GEC Plc’s GEC Plessey Semiconductors Ltd looks set to make an impact on the portable computer market with its DE6003 frequency-hopping wireless local area network transceiver. The credit card-sized board module has a transmission frequency of 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz. This meets US Federal Communications Commission and UK standards, which are also likely to be adopted by the European Community and Japanese. The device, which will be available in the PCMCIA format, works at data rates of up to 1Mbps within a range just over 1,000 yards. It uses a traditional narrow band signal that hops among the 81 channels in its frequency spectrum. Each channel is briefly visited during the hop sequence, a method that minimises the interferences and jams caused by other signals within the band. This enables several networks to operate, using the same frequencies, in the same geographic area. The PCMCIA devices are being produced at the company’s Plymouth, Swindon, Lincoln and Gallium Arsenide foundry at Caswell now – apparently four factories are necessary because of the range of technologies needed to make the card. They should be available before the middle of the year for around UKP160 each when you order 10,000 or more.
