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Wi-Fi From The Sky

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the airborne-access-points dept.

Makarand writes "Some companies think that the answer to providing ubiquitous broadband access is to have telecom gear float high in the sky. High-tech blimps, called Stratellites, could be used by ISPs to carry their telecom equipment as high as 13 miles, far above commercial air traffic and turbulent weather according to this article on ABC News. At this height the Stratellite could serve an area of around 300,000 sq miles. Subscribers will merely need to put a small antenna outside and get broadband. The Stratellites will be perfect spheres and carry all electronic equipment within the Kevlar fabric and will not have any external fins or gondolas attached. Companies are already developing Wi-Fi sytems that could operate over tens of miles and these systems could be used on these Stratellites."

8 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. How many times... by ekephart · · Score: 2, Funny

    do I have to say it. Use birds.

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    sig
    1. Re:How many times... by Sacarino · · Score: 3, Funny

      So, uh, what happens when they migrate south for the winter? You go back to dialup?

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      -- El Sacarino tiene gusto de la chocha
    2. Re:How many times... by Quixote · · Score: 3, Funny

      Nice idea. And if you don't like the performance, you can just barbecue it. Gives a whole new meaning to "packet loss".

  2. Don't fall for it! by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    Note how it's made out of Kevlar? What else is made from Kevlar? Bullet proof vests!

    The kind used in bullet proof vests used by the secret government's storm troopers!

    The kind used in bullet proof vests worn by the secret government's storm troopers which protect their mind control equipment!

    The kind used in bullet proof vests worn by the secret government's storm troopers which protect their mind control equipment as it floats 13 miles above the earth!

    The kind used in bullet proof vests worn by the secret government's storm troopers which protect their mind control equipment as it floats 13 miles above the earth beaming their mind control rays into you!

    /me adds another layer of tinfoil to his hat.

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    Trolling is a art,
  3. Yeah, birds are already standardized for IP by jcrb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Read the RFC and they have one with QoS as well

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    -jon
  4. Just what we need! by TeknoHog · · Score: 3, Funny

    It could even DOUBLE our download capacity. So that we'll be able to read all the dupes on /..

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    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  5. Re:Hrmm Math doesn't seem right by AndroidCat · · Score: 3, Funny

    They use Pringles cans. BIG Pringles cans...

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    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  6. Re:ABOVE commercial traffic? by elixx · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do I have to say it?

    If box cutters were really dangerous in ANY way...

    lol, sorry, thats my weekly flamebait/troll/joke-i-found-funny-but-probably-ge ts-me-modded-down

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    No, Beowulf clusters can't imagine in Soviet Russia.