1 WiMAX Performance at 4.9 GHz

Access (referred to as WiMAX) is a MAC and physical layer wireless communications technology for outdoor broadband wireless coverage. In collaboration with the Clemson University Police Department, we have deployed an 802.16d WiMAX network that operates at 4.9 GHz at Clemson University. In this paper, we present the results from a performance analysis we have conducted of the WiMAX network. To the best of our knowledge the work reported in this paper is the first academic study of an operational 4.9 GHz WiMAX in which controlled experiments could be conducted. While neither the 4.9 GHz spectrum nor the current WiMAX profiles settings might be optimal for space or lunar communications, a study of WiMAX at any frequency is of value to both the aerospace industry and the researc