The PTP Playbook from Cambium Networks provides a comprehensive guide for deploying Point-to-Point (PTP) wireless networks, with a focus on their unique features, technology innovations, and applications. Cambium Networks’ PTP solutions are designed for scalability, high performance, and reliability, suitable for a wide range of industries, including enterprise, government, defense, and service providers.
Key Concepts:
- Cambium ONE Network: This platform integrates various network services like security, switching, Wi-Fi, and IT infrastructure into a unified solution managed by the cnMaestro™ system. This management tool allows centralized control of Cambium products, providing a dashboard for monitoring, provisioning, and managing the entire network.
- Selection Criteria: The playbook emphasizes the trade-offs between capacity, range, and availability when selecting PTP radios. The appropriate balance depends on the application, with public safety and critical infrastructure requiring higher availability (up to 99.999%) compared to typical enterprise needs (99.9%). The document provides detailed availability metrics, outlining the allowable downtime for different service levels.
- Key Terminology: Understanding the differences between FDD and TDD, licensed versus unlicensed frequencies, and terms like aggregate capacity and XPIC is crucial. FDD radios use two frequencies for communication, while TDD radios alternate between transmitting and receiving on the same frequency. Licensed frequencies require government approval, while unlicensed bands are free to use.
- PTP Technologies:
- Dynamic Spectrum Optimization (DSO) automatically adjusts the frequency to maintain optimal performance, while Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS) selects the best available channel based on conditions.
- Channel Aggregation enables the use of multiple channels to increase capacity, particularly in high-demand environments.
- Cambium’s products also feature L1 Link Bonding, enhancing data aggregation efficiency at the physical layer without relying on higher network layers.
- Use Cases: PTP is used for extending internet connectivity, connecting remote cameras, outdoor Wi-Fi, and building-to-building links. These applications often benefit from the flexibility of wireless solutions, particularly in environments where fiber deployment is costly or impractical.
- Multi-Band Radios: Multi-band configurations offer redundancy and enhanced reliability by combining frequencies like 60 GHz with 5 GHz or 80 GHz with 18/23 GHz. This ensures both high capacity and availability, especially in challenging conditions like adverse weather.
- Link Planning and Support: The free LINKPlanner tool helps customers design their networks by estimating system performance before purchasing equipment. Cambium Networks offers robust technical support, including 24/7 troubleshooting and extended warranties, which can cover issues like weather damage, vandalism, and more.
- Comparing Fiber to PTP: While fiber optics offer high capacity, deploying them over long distances or difficult terrains can be cost-prohibitive. PTP wireless solutions, in contrast, offer lower deployment costs, faster installation, and flexibility in scaling.
This playbook ultimately serves as a technical and strategic guide for deploying Cambium Networks’ PTP solutions, detailing the technical capabilities, practical applications, and planning tools necessary to create reliable, high-performance wireless links.