Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!usc!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucbvax!CRVAX.SRI.COM!LARSON
From: LARSON@CRVAX.SRI.COM (Alan Larson)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: Wireless_Connectivity_Problem_&_A_Plea_For_Support
Message-ID: <654485847.360000.LARSON@CRVAX.SRI.COM>
Date: 28 Sep 90 02:37:27 GMT
References: <141@organpipe.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
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  For the problem of connecting to a building within visible
range, some of the optical point to point links will probably
be the best choice, especially after considering potential
interference problems with RF based systems.


>      One of products I found was a wireless LAN made by a group 
> in Canada;
> 
> Telesystems SLW Inc.
> 85 Scardale Road, Suite 201
> Don Mills, Ontario CANADA  M3B 2R2


  I spoke with them for a while earlier this year, and would recommend
most strongly against them.  I had wanted to establish a point to point
link that would be exceeding the range claims of their system, and was
trying to get some technical details on how the system worked.  Their
answer was "why would you want to know that?"

  They continued to be unhelpful even after I explained my goals, and
it became clear that they were unwilling to give any hard technical
information about their product.

  The directional antennas they had were 3 foot long Yagis, with
a 6 foot coaxial cable.  The price was $600.  The same class of
antenna can be had in the amateur radio marketplace for under $90.
They had no figures on dealing with feedline losses for the antenna
to be mounted away from the radio.

  All in all, I also felt that they were quite rude when dealing
with them on the phone.



> 	               Price:    about $2000, but not yet fixed

  They were $2500 when I talked to them, and they were quite fixed.
The control/router was more, like $4000 I think.  It also wasn't
quite ready back then, either.

	Alan
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