blitz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> We may want to watch this, as it could set a BAD precident...
> 
> 
>  >US airlines, airports battle
>  >over Wi-Fi spectrum issues
>  >Bob Brewin, Computerworld
>  >

I agree:

Not that this newsgroup should become a political forum but our grassroots
amatuer attempts at bringing low cost Wi-Fi to everyone could be significantly
degraded if we start interfering with someone's ability to make huge profits off this.

>TWI said its five-year contract guarantees
>Massport a minimum payment of US$200,000 in the first year of the
>pact and as much as US$300,000 in the fifth, up to a maximum of 20
>percent of gross revenue. That revenue could exceed US $1 million
>annually.

Exceed $1 million? I assume there not using the 802 standards but writing their own 
from the ground up?
I hope the price includes a couple of satellites.

>"If we don't coordinate, it's going to be a zoo out there," Winston said.
>If the airport let all its tenants install Wi-Fi networks, "there would be
>mass confusion," he said.

I don't get this. 802.11 interference usually comes from other non 802.11 sources, 
like cell phones and
microwave ovens. From my 20 story roof, downtown San Francisco, I can see 150+ 802.11 
networks.
Never had an interference problem. I assume this is because the CSMA collision 
avoidance spec 
works pretty well.

I know the FCC has good intentions. But they're controlled by congress who routinely
exchanges favours for campaign contributions (note the DMCA that was passed after
the Entertainmet Industry pumped $18,000,000 into it). Oh, the shame.

Sorry to get political.

But speaking of satellites. I noticed that the Amatuer Radio folks seems to have done
pretty well with OSCARS (Orbiting Satellite Carry Amateur Radio). See,
http://www.spacetoday.org/Satellites/Hamsats/HamsatsBasics.html

If I remember correctly, you can get a small payload up for about $30K these days.
The problem for us would probably be with our 4 watt power limitation. But does anyone
have any thoughts on 802.xx via satellite?

Baz





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