9 Jun
2012
9 Jun
'12
2:22 a.m.
Why would I or anyone else for that matter use
anything that slow over wireless when multi megabit radios that will link reasonably long
distances can be had for $50-100ea. These radios connect via ethernet with no special
software. No I don't have any 56k radios on order, I don't see them as worth the
cost to salvage from the trash bin next door.
Compare the range of a 25 watt radio using 100 KHz bandwidth on 440
MHz to any of the faster, higher frequency alternatives. The
"reasonably long distances" doesn't really pan out when dealing with
actual conditions. We're talking home to home or car - not peak to
peak. The cheap radios will be running up to a watt and you're losing
many dB from the higher frequencies and wider bandwidth. For a
half mile or so wifi is great but more is needed for the 5 to 20+ mile
range. I have one fellow active ham in range of my most robust Part
15 radio (1 W at 900 MHz), none in range of all my WRT54G's and
Merakis - but perhaps a dozen or more fellow Digital Hams in range of
the 56K system.
Eric
AF6EP
Bill, WA7NWP