NCUG - Cisco and AT&T 3G technology
Posted by Aaron Paxson on March 14, 2008
Well, I attended my first user-group meeting here in Tennessee. It’s about time too. I’ve been here for 18 months, and haven’t once looked up or attended any user groups.
Well, March’s User Group went well. It was held at AT&T’s Mobility Office. Pretty large office in Brentwood. The topic was, of course, Cisco and AT&T’s 3G technology.
3G = 3rd Generation.
From AT&T’s website:
The AT&T 3G network uses HSDPA/UMTS technology (High Speed Downlink Packet Access/Universal Mobile Telephone System), which makes it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless services. It also gives AT&T the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services. That means you can talk and use the Internet at the same time. How’s that for multitasking?
Now, Cisco offers the HWIC cards that SIM cards plug in. In a good area, you can expect 1400Kbps down and approx 700-800Kbps up. Outstanding! You just plugin your SIM card, and configure the card in the IOS. Most modern IOS will accept it, though, the Rep couldn’t recall the minimum version.
Well, as you can imagine, there are some downsides to using wireless. Also, 3G isn’t necessarily available everywhere, though AT&T claims to have 260 metro cities across US so far, with another 80 by the end of the year.
It is interesting technology, to say the least. These HWIC cards will only work in Cisco’s 3800 series routers and below (the 800-series will be avail in the next month). The routers MUST be ISR’s and they MUST have an HWIC slot.
Some of the applications that can be used are:
OOB management
Kiosks, ATM’s, temp systems (such as concert events or those small kiosk stores in a Mall’s walkway)
Construction Trailers, Retail Stores and Outlets
Replacement for ISDN dial
Used for Dial-backup
They fed us with Pizza, so of course we stayed!
Posted in Cisco, Networking, Wireless | 3 Comments »
