CHELMSFORD, MASS.—As broadcasters find themselves one month into Phase 2 of the FCC spectrum repack, the effort to develop technologies to enable use of remaining vacant TV channels for other purposes picked up momentum with advances in the specification for Wi-FAR networks.

The WhiteSpace Alliance (WSA) this week announced publication of an expansion of its test vector format specification for Wi-FAR networks. The spec defines a standard, implementation-independent language for test vectors to evaluate and certify interoperability of TV white space Wi-FAR implementations, a WSA press release said. AmeriSys Inc. in Canada proposed the enhancements, which WSA approved.

The alliance developed Wi-FAR as a derivative of the IEEE 802.22 wireless regional area network standard. It supports line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight broadband services at distance up to 18 miles. Uses of the technology include middle- and last-mile internet services for rural and remote areas as well as Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

The update adds new functions to the original specification, the alliance said. It includes new MAC (Media Access Control) layer commands and header parameters. It also provides a base station reference model, WSA said.

According to WSA, the update includes detection and reporting of incumbent services providers, which it says will support coexistence with TV broadcasters.

More information is available on the WSA website. 

For more information on the repack, visit TV Technology's repack silo.

CHELMSFORD, MASS.—A new test vector format from the WhiteSpace Alliance (WSA) has been published for certifying compliance with TV white space Wi-FAR interoperability specification. The testing format was created by WSA members AmeriSys, Inc., and Saankyha Labs, with results reviewed and approved by other WSA member companies.

Wi-FAR, a WSA-developed derivative of the IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Network standard, is a point-to-multipoint wireless broadband specification. Wi-FAR supports line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight broadband services up to 30km, allowing for deployment of middle- and last-mile solutions to regional, rural and remote areas.

The WSA test vector format is designed to address Physical and Media Access Control layer transmission between white space base stations and customer premise equipment. The specification defines a standard, implementation-independent language for test vectors to evaluate interoperability of white space solutions. Written in this standardized language, test vectors will enable vendors to converge toward a set of interoperable systems through a test suite. The test format also provides clarifications and updates to the IEEE Std. 802.22-2011 Wi-FAR standard.

The Wi-FAR testing format is available immediately to WSA members. 

CHELMSFORD, MASS.—The completion of the FCC’s spectrum auction could prove to be a boom for TV white space deployments in the U.S., per the WhiteSpace Alliance (WSA).

According to WSA, the completion of the incentive auction will free up more than 80 MHz of spectrum for license-exempt wireless internet access. “This newly available spectrum will support additional digital infrastructure development across the United States, and help foster the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT),” said Dr. Apurva N. Mody, chairman of WhiteSpace Alliance.

White space technology use available TV band spectrum to deliver fixed wireless broadband services at distances up to 30 km, which makes it useful for rural or remote areas. TV white space can also support current and emerging infrastructure applications, including machine-to-machine communications, IIoT, Smart Grid deployment and industrial automation.

“Making sufficient spectrum available to the marketplace is the final step needed to unleash a critical mass of innovative services,” said Dr. Mody. “WSA will continue to work actively with the Federal Communications Committee to evaluate and shape regulations for TV band white spaces.”