[ETS/PARC List] It Might Be A Good Idea to Invest in Aerial Balloons

[KC2WDZ]

I like the concept. But it sounds like a logistical nightmare. I wonder how
some of googles projects ever get passed googles board room meetings.

Even if this balloon project is a bust (pun intended) some other
advancement in, or even new technology can arise.

Either way, I'm sure the NSA is following this closely......

Official Google Project Loon Website. <http://www.google.com/loon/>

73
Gene


On Thu, Jun 27, 2013 at 3:45 PM, drew Moore <drumor at optonline.net> wrote:

> So, when the balloons land on China soil they can cross engineer Google's
> technology (outside of the balloon)  and eventually float their revised
> versions complete with cameras over conus. Super, it also adds a new
> dimension to cyber-snooping. Since Europe was so fond of Google taking
> street photos I'm sure they'll greet the new /old technology with open
> arms.
>
> 73,
> Drew
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: etslist-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:etslist-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Victor Pennetta
> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 2:58 PM
> To: etslist
> Subject: [ETS/PARC List] It Might Be A Good Idea to Invest in Aerial
> Balloons
>
>
>
> I got a kick out of this: Just a few days ago Google started experimenting
> with a new aerial wireless network that will be able to provide Internet
> connections in areas that have no Ethernet infrastructure.  There are
> places
> in Africa and South America, for example, where the governments don't have
> the money for a fiber optic build out and private investors see no way to
> turn a profit at it.  So Google is investigating an alternative: beaming
> Internet down from above.
>
> And here's the fun part.  Google isn't launching new satellites or building
> advanced aircraft.  They're going to position their transmitters with a
> lifting technology that's centuries old: balloons.  The balloons will carry
> the transmitters up into the stratosphere, and then they'll just coast
> along
> on the prevailing winds.  Signals will be relayed from balloon to balloon
> until they can find a connection to Ethernet infrastructure and the wider
> Internet.  Google is planning a roving, global, mesh network.
>
> There will be problems with the balloon network, of course.  My math says
> that it would take 250,000 of the things just to cover North America.  And
> they can only stay airborne for two or three months, so balloon manufacture
> and maintenance would automatically have to become a major industry. Radio
> bands are allocated differently from one country to the next - so how is
> Google ever going to get the whole world to reserve the same slice of RF
> Spectrum for aerial Internet?  And what about the over flights?  I sure
> wouldn't want to invest in anything that was going to have to violate North
> Korean airspace.  And even if I did, I'm inclined to think that Lloyd's of
> London would be reluctant to insure it.  Google is well aware of all of
> these considerations, so they've named their scheme Project Loon.
>
> Maybe Google will eventually figure out how to get the whole world to go
> along with their plan.  But even if they don't, this idea has great
> potential for providing service to disaster areas and ultra-remote sites.
>
> Whatever happens, it's a creative mix of old technology with the new.
> Google's balloons may use helium rather than hot air, but Archimedes could
> have explained the basic principles 2200 years ago.  By 1783 the French
> were
> already flying around in balloons - back when some guy named Napoleon was
> still finishing school and even the French had never heard of him.  Now
> we're using balloons to create wireless mesh networks.
>
> 73,
>
> Victor, K2NBC
>
>
>
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-- 
Gene
KC2WDZ
www.KC2WDZ.com <http://www.kc2wdz.com>