Microwave Bypass

Microwave Bypass, Inc. launched the world's first fixed wireless internet access technology in 1987, a decade before Wi-Fi. It enabled local and remote networks to connect at the then full Ethernet (802.3) data rate of 10 megabits per second, and for up to 4.3 miles.

Microwave Bypass logo

The company was founded in March 1986 by David Theodore (25), operating from One Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its wireless solution consisted of a modified broadcast quality video radio (23 GHz) coupled with Microwave Bypass' EtherWave Transceiver. The system met the then highest Ethernet throughput and could transmit 4.3 miles (6.9 km), in keeping with Ethernet's propagation delay allowance (46.4 μs).

Beta testing occurred at Massachusetts General Hospital in March 1987, at the invitation of network manager, David Murphy, and with Network World's Laura DiDio and representatives of Harvard University and Boston University's Dr. Mikhail Orlov in attendance. After a successful demo the first two production links were installed in parallel between Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Harvard's Cardiac Computer Center, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) across the Charles River. This also marked the first wireless transmission of MR images.

In 1988, Microwave Bypass collaborated with Cisco Systems on a full-duplex EtherWave Transceiver to eliminate 802.3 collision detection and permit longer distance connections as far as the microwave could reach. This first full-duplex design was developed for an application at MIT, between its main campus and Lincoln Laboratories. Later that year Microwave Bypass completed an exclusive deal, announced by Motorola, for the transfer of its EtherWave Transceiver and LAN-LINK 1000 Bridge technologies.

References

• "LAN Extension Using Microwave" (PDF). DataPro Research. September 1986.
• Swartz, Jon (September 22, 1986). "An Unlikely Couple Form Company to Sell Microwave Ethernet Link" (PDF). Communications Week.
• Swartz, Jon (September 1986). "Unlikely Pair Makes Waves at Microwave Bypass". Computer Systems News: 49–50.
• Smagorinski Graphic Design (January 1987). "First Wireless Ethernet Ad" (PDF). Communications Week (Full Page Ad).
• DiDio, Laura (February 1988). "Networking Strategies: LAN Users Look to Microwave Links" (PDF). Network World. 5 (9): 1, 8.
• Schnaidt, Patricia (May 1988). "Harvard and Boston University are Cooking with Microwave LAN Extensions" (PDF). LAN Magazine: 128–131.
• Darrow, Barbara (August 7, 1989). "Microwave Link Runs at Ethernet Speed" (PDF). InfoWorld.
• DiDio, Laura (August 21, 1989). "Microwave Technique Extends E-net Links" (PDF). Network World.
• James Bruce; Kent England; Laura Breeden; David S. Theodore (June 1990). "NEARnet Profile" (PDF). ConneXions, "The Interoperability Report": 2–5.
• DiDio, Laura (January 21, 1991). "Charting the '90s Top LAN Contenders" (PDF). LAN Times. VIII (2).
• Theodore, David S. (March 1992). "NEARnet Microwave Backbone" (PDF). Microwave Bypass.
• Pat Schod (13 June 1988). "Motorola Press Release" (PDF) (Press release). p. 1.
• The Aberdeen Group (1994). "Untethered Opportunities" (PDF). Wireless Industry Profile.
• David Theodore (2021). "Collected Works of David Theodore". Collected Works of David Theodore.