Private Cellular and Salt with Mark Houtz

Mark Houtz, a network engineer working with school districts in Utah, shared his recent experiments with private cellular networks, particularly focusing on CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) and Wi-Fi technologies. He explained that CBRS operates in the 3.55 to 3.7 GHz band in the U.S. and is gaining traction globally. Mark and his team conducted tests at the Bonneville Salt Flats, a vast, flat area known for land speed records, making it an ideal location for testing wireless technologies over long distances. In their initial tests two years ago, they managed to achieve a two-mile range using a 15-foot antenna for CBRS, but they wanted to push the limits further with more advanced equipment.

In their recent tests, Mark and his team used a cellular cow (Cell on Wheels) with a 60-foot antenna to improve the range and performance of their wireless technologies. They tested both LTE and 5G radios, along with Wi-Fi Halo, which operates in the 900 MHz spectrum. While Wi-Fi Halo didn’t perform as well as expected, reaching only about a mile instead of the hoped-for three kilometers, the CBRS tests were more successful. They achieved a four-mile range with usable signal strength, allowing them to perform speed tests and browse the internet. Mark emphasized the importance of antenna height and line of sight in achieving better performance, noting that in some pristine conditions, they had previously reached up to 12 miles with private cellular.

Mark also highlighted the potential for edge computing in these setups, particularly in remote or mobile environments like the Bonneville Salt Flats. By integrating edge computing into the cellular cow or even on the client side, they could handle data processing closer to the source, improving efficiency and reducing latency. The tests demonstrated the viability of private cellular networks for high-speed, long-distance connectivity, especially in challenging environments, and underscored the importance of proper equipment setup, including antenna height and spectrum analysis, for optimal performance.