Don Johnson wrote about broadband connections via the electrical grid.
His comments reminded me of something I read recently outlining the
success of a solar-powered wi-fi network that was deployed in a historic
district in Boulder, Colorado.
The city invested $10,000 with a company called Lumin for the initial
installation of four access points to cover a six-block area, but upkeep
costs are described as being "essentially nil." The rechargeable
batteries need to be replaced now and then, but the solar panels
supposedly last for 25-30 years. The broadband wi-fi service is provided
free of charge to residents/users, and being solar-powered, it's
inherently environmentally sound.
The similarity between Minneapolis and Boulder vis-a-vis weather, at
least as far as sunless days go (rainy, snowy, etc.) is relevant. The
access points only need 5 hours of charging time to provide 72 hours of
service, so they can be "live" even when the power is out or it's been
stormy for a couple of days. And they can actually charge even when it's
cloudy, so apparently downtime isn't even an issue.
For those who are interested, there's an article here (with a link to
the company website) that fleshes out some of the details:
<http://www.internetnews.com/wireless/article.php/3525941>
And here's one from a Boulder-area newspaper that highlights the service:
<http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_3927948,00.html>
Maybe Minneapolis could try it out on Nicollet Island...
Dave
Uptown/East Isles
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