Proxim Builds Wireless Bridge

Proxim's Tsunami QuickBridge delivers higher performance and reliability than an 802.11 solution but costs considerably less than the rest of the company's carrier-class Tsunami line of wireless bridges, said Maureen Smith, product marketing manager at Proxim.

The Tsunami QuickBridge comes in three configurations and operates in the 5.8GHz band. The QuickBridge 20, priced at $3,499, delivers average throughput of about 18 Mbps with a maximum range of 6 miles. The QuickBridge 20 + T1/E1, listed at $7,499, adds T1/E1 capabilities to handle voice. It averages 12 Mbps plus 1.5 Mbps dedicated T1/E1 with a maximum range of 6 miles. The QuickBridge 60, priced at $5,499, averages 56 Mbps with a maximum range of 2.5 miles.

Calling it a "hop in a box," QuickBridge is packaged with a complete installation kit, said Lynn Lucas, director of marketing at Proxim. The kit includes two outdoor bridge units, two sets of mounting hardware, two power-over-Ethernet adapters and two sets of 50-meter CAT-5 cable.

QuickBridge is easier to install than 802.11 solutions or Proxim's other Tsunami products, said Colby Nish, an account manager at Planetary Networks, a network integrator in Sunnyvale, Calif. The solution provider has been beta-testing QuickBridge units.

Proxim's Lucas said QuickBridge offers a fast return on investment. The ROI for a customer that replaces two T1 lines with QuickBridge solutions would be realized in less than seven months, she said.

"With an ROI story like this, [QuickBridge is going to be an easy sell for VARs," Lucas added.

Nish concurred: "The price and the features are unmatched. This is a reliable and secure alternative to leased lines that will save customers a lot of money over time."

Proxim, which recently merged with Western Multiplex, also offers 802.11 solutions. Its higher-end Tsunami fixed-wireless solutions offer data rates of 20 Mbps to 960 Mbps with a range of up to 40 miles.