Tech Radio Spectrum Shortage

[Riddle78]

Well,I heard that the world is about to run face-first into a radio spectrum (bandwidth) shortage. What does this mean? Well,all wireless signals use these spectra,and we only have a finite amount that we can use effectively. This,coupled with the explosion in the use of wireless devices and the modern dependancy on wireless connections...I think it's safe to say that we can expect to see some serious restrictions in internet and wireless uses from the providers by somewhere around 2013-14. The problem was touched upon recently by video game culture activists Extra Credits,and that's where I got my info. They're trustworthy.


Source: http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/spectrum-crunch


So,what do you think about this incoming issue? Have you heard ANYTHING about it before now?

 

[Rone]

Ive heard the issue being discussed on radio. In that discussion I recall hearing something about the Feds vying to seize control of the right to distribute the bandwidth, a power I think they were denied, hopefully. Coupled with what youve said above, very troublesome. Those whose lives have become almost symbiotic with their phones need to be wary of being taken advantage of when the prices go up because the demand on bandwidth is so high.


The internet and the radio are the only two open sources of information (for now). What happens when television, which has become the most effective tool of propaganda and pre-conditioning, is granted the most rights to bandwidth, with the internet coming second, and radio probally being last. The internet too is still sometimes censored, but the web is a vast wilderness. Too much to control. The truth is there to find. Opinions are voiced, our human freedoms are exercised and discussed openly through the web. Same with radio, though much more exclusively depending on the region. What if we loose the ability to browse the internet, to voice our opinions and hear the opinions of others? What if I can't tune into AFR talk or any political talk station because they arent allowed the bandwidth. Whomever is controlling the bandwidth will say it's because of the shortage and not enough people want to listen to it, but it will really be because I am being informed.


I don't know much on the matter myself. Actually I have no idea on how bandwidth works and some, if not all, of what I said above may not have any merit in regards to the function of bandwidth. I just liked your question I guess lol.


You say that we have only a finite amount that can be effectively used: what about the bandwidth that can't be used? What prevents it from being used effectively?


Wasn't trying to get of topic up there just sharing thoughts.

 

[Riddle78]

I'm guessing it has something to do with frequency,and destructive interference. If equally opposite wavelengths interact with eachother,the signal goes flat. If any data is carried on these waves,it's lost. And some frequencies,I'd assume,simply cannot carry data,or not enough for our needs. And then there's the reception and transmission frequencies of our hardware,and finally keeping the frequencies we use out of the visible (colour) or audiable spectrum. We don't really have very much we can use,all things considered.

 

[Alexina]

There is a simple answer really. PLUG in. Seriously though the only real issues it may cause is with cellphones and things of such nature there. Wireless has a limited range so every so many feet that range can be used again for another device. The wireless reaches the modem or tower whichever the case may be and sends the signals over wires. When it comes to speeds slowing down due to too many using the line at the same times, it's usually because people are plugging too many in on a network server and the router there is having to slow the data to sort it. At least that's my understanding of it. (I can try to go into more details if none of this is making sense.)


Certain frequencies are saved for certain things as well, government, schools, and what not. They did have an issue of running out of IP addresses for main connections, but that's being solved by extending the IPv4 to an IPv6 and really is more of an addressing issue than a bandwidth issues. We also have this thing out called FIOS (fiber optics) which sends data even faster through the lines.


http://59.90.102.17/intranetadmin/Bandwidth/bandwidth.html


Bandwidth Functions I'm linking to help explain how bandwidth works so when you guys talk about limited bandwidth it helps you understand what causes such. The introduction of that site alone should cover it, to help explain what I'm trying to say.

 

[weddingphoto]

What is the difference between all the types of radio waves in the spectrum?

 

[Riddle78]

The difference is frequency. The frequency is a measure of how often the wave resonates in a period of time. Certain frequencies can carry data,and it's these frequencies that our society depends on. As mentioned before,it covers more than just radio,but also sound,visible light,and other things like x-ray and infared. These frequencies are,of course,unusable for communications purposes,because they are simply unusable,too disruptive to us,or even harmful. Hell,our currently used radio frequencies mess with birds and sea life.