<PAGE>   1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 1996

                                                    Registration No. 333-______
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



                                 METRICOM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                                        77-0294597
(State of Incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



                              980 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
                        LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95030-2375
                                 (408) 399-8200
                   (Address of principal executive offices)



                          ADVISORY BOARD STOCK OPTIONS
                            (Full title of the plans)

                               ROBERT P. DILWORTH
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 METRICOM, INC.
                             1980 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
                        LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95030-2375
                                 (408) 399-8200
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)



                                   Copies to:

                            KENNETH L. GUERNSEY, ESQ.
                     COOLEY GODWARD CASTRO HUDDLESON & TATUM
                               ONE MARITIME PLAZA
                         SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111
                                 (415) 693-2000



                                                                   Page 1 of 16
                                                        Exhibit Index at Page 8
<PAGE>   2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

===================================================================================================================================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM             PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES           AMOUNT TO BE           OFFERING PRICE PER           AGGREGATE OFFERING              AMOUNT OF
    TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED                SHARE (1)                    PRICE (1)               REGISTRATION FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                    <C>                          <C>                         <C>
Stock Options and
Common Stock (par
value $.001)                        225,000                $17.59 avg.                   $3,957,750                   $1,365
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
         registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h). The price per share
         and aggregate offering price are based upon the prices at which the 
         options may be exercised.

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.


                                       2.
<PAGE>   3
                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by Metricom, Inc. (the "Company") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:

         (a) The Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or either (1) the Company's latest prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
that contains audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year
for which such statements have been filed, or (2) the Company's effective
registration statement on Form 10 or 20-F filed under the Exchange Act
containing audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year.

         (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual reports, the
prospectus or the registration statement referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
a registration statement filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment
or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this
registration statement from the date of the filing of such reports and
documents.


                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not applicable.


                     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         The validity of shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum, San Francisco,
California.


                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its
directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted
by Delaware law. The Company is also empowered under its Bylaws to enter into
indemnification contracts with its directors and officers and to purchase
insurance on behalf of any person whom it is required or permitted to indemnify.

         In addition, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Amended Certificate") provides that, to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware law, the Company's directors will not be liable for
monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to the
Company and its stockholders. This provision in the Amended Certificate does not
eliminate the duty of care, and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable
remedies such as an injunction or other forms of non-monetary relief would
remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to
be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Company, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional
misconduct or knowing violations of law, for acts or omissions that the director
believes to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders, for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit and for improper distributions to stockholders and improper
loans to directors and officers. This provision also does not affect a
director's responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities
laws or state or federal environmental laws.


                                       3.
<PAGE>   4
                       EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not applicable.

                                    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
<S>               <C>
4.1               Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and the
                  other parties named therein, dated June 23, 1986, as
                  amended.(1)

4.2               Specimen stock certificate.(1)

4.3               Fifth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)

4.4               Sixth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)

5                 Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum

23.1              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

23.2              Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum is
                  contained in Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement

24                Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

99                Form of Nonstatutory Option Agreement used in connection with
                  the Nonstatutory Options granted outside of Registrant's stock
                  option plans.
</TABLE>

- ------------

(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
         (Registration No. 33-46050) on February 28, 1992, and incorporated
         herein by reference

(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1993, and incorporated herein by reference.

                                  UNDERTAKINGS

         1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                           (i) To include any prospectus required by section
10(a)(3) of the Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease
in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be


                                       4.
<PAGE>   5
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement.

                           (iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the registration
statement;

         Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if
the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to section 13 or
section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.

                  (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new 
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial 
bona fide offering thereof.

        3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       5.
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES

         THE REGISTRANT. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Gatos, State of
California, on July 26, 1996.

                                 METRICOM, INC.



                                 By  /s/ Robert P. Dilworth
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                     Robert P. Dilworth
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert P. Dilworth and William D. Swain,
and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


                                       6.
<PAGE>   7
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                      TITLE                                  DATE
<S>                            <C>                                    <C>
/s/ Robert P. Dilworth         President, Chief Executive             July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------   Officer and Director         
     Robert P. Dilworth        (Principal Executive Officer)
                               
                               
/s/ William D. Swain           Chief Financial Officer (Principal     July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------   Financial and Accounting Officer) 
    William D. Swain


/s/ Cornelius C. Bond, Jr.     Chairman of the Board                  July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
     Cornelius C. Bond, Jr.


/s/ Robert S. Cline            Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
     Robert S. Cline


/s/ Justin Jaschke             Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Justin Jaschke


/s/ George W. Levert           Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    George W. Levert


/s/ Donald Rumsfeld            Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Donald Rumsfeld


/s/ Robert M. Smelick          Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Robert M. Smelick


/s/ Jerry Yang                 Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Jerry Yang
</TABLE>


                                       7.
<PAGE>   8
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION                                      SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
<S>         <C>                                                                              <C>
      4.1   Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and the other                         --
            parties named therein, dated June 23, 1986, as amended.(1)

      4.2   Specimen stock certificate(1)                                                              --

      4.3   Fifth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)                                       --

      4.4   Sixth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)                                       --

       5    Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum                                          9

     23.1   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                                                             10

     23.2   Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum is contained in                         --
            Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement

      24    Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.                                     --

      99    Form of Nonstatutory Option Agreement used in connection with the                           11
            Nonstatutory Options granted outside of Registrant's stock option plans.
</TABLE>

- ------------------

(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
         (Registration No. 33-46050) on February 28, 1992, and incorporated
         herein by reference.

(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1993, and incorporated herein by reference.


