Shows
Waves with Wireless NerdSmarter Wireless: Design Standards, Tool Updates, Trends And Real-World UseSend us a textMiss the days when Wi‑Fi talk meant real problems, real tools, and real wins? Same here. I’m back on camera to unpack what actually moved the needle and what’s about to—from the push to standardize Wi‑Fi design to the quiet march toward Wi‑Fi 8 and the gear being pitched as “ready” for it. I share how a voice clone and an AI-powered workflow with Kero and Claude helped me build The Wireless Monitor, a curated briefing that filters the firehose into actionable trends for engineers and leaders.We dig into...
2026-02-0539 minWaves with Wireless NerdWhy Wi‑Fi 7’s Surge Matters And How Wi‑Fi 8 Will Change Network Design - Plus the WiFiNow Awards and BEAD Funds!Send us a textThe wireless world just flipped from speed bragging rights to real‑world reliability, and we’re here for it. We break down how Wi‑Fi 7 went mainstream faster than anyone expected, why Cisco’s below‑6E pricing and AI‑ops licensing strategy vaulted them to the top, and what that means if you’re debating an upgrade from Wi‑Fi 6 or 6E. The decision no longer ends at the radio—it’s about committing to a cloud and AI stack that will steer roaming, airtime, and assurance for years.Then we look ahead: Wi‑Fi 8...
2025-12-1718 minWaves with Wireless NerdFrom Fries To Fiber, Dual-Mode APs, Multi-Cloud to WiFi 8, 5G & more!Send us a textA week in Vegas turned into a crash course in where networking is headed—starting with a potato-smashing contest at Five Guys and ending with Eero tunnels landing cleanly in AWS. That gut-level, customer-first perspective sets the tone as we dig into real demos, new tools, and the shifting policies that shape what gets built next.We unpack how a simple site-to-site VPN and a transit gateway can turn small sites into first-class cloud citizens, then jump into Kiro, an AI-driven IDE that makes rapid prototyping feel effortless. A standout moment: te...
2025-12-1226 min
Waves with Wireless Nerdre:Invent 25 for Wireless Nerds: Free Burgers, Faster Satellites, And Wi‑Fi That Actually WorksSend us a textSpecial edition! Cloud meets real‑world scale on the Las Vegas strip as we line up two big stories: Amazon Leo’s leap to gigabit‑class LEO connectivity and a live eero deployment inside the largest Five Guys in the franchise. We set the scene for reInvent, map out the sessions worth your time, and explain how these pieces fit into a resilient, transport‑agnostic network strategy you can actually deploy.First, we break down why Amazon Leo’s enterprise preview matters for architects who live with last‑mile pain. With a new ultra...
2025-11-2506 min
Waves with Wireless NerdDesired State Networking, Nostalgia, New Gear From Meter & Ubiquiti, T-Mobile’s Slicing, Wi‑Fi 7, And EU Spectrum ShiftsSend us a textA week in San Francisco rekindled the builder’s spirit: start with intent, then craft the hardware, software, and process to make that outcome inevitable. From the Pier 27 backdrop to on‑stage moments with Anil, Sunil, and Bob Metcalfe, we trace how desired state networking shifts the conversation away from bolt‑ons and toward autonomy, reliability, and clarity. Think less “features” and more “the network just does what we expect”—and if it drifts, it self‑corrects and tells us why.We dig into the product details that make that vision real: SFP ports mo...
2025-11-2537 min
Waves with Wireless NerdHow Carriers, Cafes, And Satellites Are Rewriting Internet Access. Also: It's meter up week! What to expect..Send us a textTomorrow’s Meter Up has the Wi‑Fi world buzzing, and we’re stepping into it with a full slate of stories reshaping how we connect. We set the stage with what we want to learn from Meter’s year of deployments—real outcomes, support models, and how Wi‑Fi 7 fits when most devices are still 6E—then fan out to the bigger map: carriers, cafes, satellites, and the stubborn problem of affordability.AT&T’s rapid mid‑band 5G rollout is a stakes‑raising move, accelerating downloads for phones and fixed wireless and n...
2025-11-1717 minWaves with Wireless NerdWhy Wi-Fi 8 Multi-AP Coordination, Wi‑Fi 7 Rollouts And Open RAN Moves Signal A Faster, Smarter Network FutureSend us a textHeadlines hit hard this week, and we stitched them into a practical roadmap you can use. We start with the fresh demos pointing toward Wi‑Fi 8’s multi‑AP future—coordinated radios, smarter spectral reuse, and AI‑assisted congestion control aimed squarely at dense campuses where roaming and contention burn time and budget. Some features may stay aspirational, but the signal is clear: access points are learning to cooperate, not compete.From there we ground the hype in what’s shipping. Rogers lit up Wi‑Fi 7 gear in Quebec with TP‑Link and Cisco h...
