Unlicensed Podcast

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're joined by our good friend Jeff Little from Above Wireless LLC. We mainly talk about tower maintenance, radio deployments and NATE organization. We also give some insights from the WISPAPalooza 2024 show that we attended not long time ago.Watch our New 6 GHz Products Webinar: https://youtu.be/be13RW5evz0 https://rfelements.com/

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we interview Adair Winter from AW Broadband. Adair's been through a lot with his businesses over the years and has lots of experience in WISP industry. We mainly discuss Wireless Broadband, their approach to business, different challenges they had, site planning, and least but not last, how to find the right people for the job and build a strong long lasting team you can count on. We talked a little bit about Fiber Networks too. In AW Broadband they have tried any kinds of tools you could think of and Adair's ready to share his thoughts and experience with you. Watch this episode to find out more! Check out more about AW Broadband here: https://awbroadband.net/ Watch our New 6GHz Products Webinar: https://youtu.be/be13RW5evz0https://rfelements.com/

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we've got two special guests from Alta Labs - Chase Harrison (CEO @ Alta Labs) and Jeff Hansen (CTO @ Alta Labs). We discuss the origins of Alta Labs, their approach to scalability in large network deployments such as those found in MDU's, and their perspective on hardware design. We also cover the growth of carrier offload applications, differences between cloud and local network controllers, and the importance of network security. Check out more about Alta Labs here: https://www.alta.inc/ Watch our New 6GHz Products Webinar: https://youtu.be/be13RW5evz0

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're happy to be joining Dmitry Moiseev, Senior Director of Engineering @ Cambium Networks. We discuss mainly the 6 GHz networks, possibilities and near future.We dived into topic of radios from Cambium Networks, feedback from their customers and how they are constantly trying to improve their hardware.The talk was also about the new 6 GHz radios. What are they struggling with? Watch this podcast with Dmitri to find out!Watch our New 6GHz Products Webinar: https://youtu.be/be13RW5evz0Visit our New Products page to find out about our new 6 GHz antennas here: https://rfelements.com/new-products-q1-q2-2024

In this WISP Spotlight episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're joined by Keefe John from Ethoplex Internet. Keefe shares his story to running a successful WISP business in Wisconsin. Keefe's been running this WISP for over 20 years! Watch this episode to find out, what challenges did he have during that time and how he's coping with all the "Doom" that's been falling down the WISP industry. https://rfelements.com/ https://www.ethoplex.com/

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast we have a special guest, Richard Bernhardt from WISPA, who discusses the current status of the 6 GHz band and the Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) system. While there may be bumps in the road, the AFC system is designed to protect incumbents and ensure a fair and efficient use of the spectrum. We also spoke about the never-ending story of BEAD funding and why it is still one of the most important things to follow in the WISP world now. The conversation was also about the importance of using the right bandwidth for different scenarios. Also, do you want to know some more useful information about CBRS? Then watch this episode to find out!http://rfelements.com/ http://wispa.org/

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're happy to be joined by our guests: Jimmy Schaeffler (The Carmel Group), Mike Wendy (WISPA) and Matt Larsen (Vistabeam Internet). Here we discuss WISPA's Headwinds Project and why it matters for everyone involved in the WISP industry. We dive deeper into what BEAD funding should be about and what it's not, what drives NTIA to act, and what we as WISP warriors can do to thrive in the face of these forceful federal policies.http://rfelements.com/ https://bitag.org/

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're gonna take a deeper dive into VoIP solutions from Atheral LLC. Our guests are Daniel White and Veronica Perrin, who will tell their story of growing their business, what struggles they face and what's their expectations about future and VoIP services.Atheral's white-label, client-centric VoIP platform is designed for Internet Service Providers. They aim to provide a world-class voice-switching platform with industry-leading support that decreases end-user churn while being geo-redundant, highly available, and scalable. Their platform is deployed by fixed wireless and FTTH ISPs, ranging from privately held to municipal and utility-owned providers.http://rfelements.com/https://atheral.com/

