Modern Terminals, the first purpose-built container terminal in Hong Kong, upgraded its wireless network using Altai’s Super WiFi Solution. To cope with the daily terminal operations, Modern Terminals had implemented traditional mesh AP network for data application. However, the network performance fell short of their expectations due to the complexity, high interference and multipath of signal at the berths as well as the constraints of site facilities. Hence, Modern Terminals had been searching for the right wireless solution until they tested Altai’s Super WiFi Solution.

The Altai Super WiFi solution was selected by Modern Terminals for its network upgrade due to its excellent performance and high reliability. As container ports require highly reliable, high speed network access for container operation and multiple-coverage is vital. In case any one base station fails, users can connect to another base station automatically. The Altai Super WiFi Solution has greatly improved the reliability and stability of the wireless network, which helps improve the overall efficiency of the terminals. The long range technology of Altai Super WiFi Solution has overcome all these challenges, bringing the next generation wireless technology to the logistic industry.

**To experience the power of Altai Super WiFi Solution, please click.

Altai Technologies launched its summer internship program from May to August 2009.  The objectives of this program are to offer the opportunity for local university students to practice what they have learned in school and to train up ICT professionals.

Since the program was advertised in all local universities in March, Altai received over five hundreds applications from which 13 students were selected for the program. Students started their internship in May and they were assigned tasks in different departments such as R&D, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Logistic and Quality Control. The Altai internship provided a unique opportunity for the undergraduates to gain valuable on-the-job experience and prepare them to work in the ICT industry.

The Altai Summer Internship Program is run every year and is part of Altai’s continuous effort to contribute to the community.

Altai Technologies announced the launch of a new corporate website. The new website is one of the many steps toward increasing the company’s visibility in the market. The new website features a clean design with easy navigation. The website provides a seamless experience for anyone looking for information on Altai’s Super WiFi Solutions: from product information, applications, channel partner program deployment videos to news and events.

Altai created this new website to organize information in a user-friendly format which allows visitors to quickly learn the company’s core businesses and commitments. Also, companies who are interested in becoming Altai’s channel partners can just simply click the “Sign Up” button on the homepage to file an application.

The website will be updated from time to time. Please visit the new Altai corporate website at www.altaitechnologies.com

Power is the greatest challenge for most wireless installations in developing countries. Where there are electrical networks, they are often poorly controlled, fluctuate dramatically, and are susceptible to lightning. Proper surge protection is critical to protect your Altai Super WiFi network.

Fuses and circuit breakers

Fuses are very important, but often neglected. In rural areas, and even in many urban areas of developing countries, fuses are difficult to find. Despite the added cost, it is always prudent to use circuit breakers instead. These may need to be imported, but really should not be overlooked. Too often, replaceable fuses are removed and pocket change is used instead.

Surge Protectors

It is recommended that external surge protection devices be installed on both the input power and the antenna ports of the Altai Super WiFi base station. When using AC power, you need an AC surge protector for the power cable and a Cat5 surge protector (that does not pass DC) for the Cat5 Ethernet cable. If using PoE, you need a Cat5 surge protector (that carries DC power over Ethernet) for the Cat5 Ethernet cable. For the antenna ports, you need coaxial surge protectors that do not pass DC.

How to ground

It is necessary to provide a good low-resistance, low impedance ground connection to the antenna pole, the base station unit, and every surge protector. Finding a good ground connection point near the power or Cat5 cable run is one of the most challenging parts of a wireless installation. The ground wire route and the ground connection point is one of the tasks that should be performed during the site survey.

Grounding tower-mounted installation – Finding a good ground connection on a tower is relatively easy. The base station unit and every surge protector need to be grounded to the tower ground.

Grounding commercial building pole-mounted installation – Finding a good ground connection for a pole-mounted installation on the roof of a commercial building can be difficult. The antenna pole, the base station unit, and every surge protector need to be grounded. Here are some single-point ground location options:

• The structural steel framing of the building is the best lightning-protection ground.
• A connection to the building’s concrete-encased steel rebar also provides a good ground connection.
• If a ground bus bar is already installed inside of a rooftop penthouse, it can be used as the ground connection point.
• The least effective ground is a ground wire that runs over the edge of the roof down to an 2.5m ground rod in the earth.

Grounding residential building pole-mounted installation – Finding a good ground connection for a pole mounted installation on the roof of a residential building often requires you drive a ground rod directly to the ground below the point where the power or Cat5 Ethernet cable enters the building. Sometime, you may get lucky and be able to attach your ground wire to an existing ground rod where the electrical power distribution panel is grounded. The antenna pole, the base station unit, and every surge protector need to be grounded.

Automatic voltage regulators

Automatic voltage regulator (AVR) keeps the output voltage almost constant no matter how the input voltage fluctuates within the specified voltage. As a heavy surge may damage your Altai Super WiFi base station, AVR is a must have if the power supply voltage is unstable.

Whenever possible, use an AVR. They are worth the added cost, and will offer good protection from heavy surges. Be sure to inspect all the components of your Altai Super WiFi network after lightning activity.

This paper provides basic knowledge on coverage planning for public wireless access networks. These are deployed to provide wireless DSL services for home users and mobile Internet services to mobile users and travelers. The purpose of wireless DSL is to provide fixed line Internet to home users primarily for data applications, i.e. Internet browsing, e-mail etc. but services such as telephony, IP-TV, video streaming, on-line gaming etc. can also be offered at the operator’s discretion. The below coverage and network design is particularly suitable for sub-urban or rural areas where buildings are not high and population distribution is patchy. Wireless DSL is preferred to traditional copper wire and optical fiber last mile technologies because of its low cost, fast deployment and fixed-mobile convergence flexibility.

Coverage Design

• A8s are used for primary outdoor signal coverage of residential (or commercial) areas. It provides up to 500 m NLOS omni coverage radius with WiFi clients.
• A8-E can be used if the coverage areas are of long sector shape and installation site can only be available at either one side. It provides up to 800 m NLOS sector coverage.
• C1 is installed at the inner window side of each household, to convert the A8 signal to a fixed Ethernet outlet. It extends A8’s reach to up to 1 km NLOS and the A8-E’s to even more. One C1 to be installed for each home user. Pairs of C1’s can be used for indoor wireless coverage.

Redundancy design

• A8s are installed every km, thus providing 500 m NLOS coverage to mobile users and travelers and 1000 m NLOS coverage to home users with a C1 installed.
• All C1s can see signals from at least 2 to 3 A8s, thus providing redundancy in coverage and traffic.
• C1’s can be preconfigured per lot by the service operator using AWMS. C1’s can be self-installed by home users following simple steps such as power on, auto signal scanning and auto association.

Network Design

• Service controllers are used for bandwidth control.
• AWMS servers are used for element management including fault, configuration, performance, client and security managements.
• RADIUS server is required for authentication and billing.
• VLAN switch is used for VLAN, QoS and large MAC address space.
• Each A8 supports up to 256 concurrent users, the exact capacity depends on backhaul bandwidth, subscriber bandwidth and the share ratio.
• A few A8 backhauls can be aggregated by A0 WiFi bridges and A8’s built-in 11a radio to a high capacity backhaul before connecting to the wired Internet outlet.
• A8 supports different ToS and QoS policies for different user groups using multiple SSIDs and VLANs.
• 802.1x and MAC address authentication will be used for home users, while captive portal will be used for mobile users. AES encryption will be used for home users.