TimeOutNews Article Directory

The common TV white space channels that are left over after broadcasting from analog switched over to digital are still functional. The main thing is that they will be used for a completely different type of broadcasting. The smart grids coupled with the TV white space television platform will be able to provide a much faster and more reliable wireless network that existing WiFi networking options.

The technology is being developed to work for longer distances, as well as being able to pass through several different obstacles that traditional WiFi systems cannot. The data exchange rates make it possible to be used for high speed communications between different types of networking systems. It is thought to be a variable WiFi network on steroids and will be able to be adapted to many different technologies.

The range of the TV white space communications can be much further than ever thought possible with WiFi systems, but it is still unknown how well these communications will work. The obstacles may impair data transfer during communications and existing issues with white space transmissions can cause many types of service outages in the further reaching areas of the service.

The technology is being tested out in several different manners in the Plummas-Sierra County area of California and is having great success even in difficult terrain. The FCC is being brought into the matter to better understand whether or not the communications through TV white space will not interfere with other existing communications and whether or not the signal is secure enough to be used for wireless networking. Security issues such as having such a broad spectrum of communications can be picked up or broadcasted by several different types of equipment which can cause interference with the future white space networks.

This idea has been thrown around for quite a while, and thrown back and forth as to whether it is a good idea or a bad idea. The need for more communication frequencies is pretty apparent, with the old TV band going for about $4 billion a few years back. But the idea needs to be thought out and every aspect needs to be looked over to make sure there are no issues with the idea that could cause problems in the long run. I hope that the FCC can move quickly to a decision as this needs to get rolling as soon as possible if it is a possibility.