In today's episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we wrap up 2023 in wireless industry as a whole and also tell the big news from RF elements! If you haven't seen this link yet: https://rfelements.com/new-products-2023, then definitely go check it out now! We have big news about the new antenna series that we were planning for some time now: ✔ NEW 6 GHz Horn Antennas (https://rfelements.com/new-products-2023#6-ghz-horn-antennas) 4th Gen of the award-winning antennas provides excellent noise rejection, network scalability, and increased throughput in ultra wide band. ✔ BIGGER DISHES! (https://rfelements.com/new-products-2023#30-dbi-dish-antennas) We have listened to our customers and created all new high gain - 30 dBi parabolic dish antennas covering both 5 and 6 GHz unlicensed bands. Highly directional UltraDish™ Antennas have suppressed side lobes for ultimate performance. Great stability of the radiation pattern and gain ensure flawless connections. ✔ 4x4 Horn Antennas (https://rfelements.com/new-products-2023#4x4-horn-antennas) 4x4 Horn Antennas are built to enable superb horn performance for 4x4 outdoor deployments using connectorized radios. Current 5 GHz product line includes 45°, 60° and 90° dual horn antennas with asymmetrical beam shape designed for deployments with popular 5 GHz MU-MIMO radio platforms such as the Cambium Networks ePMP 3000 or ePMP 4500. 6 GHz 4x4 Antenna products for Cambium Networks ePMP 4600 will be coming SOON™. ✔ 3 GHz Horn Antennas (https://rfelements.com/new-products-2023#3-ghz-horn-antennas) RF elements® 3 GHz Sector Horn Antennas are the first horn antennas ever made to serve in 3 GHz bands. They set new performance standards for 3 GHz Sector Antennas. 3 GHz Horns are optimized for high performance in 3400 - 3800 MHz, covering CBRS bands, as well as LTE bands 42, 43. In this episode, we also cover this year's WISPAPALOOZA show, BEAD funding, FCC and the long awaited Unicorn - 6 GHz spectrum that could be opening #soon

In today's WISP Spotlight episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're happy to be speaking with Ryan Grewell - Founder and General Manager at Smart Way Communications. Ryan started a WISP business back in 2014 in Ohio to serve internet to his friend located 30 miles away. Since then, he's serving thousands of people with quality internet service and became yet another great success story in WISP industry. Watch this episode to find out what struggles had he overcome and what's his current state of WISP.Find out more about RF elements Horn Antennas: https://rfelements.com/products

In this episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we interview Dwayne Zimmerman from Crowsnest Broadband LLC. They've been on the market since 2019 and have achieved great results with their WISP business with many subscriptions gained. Their growth is remarkable and in this WISP Spotlight, we focus on Dwayne's tips to achieve successful WISP. We asked Dwayne about the technical RF side of things and what products they deploy on their towers, why have Horns changed the game in wireless networks and with which radios do they use them. Dwayne also tested Tarana technology and spoke about how he uses it. Since he's a numbers guy, he mentions the stats about the customers, where they come from and what bandwidth they use on average. You'll find the way Crowsnest Broadband competes with fiber and what role the Customer Service plays for them, why they have so much 5 Star Reviews and how it relates to motivating the installers. In the end, we spoke about the struggles they had overcome. Although the fast growth itself seems awesome, managing the cash flow can be quite difficult. Watch this episode to learn more! Find out more about RF elements Horn Antennas: https://rfelements.com/products

In today's episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we are happy to be hosting Elijah Zeide from AirBridge Broadband. We discussed Elijah's history, how he got to the WISP industry and what struggles he had on his path. Elijah also speaks about the service they provide, what plans and packages they offer and why they don't use any Service-Level agreements. Hardware is an important part of a WISP business, that's why AirBridge Broadband migrated to RF elements Horns with great results! Listen to this podcast to find out more. Find out more about RF elements Horn Antennas: https://rfelements.com/products

