If you’re not familiar with the Tech Field Day franchise, you’re really missing out on a fantastic resource. When the events are live and playing out, you get a nice feel of the pulses of the various spaces covered (Network, Storage, Wireless, and Virtualization). After the live coverage is done, the session recordings become excellent on-demand resources.
I’ve had the privilege of attending a number of Wireless Field Days (WFDs), and I think the upcoming WFD8 really moves in a nice direction. Each WFD event I’ve been to has provided a wonderful glimpse into the goings on of the presenting WLAN-related vendors. I’ve got to see and hear first-hand what the following companies have to say on their own offerings, industry trends, and what the future of wireless might look like:
- 7signal
- Aerohive
- AirTight Networks
- Aruba Networks
- Avaya
- Cisco Networks
- Cloudpath
- Extreme Networks
- Fluke Networks
- Juniper
- Meraki
- Meru Networks
- MetaGeek
- Motorola
- WildPackets
- Xirrus
WFD8 features Aruba Networks as an HP company for the first time, Cambium Networks, Cisco, Cradlepoint, Ruckus Wireless, and Zebra Technologies. I like this lineup a lot, for various reasons.
With Aruba and Cisco, it’s always good to hear from the WLAN industry’s #1 and #2. I’m a Cisco and Meraki customer, so visiting Cisco’s campuses is a bit more personal for me. I’ve long respected and admired Aruba, and I’d like to see how things “feel” now that HP is the mothership.
Cambium Networks is a bit exotic as I think of them as a backhaul company- but they certainly do more with wireless, and it’ll be exciting to hear from a relative newcomer. I did one blog entry about Cambium awhile back.
The Field Day organizers did well in my opinion to land Cradlepoint. Modern day “wireless” is about so much more than Wi-Fi, and Cradlepoint’s 4G edge-routing will take the delegates down a new WFD path that could serve as precedent for future non-mainstream Wi-Fi vendors. I’ve covered Cradlepoint in my blog as well.
With Ruckus, WFD finally lands one of the main WLAN vendors out there that I’ve not met with, though they were at #WFD3. Ruckus covers a lot of ground, so their presentation is hard to predict, but is guaranteed to be interesting. I’ve done a fair amount of coverage of Ruckus, both for Network Computing (like this one) and right here in this blog.
Finally, there is Zebra Technologies. I’ve personally never laid hands on a Zebra product, and for those who don’t know, Zebra bought Motorola’s Wi-Fi interests (which I blogged about.) With a fascinating product line of their own, this too should be a very interesting session.
Put a reminder on your calendars- this Wireless Field Day promises to really put a fresh spin on an already excellent event. Woo woo!
Ruckus has been to WFD before, WFD3 I believe, featuring Victor Shtrom and the other guys – or have I been on crack? (yet again)
Right you are, my crack-addicted friend. I forgot there was WFD before I started attending which is understandable given that I’m the center of the universe. I did correct. Thanks.
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