I am often called upon by my customers to provide auction day, live online bidding.  While, I work with a host of auction companies, I always use the same technology implementation.  Live online bidding is best when used with a high speed internet connection.  I often use an air card to accomplish this, despite the limitations of an air card (latency being the primary limitation).  However, I often use a piece of technology intended for industrial applications.

The technology happens to be an expensive set of industrial ethernet radios (replacement cost close to $2,000.00).  The radios broadcast an ethernet signal from one location to another.  My current set has a range of 60 miles (clear line of sight).  My experience is primarily in non-line of sight applications, and I’ve successfully used the radios at distances approaching a mile.

What the radios allow me to do is be completely mobile with the live online bidding.  I’m able to be live in the sound truck or auction ring with high speed internet.  Gone are the days of sitting in a back room with a two-way radio trying to hear the auctioneer selling, and relaying bids.  Live online bidding with ethernet radios has become a seamless integration into the “normal” operations of live auction companies.

While the cost of the radios is a bit high, the benefits to a company that is regularly conducting live online auctions are high.  The online bidders are no longer limited to lag times associated with multiple operators, and technology links.  There is better communication between the auctioneer and the online operator, and as a result, increased online sales.

2 Responses to “Bridging the ethernet”

1. dpe Says:
   June 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm

   So, who exactly do the radios work? Where do you plug in your air card, into the radio or your laptop?

2. John Says:
   June 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm

   The radios are a set that are programmed to work with each other (you can add more to the set for multi-point implementation). One radio plugs into the ethernet connection with a CAT5 cable, the other radio plugs into my laptop via a CAT5 cable. They are a separate method to get high speed to my laptop from the air card solution. The one radio broadcasts a radio signal to the other radio, and then transmits the data, and net connection.

   My air card plugs directly into my laptop. The “new” air cards are actually USB devices, and plug directly into a USB port. A person can also purchase air card routers. With the routers, you plug the air card directly into the router, and then you can broadcast the air card connection wirelessly to other connections. I don’t have experience with the air card routers, but know of several individuals that use them regularly.

   I prefer the radio solution to high speed internet because I rarely find my air card connection speeds to be better than true high speed connections (mostly due to the latency of the connection (the minimum time to send data between two points)). I’m sure the difference in speeds and latency times will continue to decrease, but in the meantime, streaming video and downloads tend to be a bit on the slow side depending on the signal strength and signal type in the area. Plus, if you’re using a time sensitive application (i.e. online bidding application), the latency can be a factor.

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