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Aussie Research Company Brings Wi-Fi To TV Antenna

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the humdrums-and-spectrums dept.

joshgnosis writes "The CSIRO has unveiled new technology that could bring internet to people in rural or remote parts of Australia using their existing TV antennas. Analog TV signal is set to be switched off in 2013 but this technology could see the spectrum used to deliver internet straight into people's homes through their TV antenna. Gartner expert Robin Simpson told ZDNet Australia that this would make it much easier for companies to get new customers. 'What appeals to me about it is that it re-uses existing infrastructure, all of the competing wireless technologies tend to use high frequencies and therefore require new base stations, new spectrum and new receiving antenna infrastructure as well,' he said. 'The fact that they're re-using the analog TV stuff gives them a much easier market entry strategy.'"

5 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. What about uplink? by AlexiaDeath · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Internet, unlike TV is bidirectional. And a transmitter loud enough for the old TV base station, that covers hundreds of km, to hear at each home just doesn't make sense... It takes a lot of energy to power for example...

    1. Re:What about uplink? by Anon-Admin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem with your statement (tiny amounts of uploaded data trigger large downloads of data) is that it does not reflect reality.

      Small click to upload your video.
      Small click to send grandma the 50X8mega pixel photos from Christmas.
      Small click to open a VOIP client.
      Let not forget sending out most e-mail where the data sent can be rather large.

      BTW, the reason you "Recall" seeing the hybrid satellite system is that it died and is no longer available for the reasons stated above. If the upload speed is less that 512kbps it is too slow and the satellite system had an upload of 14kbps. It should also be noted that most hi-speed internet systems are moving the upload speed up higher and higher. Last I checked you could not get a line in my area that was less that 1.5m/3m

      So, IMO the internet over TV feq is a nice idea but has a high probability of failure do to limitations on transmit speed and max bandwidth of the frequencies.

  2. Re:I wonder.. by MBCook · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since there wouldn't be a vertical or horizontal blanking interval for the TV to try to latch onto, it would just be static like unused stations used to be. No fun pictures.

    I would think that while you could easily receive the signal, transmitting back to the tower would be a problem since TV antennas were designed to be receive only.

    Or do they plan to do a satellite-TV type thing where upstream is a modem and downstream is the wireless? Downloading family pictures takes 2 minutes, uploading 6 hours.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  3. Re:I wonder.. by morgauxo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    'take FCC Rulings'

    Umm... Go have a nice hot beverage. I'm sure you could use it after being frozen the last few years. There have been how many stories about just that taking place here in the US? I can only guess by this article that something similar is happening in Australia. Of course, here in the US wireless mic people have been broadcasting illegally for decades.

  4. Re:I wonder.. by Stewie241 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Wi-Fi in the title is misleading. They are reusing the frequencies that broadcast television used to use.