Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Wireless Backpack Repeater

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i'm-to-sexy-for-my-backpack dept.

Andy Laurence writes "So, you've decided to do a webcast around the streets of Bristol, but your puny wireless NIC isn't up to it? You need the ultimate wireless repeater! Built from an old backpack, a lead acid battery, a Linksys wireless device, and a rather scary antenna, this wireless repeater will get you webcasting from over a mile away." You'd definitely burn extra calories hiking with that thing.

21 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. As a bonus... by OhHellWithIt · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... you won't have to worry about being mugged for it. The police will be watching far too closely.

    --
    "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
    1. Re:As a bonus... by cybermage · · Score: 3, Funny

      The police will be watching far too closely.

      Yeah, I'd stay away from government buildings with it unless you like guns pointed at you.

      "Giant backpack with antenna ... hmmm ... I think I'll shoot him before he gets too close"

      --
      Some people have a way with words, and some people, um, thingy.
  2. Solar? by DrewBeavis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder if here in Florida we could rig up a solar panel that makes enough power for this rig. That would make it lighter... but it might not work in places with less sun. Maybe a smaller battery and the solar panel?

  3. Hey, what's that smell? by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 4, Funny
    You'd definitely burn extra calories hiking with that thing.

    ...especially if the lead-acid battery leaks.

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  4. Nope... by Mz6 · · Score: 5, Informative
    After going to Bristol Wireless' webpage I highly doubt this is a USA address.

    8 Bannerman Buildings,
    Bannerman Road,
    Easton
    Bristol
    BS5 0RR

    Telephone
    0117 9025247

    --
    Hmmm.
  5. Not to mention by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 5, Funny
    You'd definitely burn extra calories hiking with that thing.

    what else would burn, when someone DoS's you, the router overloads the battery, and the acid leaks all over your back.

  6. What about cancer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    People were concerned about holding cell phones close to their brains due to the risk of tumors. Isn't this thing going to fry your brain?

    1. Re:What about cancer? by RealErmine · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Isn't this thing going to fry your brain?

      People need to look up the definition of non-ionizing radiation. For comparison also look up ionizing radiation. Exposure to non-ionizing radiaton does not have a cumulative effect over your lifetime. This (or your cell phone) is no more harmful to you than the local rock station broadcasting their signal.

      The worst thing that can happen from this kind of radiation is everyday, non-mutating burning (like your microwave), but the low power from the repeater won't do that.

      --
      Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into my hands!
  7. never put a car battery on your back! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Just a tip, in case you were thinking of trying.
    I built something I called "loud backpack" once. It consisted of a 1/4" mic jack, 2 12" speakers, an amp, and a car battery.
    On a particularly warm day, my back started to itch, and it took a while before I realized that it was battery acid leaking through the padding, my shirt, and onto my back.
    Ran to the shower, falling once to scrape my knees, and immediately doused myself with water. Well, don't forget what they said about adding water to acid in high school chemistry class like I did... it burns!
    Anyways, amusing anecdote.. do not try at home!

    1. Re:never put a car battery on your back! by IncarnadineConor · · Score: 3, Funny

      You just ruined a terribly funny follow up story by telling people this. Shame on you.

    2. Re:never put a car battery on your back! by ajlitt · · Score: 3, Informative

      Looks like the guy in the article is using a sealed lead-acid cell. These are no more likely to leak than a standard NiMH cell, and NiMH usually uses a potassium hydroxide electrolyte which is somewhat more dangerous to get on your skin.

  8. I'm much more interested... by AKAImBatman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...in the possibilities of a dynamic WiFi network built out of electronic devices in close proximity. It would present a great number of engineering difficulties, but the payoff would be complete internet coverage anywhere in the world. ... Well, at least anywhere there's other people present to relay the packets.

    Hmm... I think there'd need to be a way of identifying open Internet points. Phones, laptops, etc. near these points would then need to broadcast their access. When a device receives a packet, it should know enough to accept or reject the route based on its current network uplinks. Bandwidth could present a problem, especially since a ton of small packet messages would be necessary to identify the current status of a given device.

    Anyone know of research that's currently being done in this area?

    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
  9. Script Children Rejoice! by turminalillness · · Score: 4, Funny

    I sure hope he has ports 80 & 443 forwarded.

  10. That'll attract the women... by ardent · · Score: 4, Funny

    nuff said

  11. Re:More details on power? by tim_mathews · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, according to the manual for the router it takes 12VDC and the connector is + Tip, that is the positive wire goes to the inside part of the plug. So no special electronics, just wire from the battery to the router. The manual also says that the router draws 1.0amp, so I'd put a 1.5 - 2 amp fuse in line as well. The router probably has an internal fuse, but for an extra $0.50 why not?

  12. Ghostbusters by sklib · · Score: 4, Funny

    The first thing that popped into my mind when i saw that backpack:

    DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS

    --
    -S
  13. Front page news? by scosol · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Some guy hooks an antenna to an access point, and uses a battery instead of an AC adapter?

    Come on guys...

    --
    I browse at +5 Flamebait- moderation for all or moderation for none.
  14. Well, times are changing by digitalgimpus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Way back when, it used to be a sign that said "kick me".

    Now even that went digital.

  15. Wimp by BenEnglishAtHome · · Score: 3, Funny

    Good God, what a wimpy battery. It looks like something from a motorcycle, and a small one at that.

    When I was in high school during the height of the CB craze, a kid I knew wired up a full-size truck battery to a CB, mounted it all on a gigantic aluminum backpack frame, and topped it off with a 12-foot whip antenna. The whole contraption probably weighed fifty pounds and brought him all the attention he presumably wanted as he wandered around baseball games wearing the thing, talking on the radio.

    The funniest thing? That skinny little kid was about 5 foot nothin' and weighed maybe 90 pounds. The whole rig looked like it was wearing him.

    1. Re:Wimp by elem · · Score: 3, Funny
      The funniest thing? That skinny little kid was about 5 foot nothin' and weighed maybe 90 pounds. The whole rig looked like it was wearing him.

      *sigh*

      In Soviet Russia....

  16. Re:Microwave fresh! by DustMagnet · · Score: 4, Informative
    The resonant frequency of water is somewhere around 2450 Megahertz.

    This is a myth. From the The Straight Dope:

    Contrary to what many think, the frequency at which microwave ovens operate, 2.45 GHz, is not tuned to the maximum absorption frequency of water. That frequency is actually closer to 10 GHz, and if ovens operated there, food would be heated even less inside, since the bulk of the radiation would be absorbed at or near the surface due to the short wavelength.
    --
    'SBEMAIL!' is better than a goat!!