An Evaluation Of Xmax

Introducing the basics of xMax, this paper explains the working of xMax .It also deals with the application of xMax in different fields of wireless technology. It also discusses about the advantages of xMax over other wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

xMax developed by xG Technology, Inc. is a proposed radio frequency (RF) modulation and encoding technology that will use individual or “integer” sinusoidal waves to convey information. While supposedly applicable to wired mediums such as copper and coaxial lines, the technology will apparently be introduced first as a wireless

communications technology, whereby its developers claim that it is capable of extending the range and reducing the transmit power compared to conventional approaches, including cellular technologies and fixed wireless approaches such as WiMAX. Every aspect of the technology is designed for the highest possible efficiency and quality of service.

Why xMax?

xMax is designed to prioritize voice by delivering dedicated timeslots and bandwidth to every user. This approach guarantees a minimal and fixed latency for every call, which is an essential factor for any high Quality of Service (QoS) mobile VoIP system. This is in contrast to technologies like Wi-Fi and WiMAX, both of which are contention-based “best effort” delivery systems that are limited by scalability constraints.

Working of xMax: xMax uses a transmitter similar to those used in cordless phone base stations and which operate in an unlicensed and very crowded frequency spectrum in the 900MHz band and is capable of sending a 3.7Mbit/s data signal to a radius of 18 miles, while utilizing only an omnidirectional antenna powered by a 50mW transmitter!

xMax goes beyond what were considered physical limits of existing Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Wi-Bro and radio technology, it leaves 3- and 4G in the dust, and may further prove to be also much less costly to deploy.

According to the written specs distributed to the press at the demonstration xG Technology is capable of realizing performance improvements over similar transmission technologies by literally orders of magnitude – 10x, 20x, 30x, 100x.

xMax uses a narrow channel allocation of dedicated spectrum to coordinate reception of its non-interfering, xG Flash Signal. By using xG Flash Signaling to convey wideband data below the noise floor, xMax allows for efficient spectrum reuse by numerous users in a manner that solves the spectrum crunch.

Because xG Flash Signaling accomplishes this with far less “out of band” energy than traditional modulation systems such as CDMA and GSM, xMax helps to “clean-up” the spectrum for more efficient use than is currently realized.

xMax is essentially a new way of modulating data which allows enormous improvements in data rates capacity both across wireless and landline communication infrastructures.

xMax does not utilize compression techniques to achieve its extraordinary results as it employs two very popular communication approaches to make an extremely more efficient use of the radio spectrum available.

xMax uses a modulation technique designed to allow more data to be transmitted on a single sine wave than is required with typical modulation technologies. So instead of using more than 100,000 sine waves to transmit one bit of data, xMax uses a ratio closer to 1:1. This technique would therefore be more efficient and keep energy levels very low, which would mean devices that receive the signals wouldn’t consume much power.

What xMax in fact does is to intelligently blend the unique characteristics of narrow-band carrier systems with those of the non-interfering components utilized in low-power wide-band transmission systems. The end result is an exponential increase in data-rate capacity and a very significant decrease in power transmission requirements. Because of all this you can imagine how vast could be the implications of the arrival of such a disruptive transmission and data distribution technology, which would not only put rapidly out of market existing ADSL and cable operations, but it would also create immediate opportunities for broadband-based content and services to be widely distributed for a fraction of the money that it would cost today

xMax would in fact enable wide and easy adoption of high-bandwidth services such as video-based real-time collaboration, high definition television (HDTV), video-on-demand, IPTV, to name some of the most popular ones.

Due to its technological characteristics xMax technology can be interleaved within existing cable RF channels and can operate over existing network physical infrastructure which would clearly allow existing operators to start offering new xMax-based services without ever needing to interrupt existing services.

Because of this xMax appears a strategic alternative to seriously followed by telecom that still heavily rely on landline infrastructures.

In terms of specifics facts, xMax is reported to be so reliable and with such a higher level of quality that signal capacity improvements could allow cable operators to deliver over one thousand channels of broadband-like services.In the DSL universe xMax is supposed to deliver much higher data-rates while increasing the effective reach to about 21 Km from the central transmission base.

Rather than an FM radio station broadcasting only radio programs or cable providers only broadcasting television, xMax would take advantage of the unused portion of the signal to also transmit data. This recycling or repurposing of spectrum is key to the new technology, according to its inventor, Joseph Bobier.

