nivek@rover.ri.cmu.edu (Kevin Dowling) (06/08/90)
While there exists a wide variety of options for wireless communication the nicest small commercial package I've seen is from Motorola. Their RNet Series is a $300 package telemetry radio for VHF or UHF frequency ranges (they do the background work to supply you with frequency availability) It is very small, less than 3"x4"x2" and slightly over 10 oz. It provides 2-5W of transmitting power They also sell the boards by themselves in an OEM configuration if you want to incorporate them into your product. You get 2 channel Voice or data over the generic Rnet or the newer ones have integral 9600 baud modems (target price is about $500 for the integral modem package) Motorola is also looking at spread-spectrum devices for LAN's like EtherNet. but product is a couple of years off. However, Agilis is currently offering an Ethernet radio network (spread-spectrum, so no license needed) for their laptop product line. About $5000 for two nodes. Not full band ethernet though, but ENet at Appletalk speeds. And at least two companies are offering microwave ENet but you need line-of-sight or tracking for mobile robot work. Gambatte in Atlanta GA, is also making spread spectrum communications for musicians who need wireless MIDI. Great for crowded indoor conditions where multipath is normally a problem. They are interested in other applications. See Keyboard Magazine Jan 1990 issue for a review. Motorola Radius Division - Schaumburg IL (708) 576-8130 Agilis - Digital Radio Division (415) 962-9400 Gambatte - (404) 325-4843 nivek aka : Kevin Dowling Senior Research Engineer net : nivek@rover.ri.cmu.edu Robotics Institute tel : (412) 268-8830 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213