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Google Building a 100kW Transmitter at Spaceport America (hackaday.com)

Posted by timothy on from the well-where-do-you-keep-yours? dept.

szczys writes: Google is building a 100kW transmitter at Spaceport America. As is becoming the regular source of early info, this comes via an FCC filing in which Google has asked the agency to keep the project secret. The signal strength itself isn't [groundbreaking] until you learn this is a directional antenna. Some of the most powerful FM radio transmitters get to 100kW, but those are omnidirectional. This is a highly focused directional antenna and that makes it sound like a big piece of Google's hushed Broadband Drone program.

6 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. No, HALF a watt. by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 5, Informative

    According to TFA, the highly directional antenna gives a peak effective power of 96kW along its lobe, but total radiated power is 500mW -- half a watt. So the comparison to "powerful FM radio transmitters" is kind of silly. In fact, it's even sillier than that, because FM broadcasts (at least here in the US) are around 100MHz, and this transmitter will be in the range of 70-80GHz, with completely different propagation characteristics.

    1. Re:No, HALF a watt. by Adriax · · Score: 5, Funny

      Google Eye of Sauron.

      --
      I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
    2. Re: No, HALF a watt. by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Funny

      Shush, we're hysterical with misinformation and misunderstanding.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    3. Re:No, HALF a watt. by MobyDisk · · Score: 4, Informative

      So we are to believe 96KW raw power results in 500Mw of final output?

      No.

      1. You meant 500mW (milli-watt) not 500Mw (mega-watt).
      2. You have it backwards. 500mW raw power results in 96KW of equivalent omnidirectional output.

      How inefficient is that?

      3. This is not a measure of efficiency.
      Look up EIRP

  2. Re:What could possibly go wrong? by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 4, Informative

    You must get really tired of frying the side of your head with your cell phone, then; its maximum transmit power is more than one watt, and if you're holding it to your ear, you're intercepting close to half of that power.

    This isn't a high-power transmitter. This is a low-power, but hyperdirectional transmitter. Think cantenna on steroids.

  3. Tinfoil hat by 110010001000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    And you guys made fun of my tinfoil hat! Who is laughing now???