Generalities

The process of equipment selection is as much about assessing the manufacturer as the actual
equipment. Wireless installations are seldom “slam dunks,” and manufacturer assistance and support are invaluable. One wants to choose a manufacturer who will take an active part in at
least the early stages of the installation and that can provide support if difficulties arise later.
Obviously, to fill such a role, the manufacturer must avoid bankruptcy, and the large number
of business failures among broadband radio manufacturers should incline network operators
to scrutinize the stability of the vendor closely. Unfortunately, the solidity of the manufacturer
does not necessarily correlate with the quality or performance of the equipment, so one must
look at the vendor’s business practices as much as at its products.
All RF equipment should be thoroughly measured as to compliance with performance
specifications and then used in actual links to determine performance in actual field conditions.
During such evaluation, pilot links should not be operated as commercial services. It is
entirely illegitimate to do product testing at the customer’s expense, and the ill will that can
result from such a practice can subsequently jeopardize the prospects of the wireless service.
Field testing of equipment in semipermanent links should be designed to expose the
equipment to as variable an environment as possible in order to assess the effects of high levels
of interference, severe multipath, network congestion, large obstructions, and so on. The key
attribute of carrier-grade equipment is consistency of performance.
Be wary of claims of such capabilities being made available in a later product iteration,
especially if the development of that capability is likely to challenge the resources of the
manufacturer.
Look to easy upgrade paths when considering equipment. Will a particular network element
be able to grow with the network, and, if so, what is the cost of expanding port counts or
adding new types of services?
Never assume full interoperability based on a company’s professed adherence to a standard,
even with certification. Always determine interoperability based on actual field trials,
and never purchase equipment that is to interoperate with existing infrastructure absent such
a determination.
If equipment is to reside outdoors, make certain it is rugged and complies with industry
standards for weather resistance. In the past, many manufacturers have paid insufficient
attention to the design of the case, and the equipment has underperformed as a result.
Finally, contact every relevant manufacturer, at least at the inception of the network,
and invite competitive bids. Few wireless broadband operators have sufficient sales that
they can afford not to be accommodating in respect to price. Wireless broadband today is
a buyer’s market.