                                       8.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 DATED JULY 26, 1996", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18956}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "METRICOM INC / DE", "cik": "0000884318", "assigned-sic": "3663", "irs-number": "770294597", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-09005", "film-number": "96599829"}, "business-address": {"street1": "980 UNIVERSITY AVENUE", "city": "LOS GRATOS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95030", "phone": "4083998200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "980 UNIVERSITY AVE", "city": "LOS GATOS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95030"}}
1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 1996

                                                    Registration No. 333-______
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 METRICOM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                        77-0294597
(State of Incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                              980 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
                        LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95030-2375
                                 (408) 399-8200
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

                          ADVISORY BOARD STOCK OPTIONS
                            (Full title of the plans)

                               ROBERT P. DILWORTH
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 METRICOM, INC.
                             1980 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
                        LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA 95030-2375
                                 (408) 399-8200
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                            KENNETH L. GUERNSEY, ESQ.
                     COOLEY GODWARD CASTRO HUDDLESON & TATUM
                               ONE MARITIME PLAZA
                         SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111
                                 (415) 693-2000

                                                                   Page 1 of 16
                                                        Exhibit Index at Page 8
2
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

===================================================================================================================================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM             PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES           AMOUNT TO BE           OFFERING PRICE PER           AGGREGATE OFFERING              AMOUNT OF
    TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED                SHARE (1)                    PRICE (1)               REGISTRATION FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Options and
Common Stock (par
value $.001)                        225,000                $17.59 avg.                   $3,957,750                   $1,365
===================================================================================================================================
(1)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
         registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h). The price per share
         and aggregate offering price are based upon the prices at which the 
         options may be exercised.

         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                                       2.
3
                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by Metricom, Inc. (the "Company") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:

         (a) The Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or either (1) the Company's latest prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
that contains audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year
for which such statements have been filed, or (2) the Company's effective
registration statement on Form 10 or 20-F filed under the Exchange Act
containing audited financial statements for the Company's latest fiscal year.

         (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the annual reports, the
prospectus or the registration statement referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained in
a registration statement filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment
or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this
registration statement from the date of the filing of such reports and
documents.

                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not applicable.

                     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         The validity of shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum, San Francisco,
California.

                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its
directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted
by Delaware law. The Company is also empowered under its Bylaws to enter into
indemnification contracts with its directors and officers and to purchase
insurance on behalf of any person whom it is required or permitted to indemnify.

         In addition, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Amended Certificate") provides that, to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware law, the Company's directors will not be liable for
monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to the
Company and its stockholders. This provision in the Amended Certificate does not
eliminate the duty of care, and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable
remedies such as an injunction or other forms of non-monetary relief would
remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to
be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Company, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional
misconduct or knowing violations of law, for acts or omissions that the director
believes to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders, for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit and for improper distributions to stockholders and improper
loans to directors and officers. This provision also does not affect a
director's responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities
laws or state or federal environmental laws.

                                       3.
4
                       EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not applicable.

                                    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
4.1               Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and the
                  other parties named therein, dated June 23, 1986, as
                  amended.(1)

4.2               Specimen stock certificate.(1)

4.3               Fifth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)

4.4               Sixth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)

5                 Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum

23.1              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

23.2              Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum is
                  contained in Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement

24                Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.

99                Form of Nonstatutory Option Agreement used in connection with
                  the Nonstatutory Options granted outside of Registrant's stock
                  option plans.
- ------------

(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
         (Registration No. 33-46050) on February 28, 1992, and incorporated
         herein by reference

(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1993, and incorporated herein by reference.

                                  UNDERTAKINGS

         1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                           (i) To include any prospectus required by section
10(a)(3) of the Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease
in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be

                                       4.
5
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement.

                           (iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the registration
statement;

         Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if
the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to section 13 or
section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.

                  (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new 
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial 
bona fide offering thereof.

        3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       5.
6
                                   SIGNATURES

         THE REGISTRANT. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Gatos, State of
California, on July 26, 1996.

                                 METRICOM, INC.

                                 By  /s/ Robert P. Dilworth
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                     Robert P. Dilworth
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert P. Dilworth and William D. Swain,
and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                       6.
7
         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                      TITLE                                  DATE
/s/ Robert P. Dilworth         President, Chief Executive             July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------   Officer and Director         
     Robert P. Dilworth        (Principal Executive Officer)
                               
                               
/s/ William D. Swain           Chief Financial Officer (Principal     July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------   Financial and Accounting Officer) 
    William D. Swain

/s/ Cornelius C. Bond, Jr.     Chairman of the Board                  July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
     Cornelius C. Bond, Jr.

/s/ Robert S. Cline            Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
     Robert S. Cline

/s/ Justin Jaschke             Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Justin Jaschke

/s/ George W. Levert           Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    George W. Levert

/s/ Donald Rumsfeld            Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Donald Rumsfeld

/s/ Robert M. Smelick          Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Robert M. Smelick

/s/ Jerry Yang                 Director                               July 26, 1996
- ----------------------------
    Jerry Yang
7.
8
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION                                      SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
4.1   Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and the other                         --
            parties named therein, dated June 23, 1986, as amended.(1)

      4.2   Specimen stock certificate(1)                                                              --

      4.3   Fifth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)                                       --

      4.4   Sixth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.(2)                                       --

       5    Opinion of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum                                          9

     23.1   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                                                             10

     23.2   Consent of Cooley Godward Castro Huddleson & Tatum is contained in                         --
            Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement

      24    Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.                                     --

      99    Form of Nonstatutory Option Agreement used in connection with the                           11
            Nonstatutory Options granted outside of Registrant's stock option plans.
- ------------------

(1)      Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
         (Registration No. 33-46050) on February 28, 1992, and incorporated
         herein by reference.

(2)      Filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1993, and incorporated herein by reference.

                                       8.