Copper, Fiber or Microwave

[BigTodd]

So all the rural stimulus money is starting to flow and the steel is going into the sky. What is the method of transport back to the switch. MW seems to be the preferred method I have seen, but is hubbing to a Fiber pop or building a MW backbone the right move. Issues with delay, weather, and reliability can give some drawbacks on the MW, but it beats digging and costs for new buried or aerial copper and fiber.

What do you think? Who is the best vendor, Licenced or unlicensed for the end final points.

[victorlguerrero]

I just finished a big Fiber roll-out, well my part anyway, but I really learned a lot from it. I jst can't see any major draw backs from fiber. It's durable, reasonably priced, doesn't cost much to install, and has what we need as far as bandwidth is concerned. MW......not a big fan.

[Marconi]

I just finished a big Fiber roll-out, well my part anyway, but I really learned a lot from it. I jst can't see any major draw backs from fiber. It's durable, reasonably priced, doesn't cost much to install, and has what we need as far as bandwidth is concerned. MW......not a big fan.

I like fiber when it is available but there is still many areas where just getting copper is almost impossible. MW still has it's place and if the hop is designed correctly is a reliable solution.

[victorlguerrero]

Yea, there is a draw back to everything, but in comparison, it pretty much costs the same in the long run. Eventually, everybody will do it, so they might as well start now. My thoughts anyway.

[SuperTech]

Yea, there is a draw back to everything, but in comparison, it pretty much costs the same in the long run. Eventually, everybody will do it, so they might as well start now. My thoughts anyway.

Yeah, fiber is making progress moving to rural areas but we still have a lot of microwave. I think it will always have it's place.

[switchrat]

Dont forget the line of sight internet folks. They already have the backbone and you may lease a DS-1 if you can see the hub. Much easier then your dish to dish. If you have fiber thats a no brainer

[rudypoot]

[SierraOscarLimaOscar]

Remember that on a MW shot, if one goes down, they all go down.

[CAMom50]

No body touched on microwave. My experience with several of my friends' fears is that they believe microwave used in cellular is the same microwave that heats up your coffee or pops your popcorn when you nuke it. I say no, but, because I am not in the wireless scientific know concerning this I cannot say definitively yes or no. Any thought?

[Deborah1962]

With the economy being the way it is, copper has been disappearing like crazy around my city which is still in the dark ages when it comes to the new improved way of doing things. Copper is still being used in street lights and in the work I see the cable guys around here using. It doesn't make sense, why keep using and replacing if the thieves keep stealing it? I would think that money used to replace could be better spent replacing what was stolen with something that will work better and not be a source of instant cash for the thieves. Those in the rural areas haven't been party line free longer than 20 years. Sad but true.