Re: OT: establish private network (no wires)

From: Jacob Anawalt (jacob_at_cachevalley.com)
Date: 03/01/04

  • Next message: Paul Johnson: "Re: exim problem" 
    Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 22:43:58 -0700
To: debian-user@lists.debian.org

    Brett Carrington wrote:
    > On Sun, Feb 29, 2004 at 06:54:54PM +0100, Karsten Bolding wrote:
    >
    >>Hello
    >>
    >>I'm seeking advice on a technical matter. I want to establish a
    >>private (wireless) network in an area of say 5x5 km2. In this area there
    >>are a number of vehicles moving around and each of the vehicles should
    >>constantly - every second - be updated about the position of the other
    >>vehicles (obtained via GPS). In addition to the position other types of
    >>data might need to be exchanged/distributed as well.
    >>Each of the vehicles will have a laptop onboard which will be used for
    >>processing the information obtained from the other vehicles.
    >>Since it is not possible to cover the area with normal wireless access points
    >>I'm seeking another carrier of the signal. GSM/GPRS is not really an
    >>option either due to the cost of having around 25 phones running 24/7.
    >>Does anybody know of another technical solution which I can use to create
    >>such a network?
    >
    > Regular "Wireless access points" (as in 802.11x) can _absolutely_ cover
    > this distance. All you need is a good antenna and powerful transmitter.
    > In America you need a license to transmit as very high powers so you
    > should check with your local govt. I bet if you looked around your neck
    > of the woods for amateur radio operators they'd be glad to explain how
    > to do this. There are other solutions too, like short wave radio or the
    > like. Using regular commodity WiFi however will be easiest to integrate
    > with laptops though.
    >
    >

    If this didn't sound so much like a business setup and you weren't
    talking about an private (encrypted) wlan, I'd point to [1] APRS for the
    GPS requirement and [2] HAM 802.11 for the networking.

    It sounds like you need some other wireless technology that you can get
    an FCC radio license for or work out an arrangement with any wireless
    ISP in your area. Maybe you could set up a second business to be a
    wireless ISP in your area. :)

    There is an 'airnet' where I live that covers at least twenty square
    miles. Usually they set us up with a directional antenna for the best
    transmit/receive. There might be omnidirecional antennas that would work
    well vehicle mounted if the ISP's antenna was somewhere inside of the area.

    You've probably already looked into these options though.

    [1] http://www.aprs.net/
    [2] http://www.arrl.org/hsmm/project.html 

    -- 
Jacob Anawalt
- Not on the list, following via news.
- I apologize in advance for the missing muttish headers
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    Relevant Pages

    • OT: establish private network (no wires)
      ... I'm seeking advice on a technical matter. ... private network in an area of say 5x5 km2. ... are a number of vehicles moving around and each of the vehicles should ... Since it is not possible to cover the area with normal wireless access points ...
      (Debian-User)
    • Re: multiple vehicles tracking each other
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      (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
    • Re: multiple vehicles tracking each other
      ... > Is there a product that uses GPS and wireless (say, Wi-Fi) to allow ... > themselves and a couple of other vehicles with the same equipment? ... Amateur radio uses a system called APRS which does this: ...
      (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
    • Re: multiple vehicles tracking each other
      ... > Is there a product that uses GPS and wireless (say, Wi-Fi) to allow ... > themselves and a couple of other vehicles with the same equipment? ...
      (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
    • Re: OT: establish private network (no wires)
      ... > I'm seeking advice on a technical matter. ... > are a number of vehicles moving around and each of the vehicles should ... of the woods for amateur radio operators they'd be glad to explain how ...
      (Debian-User)