Subscriber node for fixed wireless access network with steered antenna
A high frequency data network access system leverages commodity WiFi chipsets and specifically multi spatial stream (e.g., 802.11 ac) chipsets in combination with phased array antenna systems at the aggregation nodes. Examples can be very spectrally efficient with both polarization and frequency diversity.
1. A subscriber node adapted for installation at a premises, the subscriber node comprising:
an outdoor unit for carrying a steerable antenna module,
an indoor unit holding a local wireless module; and
a bridge unit configured to mechanically support the outdoor unit and the indoor unit through a window under a rail of a sash of the window, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit communicating via the bridge unit;
wherein the subscriber node communicates with one or more aggregation nodes in a spectral band of 10 GHz to 300 GHz;
wherein the indoor unit includes a modem module that includes a radio chipset that generates several transmit multi spatial stream signals and decodes several receive multi spatial stream signals: and
wherein the outdoor unit includes an extremely high frequency module that includes high frequency transmit mixers for upconverting based on the several transmit multi spatial stream signals to the spectral band of 10 GHz to 300 GHz, and high frequency receive mixers for downconverting received high frequency signals for generation of the receive multi spatial stream signals provided to the indoor unit via the bridge unit.
2. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the steerable antenna module transmits and receives information to and from one or more aggregation nodes.
3. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the steerable antenna module comprises one or more patch array antennas.
4. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the steerable antenna module comprises a motor unit that mechanically steers its one or more antennas.
5. The subscriber node of claim 4 , wherein the motor unit causes the antennas to point to one or more aggregation nodes.
6. The subscriber node of claim 4 , wherein the motor unit includes a 2-axis pan-tilt mount that is controlled by one or more motors that rotate the antennas around vertical axis and tip the antennas around a horizontal axis.
7. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the local wireless module communicates with network devices at the subscriber's premises.
8. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the local wireless module maintains a wireless local area network for the subscriber's premises.
9. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the local wireless module transmits and receives information with a local wireless access point that maintains a wireless local area network for the subscriber's premises.
10. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are installed on either side of a double-hung window.
11. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the steerable antenna module is provided in a weather hardened enclosure.
12. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the indoor unit includes a diplexer module that communicates between the radio chipset and the extremely high frequency module via the bridge unit, the diplexer module including:
intermediate frequency transmit mixers that down-convert the several transmit multi spatial stream signals using local oscillator frequencies into intermediate transmit signals that are provided to the outdoor unit via the bridge unit, the intermediate transmit signals being received by the high frequency transmit mixers of the extremely high frequency module, and
intermediate frequency receive mixers that convert intermediate frequency signals received from the high frequency receive mixers of the extremely high frequency module into the receive multi spatial stream signals for the radio chipset.
13. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the extremely high frequency module includes an antenna printed circuit board including plural patch array antennas, an extremely high frequency printed circuit board, and a heat sink assembled in a stack.
14. The subscriber node of claim 1 , wherein the antenna module includes a transmit antenna for transmitting high frequency signals in the spectral band of 10 GHz to 300 GHz in a horizontal polarization and a vertical polarization, and a receive antenna for receiving high frequency signals in the spectral hand of 10 GHz to 300 GHz in a horizontal polarization and a vertical polarization.