On today's episode of Unlicensed Podcast, we're happy to be hosting John Gill from Kentucky Fi! We talk about John's experiences as a WISP, how he started his own business and ways he advertises it. We also discuss indoor management platforms, we dug into communication with the Local Government and building a Local Community. As we talked about it in the previous episode, John also advises you not to wait on the 'miraculous Unicorns' to come to save your business and do your job NOW! You have everything you need, to build a reliable stable network for your customers and grow your business today.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're covering our experiences at WISPAMERICA 2023 and summarizing our current feelings about the WISP market itself, where it stands with regards to waiting for the Next Big Thing, and things that you could be doing now to help ensure your success while the market evolves. Topics covered include how you're doing yourself a disservice waiting for 6 GHz and next generation equipment with analysis paralysis, what we think about current and future offerings from the big equipment vendors in this space, and how you should be working now to update and improve your networks with current offerings.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we cover current and upcoming 6 GHz scene and where RF elements Antennas come into play. Some of RF elements 5 GHz Antennas already work in the 6 GHz Band ranging from 5180 up to 6775 MHz. Our 30° Symmetrical Horn, all three UltraDishes™ and UltraHorn™ work in the 6 GHz.RF elements Antennas already working in the 6 GHz Band:HG3-TP-S30HG3-CC-S30UD-TP-21UD-TP-24UD-TP-27UH-TP-5-24UH-CC-5-24For more information, check out the updated Datasheets on rfelements.comWe're working on more SKUs to cover 6 GHz Band, stay tuned and subscribe to our channel so you don't miss out on any important things from the RF world.In the second part of the podcast, we're excited to be hosting our own Jorge Trashorras from RF elements! Jorge is one of our Product Managers and handles a lot of the LATAM based activities such as social media, videos, and account management. We also talk about government advocacy, Jorge's history, and finally the upcoming launch of our RF elements LATAM podcast.Do you want to be in our podcast? DM us at tasos@rfelements.com or caleb@rfelements.com

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Ryan Reid from ROAMR Wireless & Broadband! Ryan shares with us his experiences starting in the WISP industry, how ROAMR uses CBRS and other frequency bands to intelligently serve the true needs of their customer base, what fiber is and isn't, stories and lessons learned from the recent recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian, how he's working with WISPA as the new Florida co-coordinator, and what he gets from WISPAPALOOZA and other WISPA shows while looking forward to TitanFest2022. Check it out!

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Matt Larsen from Vistabeam! Matt has been in the industry since the beginning and shares with us a collection of history, knowledge, and stories from his adventures over the years. Topics covered include how things worked in the early years of the industry, comparing using wireless versus fiber technology to reach your end goals, how WISPA and the related trade shows were founded, government funding considerations, labor concerns, and looking forward to WISPAPALOOZA 2022.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Cameron Crum from Regulatory Solutions! As the first BDC filing deadline looms closer, we take another deep dive into what it means for the WISP industry and how to get it done. Topics covered include how the BDC differs from the 477 filing requirements, what all is involved with the data required and how it is processed, and what the PE and accuracy requirements mean for both new and experienced WISPs.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Cameron Crum from Regulatory Solutions! As the first BDC filing deadline looms closer, we take another deep dive into what it means for the WISP industry and how to get it done. Topics covered include how the BDC differs from the 477 filing requirements, what all is involved with the data required and how it is processed, and what the PE and accuracy requirements mean for both new and experienced WISPs.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Dennis Burgess from Link Technologies and TowerCoverage.com! We spend a bit talking about the Form 477 and new BDC requirements that are now in effect for FCC reporting of coverage areas and what that entails so far. We also cover various aspects of RF and coverage area planning with TowerCoverage.com along with some common issues and hurdles that growing WISP's can encounter based on our experiences and mistakes learned over time.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we take a break from the interview format to catch up on the current happenings with the podcast and discuss some recent hot topics of conversation. Topics covered include the podcast format and plans for summer, details around the recent announcement of the NTIA BEAD NOFO and taking a practical look of how this will affect the industry, and we finish with the concept of keeping your eyes on the prize and not getting too caught up in the noise of everything.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Johnny Onellion (aka JohnnyO) from Faster Cajun Networks! Johnny has been a WISP operator for a long time across two different WISP's and has a ton of experience and knowledge to share about the WISP business and dealing with natural disasters. Topics covered include how the WISP industry has evolved over the last 20 years, billing systems and transport, and a deep conversation about dealing with hurricanes and other natural disasters and what to expect and how to prepare.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Ken Ruppel from Aviat Networks! Ken has spent his whole career working with backhaul and licensed link radios and he shares with us a ton of experience, guidance and stories that we found both educational and enjoyable. Topics covered include his history, the use of licensed links in the WISP market, what needs to be considered when planning your first link, 6Ghz, how the pandemic affected Aviat, a recent news release about the acquisition of Redline, and we conclude with a variety of weird things seen during troubleshooting.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Jeremy Austin from Preseem! Jeremy has a ton of experience in the WISP industry and his current position as Senior Product Manager at Preseem gives him a lot of additional insight into the nitty gritty details. Topics covered include his personal work history, how bandwidth levels continue to grow but aren't necessarily related to the end user experience, how home routers behind the WISP CPE affect the end user experience, how experience and education go hand in hand as WISPs grow, the competitive landscape for WISPs now and in the future, and finally some details about how Preseem works with the industry to better achieve success for everyone involved. Learn more about Jeremy and Preseem at https://preseem.com/