2025-11-0809 min
Waves with Wireless NerdAn Interview with Matt Larsen, WISPA 2025 Operator of the Year: How Open Access Could Rewrite The ISP PlaybookSend us a textWhat if the best ISP on your block doesn’t own the tower—or even the access network? Drew sits down with Matt Larson, founder and CEO of VistaBeam and chair of WISPA, to explore how open access for fixed wireless and fiber could flip the broadband model from top to bottom. With radio platforms now supporting hundreds of subscribers per sector and multi‑operator IDs on the same AP, shared infrastructure is finally reliable enough to scale.We dig into the real-world friction behind RDOF and BEAD, from delays to defaul...
2025-10-2318 minWaves with Wireless NerdPop-up Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Sensing, Backscatter & More! Waves October 2025Send us a textA polo field, a VIP tent, and thousands of devices waiting to light up—this week we take you behind the scenes of building a festival‑grade network that had to stand up fast, survive wind and wobble, and still deliver when John Mayer took the stage. We share the practical playbook: dual circuits into a gateway, 60 GHz point‑to‑multipoint for distribution, clean PoE runs to access points, and the small field hacks—like orange flags on telescoping poles—that make line of sight and troubleshooting human‑fast. Expect candid notes on channel utiliz...
2025-10-1047 min
Waves with Wireless NerdThe Future of Restaurant Hospitality, Technology & Connectivity. Plus: Apple's N1 Chip!Send us a textThe wireless world never stops evolving, and in this episode, Drew Lentz takes us on a journey through the latest developments across multiple technology frontiers. Starting with Apple's intriguing N1 chip introduction, Drew explores what this means for wireless communications and sparks a fascinating discussion about whether Apple might resurrect their once-popular Airport routers. Could this custom silicon be the foundation for Apple's return to networking hardware?Beyond Apple, the wireless tool landscape continues its rapid evolution. From Sidos unveiling new wall drawing capabilities to Ekahau & Ookla for a groundbreaking "Speed...
2025-09-1948 min
International Enneagram Association PodcastStory Booth with Laura Lentz, Nancy Irish, Joey Jacob and Steven JacobIn this episode of the International Enneagram Association podcast, we listen to storybooth interviews from Laura Lentz, Nancy Irish, Dr. Steven Jacob and Joey Jacob. These vignettes recorded at the 2025 IEA Experience present human stories from the dynamic Enneagram community. We hear what drew these four to the Enneagram and how it transformed their lives. Laura talks about her experience as a returning attendee while Nancy shares her hopes to make connections within the Enneagram community during her first time at the conference. Joey and Jacob chat with each other about the Enneagram, sharing their personal connection with Russ...
2025-09-1827 min
Waves with Wireless NerdWireless Acquisitions and the Changing Face of Wireless Access, PLUS: Your CyberSecurity is up to YOU!Send us a textThe telecommunications landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as major players consolidate their hold on crucial spectrum assets. AT&T's stunning $23 billion acquisition of Echo Star's spectrum holdings grants them control of valuable 600 MHz low-band frequencies—airwaves that travel farther and penetrate buildings better than higher frequencies. Meanwhile, SpaceX's $17 billion purchase of Echo Star's satellite spectrum dramatically alters the competitive dynamics in space-based internet services, giving Elon Musk unprecedented control over the infrastructure powering global connectivity.These massive transactions raise critical questions about market competition and consumer choice. With fewer players co...
2025-09-1347 min
Waves with Wireless NerdNavigating Wi-Fi, Spectrum Politics, and Corporate Reshaping in Today's Tech LandscapeSend us a textEver wonder what happens when you need to provide Wi-Fi for half a million surfing fans? Drew Lentz returns to the Waves Podcast after an exhilarating stint deploying 27 access points at the World Surf League's US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Between coordinating connectivity for food trucks, security teams, merchants, and celebrity appearances, the wireless challenges were as massive as the waves.The regulatory landscape is shifting dramatically with the repeal of Executive Order 14036, eliminating broadband "nutrition labels" and allowing landlords to once again make exclusive deals with internet service...
2025-08-1841 min
Think Out LoudYouth in Linn County are helping with vital search and rescue missionsThe warmth and sunshine of summer makes it an especially ideal time in Oregon to recreate outdoors and experience the state’s bounty of hiking trails, rivers, mountain peaks and other scenic attractions. But that spike in outdoor recreation can also lead to more calls for potentially life-saving search and rescue missions by law enforcement in remote locations. Linn County is one of the many counties in the state that have well-established search and rescue programs that rely heavily on unpaid volunteers, including youth as young as 14 years old.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has bee...
