2002 - cesnet

certain extent, i.e., distributors confirmed that manufacturers intended to supplydevices for the 5.8 GHz band in 2003.One of the anticipated products is the Cisco Aironet 1200 access point. Atpresent, it is available only for the 5.3 GHz band; however, a version for the5.8 GHz band will be introduced during the first quarter of 2003. Unlike a numberof lower models, this product is modular, i.e., the PCMCIA/CardBus Cards areused. The price for a single PCMCIA card is approximately USD 500, the overallexpenses on a point-to-point connection based on Cisco Aironet 1200 (i.e., twoCisco Aironet 1200 access points with cards and antennas) should be approximatelyUSD 4,000.In November, another product was announced that appears to be very promisingfor our project. It is an Orinoco 802.11a/b ComboCard with the speed upto 54 Mbps in a single channel or up to 108 Mbps on two channels. It supportsboth the 802.11b standard (i.e., 2.4 GHz band) and the 802.11a standard (i.e., inboth 5.3 and 5.8 GHz bands). The card and the access point are available in theUSA and the distribution in the Czech Republic will start after the completion ofthe certification process. It should be introduced in the market during the firstquarter of 2003. The price for a single PCMCIA card is approximately USD 160and the access point with the support of 802.11a is worth USD 800. The overallexpenses of a point-to-point link should not exceed USD 3,000.It seems likely that there will be at least two products available during the firstquarter of 2003 (Orinoco ComboCard and Cisco Aironet 1200) usable to achievethe objectives of this task – to identify a wireless technology suitable for the deploymentof high-speed links (50–100 Mbps) for acceptable prices and with thepossibility of legal public operation in the Czech Republic.We expect that this technology may be attractive for a number of potential applicantsinterested in establishing a connection to CESNET2. We would like toverify the real capacities of these technologies (reliability, sensitivity, operatingdistance, throughput), together with the possibility of using removable PCMCIAcards in Linux routers (as a replacement for commercial access points).4.7 Optical Devices for CESNET24.7.1 Deployment of Optical Amplifiers for Long-Distance Lines of CESNET2The experiments with EDFA amplifiers carried out during the first half of 2002were based on the theoretical knowledge gained during the previous year ofthis project. Our achievements in this part of project were the most significant,56 High-speed National Research Network and its New Applications 2002