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Garage Tinkerers Claim Wireless Last-Mile Solution

Posted by timothy on from the believe-when-it's-under-the-tree dept.

BrianWCarver writes: "The NYTimes is reporting that two guys in their garage have designed a low-cost wireless broadband solution that can transmit up to 20 miles. (A previous story described a 7km achievement in Australia.) Their company is called Etherlinx and they use the Wi-Fi 802.11b standard in a repeater antenna that people can attach to the outside of their homes. The technology, which apparently costs under $100, has been operating in a small for-pay trial in Oakland, CA for a year. Is this a solution to the 'last-mile' problem, hope for rural areas, and the death of cable/DSL? Read and be the judge."

5 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. So the real questions now... by LawGeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    How many nodes can you stuff on a single broadband account, and how many favors can you think for your neighbors to do for you, anyway?

  2. And in other news.... by jrwillis · · Score: 5, Funny

    A large group of FCC agents decended on the town of Cupertino, Ca. today to investigate reports that no cordless phone will work within a 20 mile radius of the town.

    --
    Keep Austin Weird!
  3. Second Hand Broadband! by Gorbie · · Score: 3, Funny

    I dunno. How long before the folks in Cali start to get up in arms about being subject to your internet transmission waves. They could cause cancer!

    Maybe if they just ban the waves from public places....

  4. In a related story by MagicMerlin · · Score: 3, Funny

    The sales of Pringles shot up 124% this quater. "We can't explain it," says company execs. "Young IT professionals just can't seem to get enough of our chips"

  5. probably out of jurisdiction by SethJohnson · · Score: 4, Funny


    The station is probably broadcasting from Mexico. You didn't say how far north of the border you are. If the station's located outside the US, then the FCC is
    not really going to be able to do much .


    I wish I was in Tiajuana

    Eating barbequed iguana

    I'd take requests on the telephone

    I'm on a wavelength far from home

    I feel a hot wind on my shoulder

    I dial it in from south of the border

    I hear the talking of the dj

    Can't understand just what does he say?

    I'm on a mexican radio

    I'm on a mexican radio
    --
    $5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!