2025-08-0512 min
Waves with Wireless NerdThe Wireless World Keeps Spinning While Industry Giants ReshuffleSend us a textFresh from his first trip to Australia, Drew Lentz dives into the evolving landscape of wireless networking with observations that span from down under to the stratosphere. The Melbourne adventure yielded more than just kangaroo sightings and chicken "parmies" – it showcased how different regions approach connectivity challenges with innovative solutions.The industry continues its dramatic reshuffling as major players reposition themselves. The HPE-Juniper merger leaves customers wondering about the fate of competing wireless portfolios, while Meraki's transition from its iconic green to Cisco blue marks what many see as the final ch...
2025-07-1757 min
Waves with Wireless NerdUnpacking the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Wired & Wireless and Discussion on the HPE Juniper Merger!Send us a textThe wireless networking landscape is witnessing a dramatic shift as revealed in the newly released 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure. Juniper Networks has emerged as the clear frontrunner, claiming the coveted top-right position with superior marks for both execution capability and strategic vision. Meanwhile, longtime industry leader Cisco shows signs of strategic drift despite maintaining strong execution abilities.Newcomers are making waves too—Nile and Meter have stormed into the visionaries quadrant, though many industry experts believe Meter deserves an even stronger position for their innovative ap...
2025-07-0132 minWaves with Wireless NerdWill AI Replace Your Networking Job, or Just Make You Better At It?Send us a textThe future of networking isn't about whether AI will transform our industry—it's about how quickly professionals will adapt to these inevitable changes. In this candid discussion, Drew Lentz unpacks the major developments from recent industry events, particularly Cisco Live, where AI dominated conversations across the vendor landscape.AI Canvas, Cisco's entry into agentic AI, signals a pivotal shift in how networks will be managed going forward. But rather than viewing these advancements as threats to job security, Drew frames them as powerful amplifiers of human capability. As he reflects on An...
2025-06-2646 min
Hot Mic with Dom Izzo6/18/25: Drew Trafton, Cal Jones, and Jared LentzGuest Include: -Drew Trafton, Forum Content Director -Cal Jones, NDSU Baseball Commit -Jared Lentz, UJ Head Golf Coach
2025-06-181h 29
Waves with Wireless NerdThe Tech Taco: An Incoming Consolidation Wave, Serving Up AI at the Edge, and a Side of Satellite BroadbandSend us a textThe wireless landscape is transforming before our eyes as major players consolidate, edge computing pushes boundaries, and questions of affordability continue to challenge our assumptions about connectivity. Charter's $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications is reshaping the competitive landscape, combining Charter's 10+ million mobile subscribers with Cox's commercial fiber and managed IT operations. This merger represents just one piece of the ongoing consolidation puzzle that's redefining who controls our digital infrastructure.Meanwhile, American Tower is quietly revolutionizing edge computing by installing data centers at the base of cellular towers. This strategic placement brings...
2025-05-3141 min
Waves with Wireless NerdThe Digital Divide: When Politics Meets Internet AccessSend us a textRecent funding cuts to digital equity programs threaten to deepen the digital divide in America, just as communities were preparing for infrastructure improvements that would bring connectivity to underserved areas. These decisions impact rural residents, small ISPs, and equipment manufacturers who were counting on these opportunities.• $2.5 billion in digital equity funding labeled "racist and illegal" and eliminated• Senate voted along party lines to kill FCC program distributing Wi-Fi hotspots to schoolchildren• Ted Cruz claimed hotspots would bypass parental controls, ignoring existing parental monitoring solutions• COVID-19 exposed the digital divide a...
2025-05-2727 minWaves with Wireless NerdExploring Innovation: From WiFiNow to the Helium Network and more!Send us a textThe Wi-Fi Now Conference in Mountain View showcased innovations in wireless technology while revealing insights about Wi-Fi 7's enterprise adoption challenges. AT&T's partnership with Helium Network for Wi-Fi offload utilizing Hotspot 2.0 and Passpoint technology marks a significant advancement in carrier-independent network collaboration. • Helium Network and AT&T partnering to provide Wi-Fi offload for AT&T customers using quality metrics to monitor connection performance• Helium serving over 700,000 users daily across 90,000 hotspots with major carrier partnerships expanding• Google Fi launching a $35/month unlimited plan with 30GB high-speed data, competing with innovat...
