As far as the NOKIA n series goes, at present only the N810 WiMAX Edition is available with WiMAX built into the system. Many n810 (and others I am sure) are hoping to see a way to use the USB Modem with their devices, but that will require one to have a way to connect the Mini or Micro USB port of your tablet, to the Standard USB port on the XOHM USB Modem as well as writing an applet to connect he two devices. Certainly not a rocket science piece of work, but not in the realm of the average user.

If you go to the XOHM website you will see that several manufacturers are releasing new netbooks and notebooks with Built-in WiFi as well. HTC has just released a Smartphone in Eussia that is basically 4G across the board, WiMAX, Cellular etc. Has about every wireless protocol one could encounter. Problem with this piece is availability and, of course, pricing.

I think that most manufacturers are adopting a wait and see attitude before they get real Gung Ho about WiMAX.

But if they can get the system deployed in more places, keep the speed up and latency down, I will be one to say they ( XOHM / Clearwire ) could have a real hit on their hands. Considering the promotional "two fer" plan ( Desktop Modem and 1 Mobile device ) for $50 a month, at the speeds I am currently getting I could say goodbye to COMCAST.

But, in closing, we must remember there is basically no one on this system so we are seeing breakneck speeds. That will change as the system gets more subscribers, and that is where the proof will be in the pudding, how the system matures. But we must also be fairly confident ( this statement could rear up and bite me I know) that in the year 2008 XOHM/Clearwire are not building a 4G System that is not capable of handling growth efficiently. With the CDMA Carriers doing nicely with EVDO DATA as well as LTE nipping at their heels, and the GSM Carriers following right behind, they cannot introduce some half way system and expect to make it. Because they won't. They will need 2 things. Speed and Price. I should say 3 things and add customer service but face it, once your configured with Wireless DATA, I want to pay my Bill and connect. While I like excellent customer service, I will not pay an extra $20 or $30 a month for it. My rare case where I may need service, I can fake it through two or three times a year to save $240 or $360 a year!

And I believe the proper Facebook URL for the XOHM-DC community is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54179077320

To see pictures from our last meetup, see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickyke...7609885630127/

To see our facebook group (thanks, rjzak!), see:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54179077320

If you live in the MD, DC, VA area and you'd like to join us, please feel free to join:
facebook | XOHM User Group [XUG] (Washington, DC)

As we get more members and interest, we may start meeting on a monthly basis at various locations around the area. We are open to suggestions on where people would like to meet and what direction they'd like to see us take with XOHM, the OLPC XO, and the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition.

Despite two people not showing for our first meeting, Mike, Vicky, Andy, and I all had a great time. Mike and I are making strides on getting XOHM to work with the Mac and OLPC. We will soon be attempting Mesh networking with the OLPC and XOHM.

We hope you can attend our next meeting.

That's badass! I applaud the geekery and would love to join in at some point!

We'd love to have you join. Mike was actually kinda bummed that we already had 2 no-shows at our first meeting. One was sick, and the other couldn't leave his wife and daughter for a couple hours.

I gave Mike a XOHM USB adapter with perhaps another to follow, he loaned me two OLPC XO with instructions on how to rebuild them. He's working on getting XOHM to work with the Mac. I'm working on getting XOHM to work with the OLPC.

The mesh networking tech in the OLPC XO is actually very cool and very sensitive. 7 OLPC could be scattered across 3km, only 1 OLPC might have an internet connection, but it will mesh network with the other 6 to share internet between all. Mike's tested the mesh in the fields of Montgomery County, MD. I'm adding XOHM to the mix.

If you are a member of the XOHM Development Community, you might be interested in our new discussion thread:
http://developer.xohm.com/community/thread/1063

I'm now rebuilding two OLPC XO and installing the XOHM linux drivers for a test of mesh networking with XOHM on the Capital Hill (Washington, DC). Hopefully I'll be able to report some interesting results later today.

In case anyone else is interested in XOHM drivers for their respective OS:

Windows Vista, XP:
http://www.xohm.com/en_US/support/downloads/

Mac OS X 10.4 or later:
http://developer.xohm.com/community/docs/DOC-1064

Linux:
http://www.linuxwimax.org/Download

Just set up 2 Windows XP boxes, 1 Windows Vista, 1 MacBook pro, and 1 PowerBook.

Next up: OLPC XO.

Mac drivers coming soon it says for the PC Card and USB Adapter...

Edit: PC Card Adapter drivers for Mac: http://developer.xohm.com/community/docs/DOC-1064

Using the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition with XOHM on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE):


I’m getting spoiled using XOHM on the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition. While I can’t always get a connection while I wait for the VRE at Burke Center, I usually get a signal starting around Backlick Rd. By the time I get to Alexandria, I have a solid XOHM connection until we get to the tunnels near Union Station.

Today I was checking my mail, chatting with relatives in the Philippines via Pidgin, and surfing the web all from the comfort of the upper deck on a VRE train from Broad Run to Union Station. I didn’t take the time to check http://speakeasy.net/speedtest, but the rate at which WashingtonPost.com was loading pages on my N810, I knew I had a fast (4Mbps+) connection...

...continued at Spoiled Commuter: WiMAX on the VRE...

No momentary signal drops/handoffs? That's pretty good.