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Chris Johnson from SkyNet Communications! Chris has a long history in the WISP industry and shares with us a wealth of knowledge. Topics covered include dealing with the harsh environmental issues faced in Montana, how the 60Ghz product market has grown and evolved over the years, a deep conversation about building networks using new technologies and what it means from a financial perspective, a discussion on network and customer management, and many other interesting subjects. Finally we wrap up with a discussion about the areas he would focus on if he were starting anew and the advice he gives to new WISPs.You can find out more about SkyNet Communications on their website: www.getskynet.com

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting Joshaven Potter! Joshaven has a long history in the WISP industry as a consultant and now as CPO & Director of Information Technology at Visp.net. We cover a number of topics including his early history in the industry, the trials and tribulations of making a living as an entrepreneur, how Visp.net operates as a business with billing systems and beyond, and a deep dive into tower and CPE grounding and all that can go into it.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting a WISP manufacturer! Joining us today is Sakid Ahmed from Cambium Networks. Sakid brings to our conversation a wealth of knowledge and experience from his long history in our industry. We cover a number of interesting topics such as the effects of the pandemic on the state of the wireless industry, how the ePMP AX platform is coming along and what the future holds, updates on the move into 6Ghz, growth of our industry across the globe, and what other tools Cambium brings to the table beyond the radio.

On today's episode of the #UnlicensedPodcast, we're excited to be hosting another WISP! Joining us today is Brandon Hardy from Cobalt Ridge based in Wichita Falls, Texas. Brandon shares with us his story of starting a WISP with limited knowledge and funding, the trials and tribulations faced, the successes, and what it is leading to in the future. We discuss a wide range of topics related to starting a WISP including equipment used, plans sold, how to scale operations, increasing throughput to realistically meet customer needs, and a crazy story about how his main tower was destroyed by vandals that you don't want to miss!

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we wrap up 2021 by reviewing what we have been up to this year and what we're looking forward to in 2022. Topics covered include our staff additions over the past year, new product launches and updates, trade shows and meetups, WISP's working together, sales growth globally, and the work we have done with our educational efforts including Inside Wireless, this podcast, and WISP Traveler.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're excited to be hosting our first WISP manufacturer guest! Joining us today is Dustin Stock from Mimosa Networks. Dustin has been in the industry a long time, so we thought it would be fun to get his viewpoints on the current state of the WISP industry as well as his thoughts on where things are headed in the future. During our conversation we cover how COVID has affected the hardware industry supply chains and our companies in general, how Mimosa's AX product line is progressing, and look forward to the effects on the industry of AX and 6Ghz as they are adopted.

On today's episode of the #UnlicensedPodcast we catch up with our recent adventures and give some general updates. First we recap our activities at #TitanFest2021 and discuss what we learned and then chat a bit about our Thanksgiving holidays. Next we provide some updates on a number of things that have been going on in the background. These include .ant and Google Network Planner file updates, EPA and wind load additions coming to the datasheets, and new product timeline updates. Additions to the Link Calculator are covered as well as channel and supply updates in Canada. Finally we wrap up with what we are looking forward to in 2022 in our industry.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we're very excited to have our first WISP guest! Joining us is Spencer Pous from BluBroadband and SJP Network Solutions. Spencer is a longtime industry member and was gracious enough to take time to talk about a number of topics including his personal history in the industry, how he runs both an MSP and a WISP, the differences in managing and supporting those two different business styles, and dealing with hurricanes and recovery in the Florida panhandle. Thanks again Spencer!

