Last-Mile Solution For A Rural Land Co-op?

macguys writes "My community consists of about 150 households spread out over several hundred acres in North Florida. We are far enough away from the nearest city that broadband cable and DSL services don't make it here. We're well organized, and used to working together on projects. We have a lot of home based business offices here and high speed access something that many of my neighbors are hungry for. We've looked at projects like http://www.magnoliaroad.net and know that others have addressed the issue with 802.11b/g/etc. There is no big problem getting a T-1 to the community. That part is easy. The hard part is distributing the bandwidth among those here who want to participate. Wireless works in places but in general this land is covered in hardwood and pines and the signal drops off quickly. We have a long history (community is 25 years old) of working together to solve problems. Running copper or coax is not out of the question if we can find a reasonable way of distributing the bandwidth. Any suggestions are welcome."

Have you tried

[eap]

Satellite? Start up fees are kind of high, but once you get going, it's not bad:

Satellite dish: $150
Converter box: $200
NIC: $15
Launching your own community based Internet communications satellite: $1,000,000,000

Solar power

[skinfitz]

I think what is needed are solar powered tree mounted wireless bridges.

Oops I'm off to patent that.

Re:A first for the /. editors

[yintercept]

Yes, farms and condos are almost the same. Farms have cows, some of the people in condos look like cows.

Now, if we lived in a physical universe where there were limit to how long you can run coax cable without loss of signal, or if we lived in a world where there were complex laws regarding crossing roads and boundaries with wires, then questions would be different. I am so glad I live in Slashdot where things are simple.

That type of world has different people designing different solutions for different problems.

ObSimpsons

[Anonymous Coward]

Na na na na na na na na LEA-DER!

Na na na na na na na na LEA-DER!

LEA-DER! LEA-DER! BATMAN!

I mean LEA-DER! I love the leader!

Re:Laser

[geeber]

Gotta love those transparent hardwood and pine tree's.

Re:Laser

[confused philosopher]

Land sharks with fricken laser beams on their heads.

Actually microwave would make more sense, and just build some little towers taller than the trees.

You live in the country? This is the thing!

[Daath]

IPAC with QoS!! RFC2549 [isi.edu]!
Cheap, but maybe not that fast...
There also seems to be a reference on slashdot [slashdot.org]!

Re:Multiple Options

[Profane Motherfucker]

you can just run fiber from the most central place to everywhere else

And while we're on the subject of Cheap and Easy options, why not Just Put a satellite into Geosynchronous orbit and just build a land relay station that just uses microwave frequencies? You just call the FCC and they set you up with a license. Then you just need subscribers and you're set.

Re:Have you tried

[Anonymous Coward]

• Satellite dish: $150
  
• Converter box: $200
  
• NIC: $15
  
• Launching your own community based Internet communications satellite: $1,000,000,000
  
• Getting your town slashdotted: Priceless
  

Re:Laser

[Anonymous Coward]

The thing is, the trees are not the issue. The leaves are. They block the wireless signal.

Since you've identified the problem, here's the solution:
Normally, it would be best to just break out the chainsaws. But they are noisy. And emit greenhouses gasses.

Acquire some Tordon (picloram), a bit of 2,4-D and Roundup RT. You'll need at least two quarts of RT per acre, perhaps 3-4 quarts of 2,4-D per acre, and maybe 2-4 quarts of picloram per acre.

All of this stuff is very toxic, and very dangerous. Roundup RT is quite safe. But 2,4-D was one of the ingredients in Agent Orange, and you remember the fucking mayhem that caused. Picloram was too.

The RT will really mess up the trees, the 2,4-D will, in high concentrations, kill shurbbery and foliage. Actually, since Tordon has picloram in it, maybe just get the Tordon. It's very dangerous. Tordon is very similar to Agent White, and you remember the fucking mayhem that caused.

Picloram has a field halflife of something up to 300 days, but the average is about 90 days. It's susceptible to runoff, so be careful.

But if you apply the tordon at about 4 quarts an acre, with some Roundup RT at the same rate, you should kill those pesky trees in no time. You will also kill all foliage, however.

This is just one option. Tordon is a restricted use herbicide, so you will need to be licensed in Florida to purchase and apply it. Get plenty of rubber gloves and respirators too.

Wire Up The Cows

[richone]

Build a mesh network by stapling 802.11g access points to the backs of the cattle...

Re:If you dig things up.

[macguys]

lol...I thnk you might have my bunch confused with some other wackos. We're a long way from Orlando in the other Florida. ... but thanks for the after dinner chuckle.

Re:Laser

[GMontag]

Or just use a really hot LASER to start with.

Use 802.16

[Mooncaller]

The correct standard for this type of application is not 802.11. IEEE 802.16 has been designed specificly for this type of application. A quick read of the earlier responces indicates most /.er are a little behind the times. This is understandable. Prior to the new standard, 802.11.whatever was the only way to go ( by default). Manufacturers and Service providers have been applying it to problems outsides its targeted domain. These entities have been marketing their products/services and thereby obscuring the definition of the domain for which 802.11 is applicable. Now that 802.16 exists, and products are coming to market, implimentors should stop missapplying the older standard and current 802.11 systems should be migrated where appropriate.

Palmtops?

[billstewart]

Ok, I stole the line, but you toss the ball in such a slow high arc....

I first heard the term from people who were talking about unwiring places in the Caribbean.

Re:wireless may work anyway

[Quill_28]

>If you have any kind of hills

It's Flordia! I think half the state is below sea level. :-)