thinkASG

In the early days of computing, companies bought giant computers called mainframes. Those computers utilized specialized external components called “chillers”. The idea was fairly simple – run chilled water through the mainframe computer to keep the components running cool, dissipating the heat created by each.

Jump ahead to the 1980’s and the PC revolution begins taking over, and in most cases, replaces much of the need for mainframe functioning due to the smaller computer’s ability to process applications efficiently at a fraction of the cost of the mainframe systems.  Since the computers “clock speed” or processor speed is low, there is very little heat compared to that of the mainframe.

In 1965, Gordon Moore of Intel created a fairly reliable prediction that was labeled “Moore’s Law”, which is, “the number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years”. Well that has happened fairly regularly up to the current time.

 
Problem with that is not only have the transistors doubled, but the die on which they are cast as well as the size of those transistors continues to shrink. We now talk in terms of “nanometers”. A nanometer (one billionth of a meter) is the measure by which technology companies use to define size of processor/transistor density.  To give you a point of reference to a nanometer, the width of a human hair is about 180 nanometers (nm).
 
Computer manufacturers are creating processors at the 65nm level now (32nm, by the way, is just around the corner). However, as we all know from our high school physics class, one of the major byproducts of electricity is heat (see paragraph one). And as manufacturers crank up the electrical speed of their devices, the heat becomes even more of an issue and increases exponentially, and has caused manufacturers to become increasingly focused on how to dissipate it.

Since we are dealing with transistors that are invisible to the naked eye, with components that are able to hold single eletrons, computer engineers have to start dealing with heat at a different level than most of us will ever have to understand – the quantum physics level.

At this level, heat envelopes and tolerances become a major factor since the material used to increase speed must be able to withstand chemical change (i.e., melting) for long periods of sustained use, as well as deal with the heat dissipation from components sitting next to each other.
 
As Moore’s Law continues, so must manufacturers continue to devise ways to cool the processers, and avoid us trying to devise “water chillers” at the nanometer level.

I have been working for a bit in the wireless world and have come across the “More Power” designs.  As more and more people start using these “More Power” wireless networks, the network starts failing..  The people installing or designing the network have watched too much television and learned at the feet of Tim “The Toolman” Taylor of “Home Improvement” wireless design and operation.

The thought that “If I increase my power, I should be able to drown out all that interference” is wrong and can be illegal.  It’s like saying “This party is getting a little loud, let me bring in my louder and more obnoxious friend Ted to make it better”.   I think that is likely to offend everyone else at the party and get you and Ted thrown out. 

One of the problems with amplification of RF signals is that the more you amplify the signal, the more you distort the signal.  So now, not only is Ted loud and obnoxious, you can barely understand what he says, his voice brays like a donkey and he stutters like a motor boat.  Now Ted’s annoying voice is making hard for some guys to hear what their girlfriends are saying and now they’re getting annoyed at you for bringing Ted in.

Now we are at the possibly illegal part.  Adding amplifiers and higher gain antennas are that were not specifically certified with the FCC by the device manufacturers is illegal.  Only the manufacturer has the right to certify anything with their systems.  No “professional installers” or anything else will make it legal.  Now you might get away with it since the toothless wonders known as the FCC do not do go actively looking for violations.  The FCC requires that information come from other wireless operators/users and that the wireless operators/users gather the spectrum analysis, photographic evidence, etc. that a violation exists.  So if you don’t annoy anyone you might be OK on this, unless someone from the FCC walks by and notices.  Once the FCC notices a violation you might be given some options like: make it compliant, take it down or have it confiscated plus others.  Also Remember, the FCC is part of the government and government never has enough money, so you might get a fine attached too.

But, you say, my 40,000dBi antenna was certified by the wireless manufacturer.  I would then refer you back a couple of paragraphs to “Ted”, and say “You aren’t doing yourself a favor with that antenna.   You would be better using this 2dBi antenna.”

With RF design is about science, balance and magic, not “More Power”.