pictures. The device also can be used with a hotspot accessory and share a connection at the office or at home. The Sprint 4G Desktop Modem CPEi25150 by Motorola allows the client to connect 4G without complicated installation. The procedures simply require the user to plug the device into the computer or wifi router. It is a great solution when the end user needs to get a reliable Internet connection. Dual-mode device offer the customers to access the Sprint 3G network, and 4G network where available. This device allows 4G connections with up to 5 WiFi devices like laptop, cameras, and portable game and music players. One can obtain coverage of the 3G Sprint network if travel outside of 4G coverage.
The 4G network standards vary from everybody however 4G standardization is expected to be included in 3GPP soon. Currently, The International Telecommunication Union, Radiocommunicatio (ITU-R) also stated that the 4G network requirement was supported by the peak data rate 1Gbit/s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_Advanced).

Cell phones and how do they work?

One of my church members wanted to know how cell phone works in the engineering area and that question was addressed to me. With the little time I have now, I decided to go ahead and find out how these devices actually works. I believe engineering is for the benefit of mankind not because I am going to be an engineer myself but I believe that I can make a big difference in the world if my heart and my mind are together.
Each phone is behaves like a miniature computer. Just like a computer, cell phone contains compact speaker, microphone, key board, a display screen and circuit board with microprocessor. This technology allows you to communicate with other cell phones, computers and exchange data around the globe.
In reality, cell phone is just a flexible radio. Just like a walkie-talkie, cell phone receives and sends radio signals. Wireless networks operate on a grid that divides cities into smaller cells. A cell might cover up to 250 square miles. Every cell uses a set of radio frequencies to provide service in its specific area. In order to limit the signal’s geographic range, the power of these stations has to be supervised all times. Same frequency can be used in nearby cells. That is why, many people can talk simultaneously in the different call throughout the city although they are in the same frequency.
A wireless antenna is stationed in a base station for every cell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_site). Callers are linked by wireless antenna into local telephone network or a wireless network. Wireless antennas can also be mounted on top of the roof of a building, school, church, trees and etc. In the interstates or highways, taller antennas send signals further distances. Signals also can be obstructed by trees and concrete.
Calls are travelled through a nearby wireless antenna which is switched by one’s wireless carrier to a landline phone system if a person is calling from a cell phone to a wired phone. Meanwhile, long distance calls are being routed to long distance switching area. These days, fiber-optic lines caries digitize version of the voice (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question354.htm) . Digital technology converts voice into binary digits 1 and 0 and small packets of these data are relayed through wireless to the receiving end.
Although cell phones are off at times, it can still be communicated with nearby wireless antennas. If you happen to drive by a cell tower, antennas are located at different height to represent different wireless carrier. Therefore, cell phones are just like radios.

Wired or Wireless technologies? Which is better?



Wireless technology becomes more central in the news as wired technology becomes less popular in the news. I wonder why people are blinded by the media as they knew that wired technology is the parent technology to wireless technology. Maybe popularity dominates everything and even this situation is applicable in some episodes in life.
Wired technology is more secure which is less likely for someone to hack one’s privacy online because it is connected through an outlet on the wall meanwhile wireless technology initiates a person to hack one’s password for online access. In my opinion, wired technology has its advantages as well.
Sometimes, I think of cell phones being wired to an outlet on the wall would give me more time to focus on other priorities. I don’t like watching a person constantly on their cell phone while driving, or crossing the road. Also, I hate watching people constantly, texting their phones frequently at all times. What bothers me is that these people do not realize the dangers out in the world when they are too preoccupied with this device. Cell phone makes a person very ignorant of the surrounding and addictive. Other wireless device has a similar impact to most people.
On the contrary, sometimes I wish I had a portable mini PC in my pocket that allows me to access online from everywhere and anywhere. The mobility and flexibility triggers the thought of the advantageous of wireless technology. On the second thought, it depends which generation of the society is using wireless technology.
An example, if an old timer person did not know much about computers and digital networks then having wireless is not helpful at all. However, the younger generations are computer literate which makes wireless technology useful to them.
Take a look and see the difference between you (which I presume someone around your age) and compare it with the elderly person (say a seventy year old person). People back then appreciate and value the time more because they spend more time to get something important done where else, the “Tech people” as I call them, do not appreciate time so much because everything is easy and fast.
I personally think that wired technology made many companies around the globe famous initially. One may think that wireless technology is the key to the future but it all started off with wired technology. So, let us not completely eliminate wired technology from our lives because there are something’s out there that you should be aware and that is someone is likely to hack into your privacy.