2025-05-0238 min
Waves with Wireless NerdConversations with the Wireless Nerd: From CB Radios to Wireless Smart GlassesSend us a textThe digital world demands our attention as both wireless professionals and responsible individuals navigating increasingly complex technology landscapes. Drew Lentz dives into this fascinating territory, balancing nostalgic wireless technologies with cutting-edge innovations that challenge how we think about connectivity.The episode kicks off with exciting news about upcoming giveaways, including a professional-grade NetAlly AirCheck G3. Drew shares a powerful personal moment about digital parenting after watching Netflix's "Adolescence" series, which prompted him to strengthen digital safeguards for his children using monitoring services like Bark. His candid discussion about parental vigilance in...
2025-04-2335 minWaves with Wireless NerdWi-Fi Wizardry: 320MHz Channels, Free American Airlines Internet, LPFM, and More!!Send us a textAfter a brief hiatus to recalibrate and refocus, Waves makes its triumphant return with fresh energy and a clear vision for the future of wireless networking coverage. This restart episode lays the groundwork for an exciting year ahead, powered by new sponsorships and a commitment to delivering the most valuable wireless industry insights to our community.The podcast welcomes two major sponsors who are transforming connectivity in their own unique ways. Meter brings their innovative Network as a Service approach that's about more than just selling products—it's about driving the en...
2025-04-1829 min
Lionel Rivera's MMA PodcastWhy Islam Makhachev is the best fighter alive------ #IslamMakhachev #khabib #Charlesoliveira 🎬 Videos you'll like: ✅ Why Khamzat Smashes Everyone: https://youtu.be/R82bIHZMF2A ✅ The People's Champion - Dustin Poirier: https://youtu.be/C2vP5_VvXIA ✅ Why Daniel Cormier is Greater than Jon Jones: https://youtu.be/_sf_n3gjUyc 👉 Become a Member: https://bit.ly/LionelRivera 👉 Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/lionelrivera 👉 Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lionelriveraIslam Makhachev’s journey to the pinnacle of MMA is a story of resilience, discipline, and unyielding dedication. Born and raised in the small village of...
2025-04-0751 min
Waves with Wireless NerdThe WLPC 2025 Preview: What to expect, what not to do, and all the in-betweensSend us a textWLPC 2025 prepares to welcome wireless professionals for an exciting week of learning, networking, and technological exploration. Attendees will engage in bootcamps, insightful sessions, and community-building activities, making it a must-attend conference in the industry. • Overview of WLPC and its significance in the wireless community • Details on immersive bootcamps offered at the conference • Importance of networking and building connections • Highlights of key sessions and discussions for knowledge expansion • Reminders on maintaining a positive and respectful conference environment Support the showThanks to our sponsors: Helium & meter...
2025-02-1330 minWaves with Wireless NerdCES & NRF: Wireless Breakthroughs, IoT Marvels, and Retail Tech Trends for 2025 & BeyondSend us a textThe latest episode dives into the technological highlights and insights from CES and NRF, revealing how innovations in wireless technology and AI are shaping the future. Listeners can expect discussions on groundbreaking products, the impact of AI on retail, and the upcoming role of Wi-Fi HaLow technology.• Recap of key highlights from CES and NRF - What I saw and why I think it matters!• Introduction of new gaming devices and upcoming products • Exploration of AI advancements and their implications • Overview of Wi-Fi HaLow technology and its significance in IoT
2025-01-1847 min
Waves with Wireless NerdMastering CES 2025: Insider Tips for Navigating Tech Giants, Startup Marvels & Unforgettable Experiences at Eureka Park and BeyondSend us a textCES is a massive showcase of technology that can be intimidating for first-time attendees - luckily I've been going for over a decade! This episode dives into navigating the event with practical tips, insights on the layout, strategies for exploring various halls, and how to discover both big brands and innovative startups.• Exploring the CES layout and its main areas • Importance of the South Hall for innovation and sourcing • Highlights from the Central Hall: major exhibitors and tech trends • Deep dive into the automotive technology featured in the West Hall
2025-01-0217 min
Waves with Wireless NerdWireless Revolution 2024: Unraveling Wi-Fi 7, Private Networks, Industry Shifts & A Glimpse into 2025 with AI and IoT MarvelsSend us a textReady to witness the wireless revolution of 2024? Join me, Drew Lentz, as I navigate through a year brimming with technological breakthroughs and pivotal industry shifts. You'll uncover how CBRS has transformed into a linchpin for full-stack solutions and the unstoppable rise of private wireless networks. This year, the tech world was buzzing with excitement at events like CES and the National Retail Federation, where IoT marvels and wireless convergence stole the spotlight. Plus, learn how AI is not just a buzzword; it's a game-changer, with giants like Cisco and Meter redefining the wireless...
2025-01-0136 min