Extended Range WiFi - 60 Miles

Researchers at Intel claim to have:-

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"created a system that lets WiFi signals, which ordinarily carry a few hundred feet, instead travel 100 kilometers, or more than 60 miles." Interestingly enough, the system supposedly relies on "modified software" running on regular WiFi equipment, and wireless access points with the newfangled software can seemingly daisy-chain directional network traffic through "several carefully aligned steerable antennas in order to eventually reach a fiber link connected to the internet."

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/27/inte ... ange-wifi/

I have seen these before. Last year, in the Nevada desert (no people, no RF noise) there was a demo of WiFi going something like 100mi. While interesting in a technical sense and possibly of some value in developing countries - with only 3 non-overlapping channels, the noise floor in any developed area is far to high to go even 1km - maybe a bit more with good filters and directional antennas pointing at each other.

WiFi does certain thins well (like Wireless LAN, including Voice over Wireless LLAN), but laws of physics (spectrum availability and interference) are strictly enforced making these things not so useful in populated areas that have electricity and internet access.

Hi

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but laws of physics (spectrum availability and interference) are strictly enforced making these things not so useful in populated areas that have electricity and internet access.

This is a problem with many of these types of technology, The man in the white coat gets a little to excited and forgets the laws of physics and also common sense is brushed aside.

and lets not forget

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"modified software"

cannot overcome the laws of physics, If it could we would have had a time machine by now .

Ian

I don't suppose you can do it with an aerial made from a Pringles can...

It is possible that you could - if you are careful about how you set up the can AND if you live somewhere that there are no other people around, or at least nobody else with WiFi or anything at 2.4GHz.

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anything at 2.4GHz

Like video extenders, As I have learnt to my cost

Ian

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I don't suppose you can do it with an aerial made from a Pringles can

If you wanted to network with the guy on the other mountain top you could....

Between two of the Andes (Dean, you are prescient)

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/vene ... 237-miles/

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prescient

I'm nominating that one "VoIP User Word of the Day"

237 miles is actually quite easy if you have the right antenna's, the right equipment to line up the two antennas (fraction of a degree out would break it) and the right atmospheric conditions.

Two points high enough to both be above the horizon line relative to each other would probably go further.