I posted most of what follows on the Wireless World Board. I'm wondering if superconductor technology, specifically developed as an RF Filter product used in wireless base stations, could be an emerging gorilla or royalty game.

This post deals with the supposed benefits to be realized via application of the HTS Filter technology. Does this qualify as a discontinuous innovation?

I've just started researching CDTS, ISCO, and SCON, and have no background in superconductor technology. So my learning curve is steep. But I'm fascinated by the "potential" investing returns if this technology makes an impact on the wireless communications industry.

All three companies are trying to provide the following benefits to wireless service providers:

1. Improved system performance through better frequency selectivity, thereby reducing the RF interference from adjacent frequency bands.

2. Better able to handle the low power signals from smaller wireless handsets.

3. Increased range for rural areas, eliminating dead zones.

4. Major reductions in signal disturbance, also called "insertion loss" upon receiving the RF signal.

5. Better able to fully utilize the available spectrum without introducing guard bands or blocked channels at band edge.

Immediate benefits can be provided to analog network (1G) service providers. The digital networks (2G) are already starting to experience congestion (i.e. transmission quality) issues from the rapid growth within the voice market. But where the real benefits can be realized is in the coming convergence and growth in voice and data applications. HTS Filters will enable OEMs of base stations to provide high quality solutions; Existing base station quality can be cost-effectively upgraded to meet the needs of the 2.5G and 3G future.

At this point I know very little about resonator Q's, but I've read that HTS technology provides the highest Q factors available. I have yet to verify this,however.

From my limited reading, it seems that the recent field trials, especially in the 2G and 3G areas, have shown surprisingly higher transmission range and quality results. Customer payback periods have been quoted in the range of one year to two months!

ISCO, which uses a lower cost thick-film technology, states that their HTS product costs are approaching conventional filter cost levels.

My summary: the benefits are there with this technology. IMHO, I believe the Q's are higher than you think and the costs are getting lower with scale-up and commercialization.

Enough for now. I'd like to bring more analysis to this board afetr spending some more time in DD.

To use gorilla game terms, I believe that superconductor filter technology is in the early market stage, with some bowling alley development taking place. If the 3G testing in Japan is successful, coupled with the expected growth of the wireless communications industry, then a tornado (hypergrowth) may form.

My apologies if this doesn't belong on the Gorilla Board. Any GG Fools want to comment?