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we delve into a conversation about how even though some antennas from different manufacturers may look the same, they aren't all equal. Whether it be a horn, a sector, or a dish antenna, you have to look past the fact they may look similar or have a few comparable data points in a spec sheet and assess it across all aspects. Things to take into consideration from an RF perspective are the beam patterns, side and back lobes, balanced patterns across both polarizations, and other characteristics across the frequency range. You also have to evaluate the construction materials and mechanical properties and how they will hold up in harsh environments over time. And finally consider the focus of the manufacturer in question, support available, and the ecosystem supported now and in the future.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we discuss some common myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings seen in the WISP industry. We open with the myth that more gain is what you always want from an antenna. We follow up talking about the misconception that 2.4Ghz is a dead band in fixed wireless. Next we talk about some of the misunderstandings about channel planning your first big 12 or 18 horn array for 360 degree coverage. Also covered is a conversation about what noise the horns will eliminate, some clarifications about connector orientations, and once again talk about why fiber isn't always the answer but maybe it is for you in a particular area.This is the first one of these episodes we've done and it was a lot of fun. If you have any myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings you'd like us to cover in a future episode then please let us know in the comments below!

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we recap our adventures in Las Vegas during WISPAPALOOZA. Despite a few slightly chaotic bummers, we had a fantastic week getting to see everyone again and also meeting a bunch of new people too. The show itself ran really well and attendance was great. Here we also cover the feedback from the new products and changes we announced, the kick everyone got from the taco truck, and how our vendor spotlight session went really well. We look forward to seeing everyone in March for WISPAMERICA in New Orleans!

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast, we are getting pumped up for Vegas, Baby! On this WISPAPALOOZA Eve, we sit down to talk about what we do in order to get ready for the show and what the show schedule looks like for us from setup to tear down. We discuss the best way for people to get out and meet their peers and the other vendors. Finally we give people that are new to the show some tips and tricks we've learned over the years to get the most out of the week.

In todays episode of the Unlicensed Podcast we discuss some considerations and approaches for those looking for an entry point into using our horn ecosystem. We talk about hybrid tower designs and how to use the flexibility of our ecosystem to split existing sectors into smaller cells. We cover picking the right horn for the job and using our Link Calculator to make the design process more accurate. We discuss looking towards the future of further builds and growth and how our horn ecosystem can help you migrate into new technologies. We harp on a bit about making sure you know where your CPE's are actually located so you can make the conversion more efficient. We talk about new tower builds and how to not be intimidated by implementing a full horn array. And finally we talk through some of our experiences with channel planning these new horn builds and how they can be a lot more efficient than you think.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast we cover some of the causes and effects of the chip and commodity shortages, price increases, and shipping cost increases that we have all seen across the WISP industry as well as the rest of the world. While it is a bit of an unpleasant topic at times, we felt it was important to share our perspective from our position in the industry as well as relaying some further background information gained from personal experiences. And while things may look a bit bleak, we talk about some things that we can all do to better get through these events together.

On today's episode of the #UnlicensedPodcast we are excited to have our first guest! Please welcome Claude Aiken, President and CEO of #WISPA. With the #WISPAPALOOZA trade show just a few weeks away. Claude was kind enough to take the time to chat with us about the upcoming show and what it means for our industry. We discuss what #WISPA is, his history with #WISPA, and some background details about the shows that people may not know. We cover the structure of the shows with sessions, the exhibit hall, and affiliated vendor training events. We speak about the biggest benefit of the shows being the networking and building of relationships and community within the industry. Finally we talk about some of the effects of COVID-19 on the show and the precautions being taken.

On today's episode of the #UnlicensedPodcast we talk about all of the #DOOM that the #WISP industry is facing currently and how our world is poised to collapse any moment now. Well, except for the fact that we aren't really doomed at all and we've been down this road before. Main topics include: 5G and how it's not the universal rural broadband miracle that the tech media markets it as; Starlink and trying to decipher the actual potential effects in rural markets; Fiber growth by the competition and ways you can also benefit; and how to adapt and evolve in an ever changing industry.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast we take a walk down memory lane to think about some of the #mistakes we've made and seen over our years in the #WISP world in order to share some advice and guidance for the new #WISP's out there listening. Wait, not our #mistakes, a friend of ours #mistakes, totally not us.

On today's episode of the Unlicensed Podcast we focus on a brief history of where horns came from, how the product line and market evolved, and discussed how we got so #horny. We also talk a bit about equipment shortages, product alternatives utilizing the flexibility of our platform, and the launch of our 2.4Ghz Array Sector.

Join Tasos and Caleb as they introduce the new RF elements Unlicensed Podcast