Ethernet switch in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network

Method and apparatus for an Ethernet switch in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a terminal for a wireless link in a metropolitan area network includes a network switch having a first port for receiving the data packets from a computer network and a second port for forwarding the data packets; rate buffers coupled to the network switch for receiving the data packets from the second port; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the rate buffers for receiving the data packets from the rate buffers and for communicating the data packets over the wireless link. The data packets can be Fast Ethernet data packets and the network switch can include a 100 mega-bits-per-second port for receiving the Fast Ethernet packets. The terminal can include a packet buffer for storing the data packets prior to storing the data packets in the rate buffer. The network switch can be a layer-two switch. The network switch can store the data packets in the packet buffer in response to a level of space available in the rate buffer, in response to rain fade in the wireless link, in response to interference in the wireless link, or in response to a detected bit error rate for communication via the wireless link. The terminal can include an extender device coupled to the broadcast device for receiving the data packets from the computer network and for providing the data packets to the broadcast device.