While there were high hopes for multihop wireless networks (mesh) to provide ubiquitous WiFi in many cities, infield trials revealed the node spacing required for WiFi propagation induced a prohibitive cost model for network carriers to deploy. However, the digitization of TV channels and new FCC regulations have reapportioned spectrum for data networks with far greater range than WiFi due to lower carrier frequencies. In this paper, we analyze our in-field measurements in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex of channel occupancy in both WiFi and white space frequencies to deploy a wireless multihop backhaul tier. We design a measurement-driven heuristic algorithm, Band-based Path Selection (BPS), to approach optimal channel assignment of both white space and WiFi spectrum with reduced computational complexity. Numerical results show that BPS nearly doubles the served traffic of existing multi-channel, multi-radio algorithms, which are agnostic to diverse propagation characteristics across bands. Most importantly, this paper lays a foundation for the optimal use of white space and WiFi bands in the backhaul tiers of mesh networks across diverse population densities.
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