“xMax’s unique signal profile is a perfect fit for low frequency channels that have previously been unsuitable for wireless broadband,” said Bobier.

Because the sub-gigahertz spectrum has been chopped into multiple narrowband segments, it largely has been ignored by most wireless companies seeking roomier space for broadband transmissions.

xMax separates the data and a signal synchronizing receiver and sender into two narrowband channels. Due to the low power level needed, the signals do not interfere with other spectrum users, says Whitely.

In order to pick up the very weak signal, a filter must be added to an off-the-shelf antenna, allowing the broadband data to be “heard.”

xG xMax digital and RF boards

xMax products : xMax user devices include mobile phones and, in the future, modems and other communications products.

The xMax TX60 Handset is xG’s first mass-production mobile phone. It is a versatile, full-featured handset that has been designed to provide exceptional QoS (quality of service), with both domestic and international service options. The handset product family supports calls and data over the xMax network, as well as over the public internet using standard home, office, and hotspot WiFi connections. The TX60 supports the proprietary, high-performance xMax air-interface. This feature-rich, IP-based handset has been designed to be “future-proof “, with new capabilities made available through software upgrades. This includes the ability to upgrade the xMax radio to 3G based on its Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology.

Engineering design for xMax handsets has been provided by Cambridge Consultants UK, Ltd., one of the foremost wireless innovators in the world.

Advantages of xMax:

xMax technology offers advantages for numerous types of prospective domestic and international carriers. These organizations include incumbent local exchange carriers (ILEC), competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC), original equipment manufacturers (OEM), mobile operators, cable companies and other content providers, and infrastructure mobile virtual network enablers (MVNE).

xMax, is a 900MHz wireless technology and uses less than 1 Watt of power. What makes xMax unique is its sharing of crowded radio spectrum, such as the frequencies used by cable television or Wi-Fi. The consumption of power in xMax is less when compared to other wireless technology devices.

xMax offers consumers the prospect of lower phone bills because:

• xMax transmits over unlicensed spectrum-the same as baby monitors and cordless phones. Major national cellular carriers paid billions of dollars for licensed spectrum that they recoup from customers.

• xMax was built as a totally Internet-based digital system from top to bottom-an extremely cost efficient communication approach.

Roger Branton, COO for xG Technology said that xMax is essentially a new long-distance UWB (ultra-wideband)-like wireless technology, and was quick to make the distinction between xG’s xMax and UWB technology. He says, “xMax is not UWB. The first xMax products slated for release later this year will utilize the ISM 900MHz unlicensed band, which is only 26MHz wide. UWB utilizes something like 500MHz in the high gigahertz frequencies.”

xG claims that xMax supports more efficient communication over wireless or wired links than other technologies. About this efficiency, Bobier said that, “We believe efficiency boils down to how many bits you can move over a given amount of spectrum per watt. If you can move more bits of information with less power, you pollute the spectrum less, thereby making it possible for more users to access the spectrum.” xMax operates at low, sub-gigahertz frequencies and can be used for communication without the common line-of-sight issues that happen at higher frequencies. Bobier says if you can use these frequencies and still be broadband, you compare with fixed wireless technologies doing things in the microwave area.

WiMax, which has been described as Wi-Fi on steroids, has a range of up to 30 miles and can deliver broadband at a theoretical maximum of 75mbps. But today, power consumption is so high on WiMax receivers that they cannot be used in consumer products such as laptops, let alone on handheld devices such as cell phones.

Uses of xMax in future technologies:

According to Whitely, the technology will benefit rural ISPs due to the lower number of base stations required.

xMax, because it has 20 times the range of Bluetooth, could challenge that technology

Other possibilities are enterprise WLANs and metropolitan networks.

Use of xMax to reduce the power consumptions in wireless technologies to a greater extent.

Some current performance claims

Antenna: One omnidirectional transmitter located on TV broadcast tower at a height of 850 feet.

Range: 20 miles, covering the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, including inside buildings.

Data rate: At least 10 Mbit/s throughout the coverage area.

Spectrum used: A 6 kHz carrier on dedicated spectrum and 10 MHz of information-bearing spread spectrum in the unlicensed 900 MHz band.

Interference: None, despite the presence of a TV transmitter on the same tower.

Power: A maximum of 50 W for the carrier and less than 0.15 W for the information-bearing channels

Conclusion: Thus, xMax is emerging wireless technology which has many applications at present and possible more applications in future saving a lot of power in day to day activities

Thus , xMax is emerging wireless tech