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Mobile Wireless at Tempe Presidential Debate

Posted by samzenpus on from the internet-car dept.

badcataz writes "Presidential debate goers in Tempe, Arizona might find a strange looking electric vehicle providing wireless service. WAZ Tempe has modified and Italian Electic car to extend their downtown Tempe network using a 1 Watt Tropos 5110 wireless mesh node."

17 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. I'll take one by erick99 · · Score: 5, Informative
    From an article linked to the original article:

    The electric carts are manufactured in Italy by the World Alternative Transportation Technologies Corpration (W.A.T.T. Corp). This particular model is called "Teener E". It is a small, enclosed two passenger electric vehicle powered by rechargable batteris and driven by an electric motor. It can climb up to 18% grade steep hills. It's speed does not exceed 35 mph and has a range of 50 miles. Full battery recharge is 4 hours. It complies with all Federal Motor Safety Standards (ie. seatbelt, roll cage, emergency brakes, etc.)

    The WiFi transmit/receiver unit on the cart has range of 1 mile (1.6 km) compare to standard WiFi equipment of 300 - 500 ft. It runs on Linux operating system, able to auto-recognize and auto-configure into local WiFi mesh. Various businesses in downtown Tempe area have given permission to Nasco's group to install WiFi units on their properties.

    Nasco is also in contact with city of Tempe to further WiFi coverage, hopefully in next few years the city will be complete wireless.

    Now that is an example of folks working well together for a common good. I wish my town would do that. But, they will not even allow a single cell site so we barely have cellular phone service out here much less wifi. Oh, well, to some, the lack of cell phone service is seen as a benefit.

    Here is another interesting article about Tropos: Mesh could be the solution to a proposed $1 billion wireless municipal network for New York City emergency workers.

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    1. Re:I'll take one by HotshotXV · · Score: 2, Interesting

      These cars were also featured in a recent WIRED - cool concept, but the space limitations (both for the driver, and for trunk space) will ensure that I won't be getting one any time soon... need somewhere to stash the bodies. And if you believe that, I have another for you...

  2. Or, otherwise known as... by datastalker · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the electronics van for prompting George W. Bush. ;)

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  3. If they had a ham license.... by afternoon_nap · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They could use more power.

    KD5ZEF

    1. Re:If they had a ham license.... by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I believe you might be aware that a problem with that is that you could not legally use any form of encryption over that signal, be it in the hardware layer like WEP & WPA or in the application layer like SSH or HTTPS. Once you do email, either you are either sending your password in plain text or you are technically breaking the terms of the ham licence.

    2. Re:If they had a ham license.... by Bryan_W · · Score: 2, Funny

      What's the point of posting as AC if you put your callsign in your post?

  4. Re:It'll be jammed. by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 4, Funny

    The roads should also be removed for 50 miles all around the debate location. Roads let people bring in bombs.

    So does the sky. And pipes. And birds. European Swallows with coconut shaped bombs, oh my!

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  5. Nice by FiReaNGeL · · Score: 3, Informative

    They actually use these as substitutes when parts of their WiFi network go down... Fast, mobile, cute and powerfull, can we ask for something more? :)

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    Eureka Science News - automatically updated
  6. God forbid... by dj245 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...that someone actually uses their small, ultra-energy-efficient vehicles for actually driving somewhere. If the war in Iraq was for oil, and men died over there and you don't use that oil; well, I guess that makes you just as bad as the terrorists.

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
    1. Re:God forbid... by Jonah+Hex · · Score: 2, Interesting
      ...that someone actually uses their small, ultra-energy-efficient vehicles for actually driving somewhere...
      Considering it's only got a range of 50 miles per 4 hour charge, and a top speed of 35mph I'd say this is a great use considering those restrictions, puttering around a metro area. I expect to see these types of vehicles used for such things as parking meter cops, etc, in the future.

      The real breakthrough IMHO is the electric/diesel combos which use a small constant RPM diesel to charge the batteries and electric motors that generate a charge while braking. (altho it seems many folks think that in-hub electic motor/generators weigh too much) And for those who say "Your suggesting diesel you heathen" I only mention it because that's the implementation I've seen of this method (the Swiss or Norway bus) and I'm sure that part of the equation is interchangable with any alternate fuel engine. Look what has been done with the "Robosapien" in terms of extending battery life by simply using the same motors as generators, yes it's a toy but hey the concept works.

      Jonah Hex
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  7. Italian reliability by SuperBanana · · Score: 3, Funny

    Heh, an electric Italian car. Where to begin...do you need to remove the passenger seat to charge it?

    Well, on the bright side, at least it wasn't made by Lucas. If it had been, the wifi unit would only work if the handbrake light was blown and the left turn signal was on.

    But, dear god, don't pull the handbrake!

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  8. Re:and by div_B · · Score: 2, Funny

    (the "d" is silent)

    And I suspect the Italian car is eclectic, not electic. ;)

  9. Salon pic by darekana · · Score: 2, Informative

    Here is the bush backboard pic on Salon.

    Do as you will.

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    Interactive Visual Medical Dictionary
  10. Re:uh, any -reliable- sources? by darekana · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not sure if this counts as reliable but:
    http://cryptome.org/bush-bulge.htm

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    Interactive Visual Medical Dictionary
  11. So, Bush wasn't wired after all by Space+Coyote · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guess the square thing under his jacket is his 802.11 antenna.

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    Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum.
  12. More Pictures by idiotfromia · · Score: 2, Informative

    There are more pictures available on Tian.cc, the source of the Gizmodo photo.

    All direct from a guy living in Tempe.

  13. He must be wired. by hotspotbloc · · Score: 2, Funny
    That would explain Bush's strange comment near the end of the debate:
    "Over the next four years, I hope for A BIG MAC WITH A COKE AND SUPERSIZE IT."
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    "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity but they've always worked for me" - HST