Cylink Corp. has won a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission to operate in excess of the 36 db of radiated power generally allowed in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands.
The Sunnyvale, Calif., company manufactures outdoor spread spectrum microwave radio systems. Its primary product is AirLink, a microwave full duplex communications system that includes an Ethernet remote bridge for voice and data.
The power increase allows AirLink to transmit data at rates of up to 2.048 megabits per second for a distance of up to 30 miles, said Dan Hilberman, director of product management for Cylink.
Directional antennas are used to focus the AirLink signal, a feature that convinced the FCC to provide the waiver, Cylink said. The narrow signal allows more users to share the spectrum over larger geographic areas.
“The FCC confirms our position that license-free spread spectrum radio technology with narrow-beam directional antennas can help extend universal service and provide a low-cost, high-bandwidth on ramp to the National Information Superhighway,” said Steve Goldberg, Cylink vice president and general manager of the wireless communications group.
The company uses conventional, off-the-shelf antennas that it buys from several different vendors.
Because spread spectrum technology is robust, it resists interference that can occur in those bands, making it a dependable solution, the company said.
Both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands are the industrial, scientific and medical band, where companies can operate license-free.
Cylink sells its equipment to schools and other community networks to link clusters of buildings. It also has agreements with two regional Bell operating companies and rural telephone service providers. Cylink also provides emergency circuit restoration. Conversations over AirLink can’t be overheard by amateur or commercial radio scanners, Cylink said; the company also provides enterprise-wide information security systems.
The 12-year-old company went public in February. It reported record quarterly revenues of $12.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, compared with $8.5 million for the same period last year. Wireless product revenues accounted for 54 percent of total quarterly revenues, the company said. A new information security product also helped boost results. Revenues for the six months ended June 30 were up 28 percent, from $16.2 million a year ago to $20.8 million.
The company’s net loss improved slightly in the second quarter, to $620,000 from $805,000 a year ago. This reflects a higher gross profit partially offset by increased research and development, and sales and marketing expenses, the company said. On an operating basis, the net loss was $2.5 million for the first six months compared with a net loss of $2.1 million one year ago. Net loss was $979,000, or 4 cents per share, on 28 percent more shares outstanding; that compares with the net loss of $659,000, or 3 cents per share, for the first six months of 1995.
Earlier this year, Cylink introduced the AirLink VF-E wireless modem for local loop voice and data applications. It uses spread spectrum technology and comes in AC and DC models, with or without battery backup. It can operate at a distance of more than 20 miles. The VF-E modem is a single-channel, full duplex point-to-point voice communication system.
Cylink has sales and service offices in eight countries around the world. The company said more than 15,000 units have been sold in 80 countries. International sales for the second quarter rose 64 percent from a year ago, and accounted for about 53 percent of total revenues, Cylink said.
