Australia's Outback Could Get Web Via TV Antenna

disco_tracy writes "Australia began switching off its analog TV signals in June and the transition to digital-only transmission is expected to be complete by the end of 2013, five years before the roll out finishes for the NBN. The leftover analog spectrum could be used to deliver Internet to people living in remote areas. Unlike 3G networks, which lose download speed with more users, the analog signal would provide a consistent speed no matter how many users there were."

Re:Pendantic

[qbast]

There is no such thing is digital. When you go to smallest elements (atoms, electrons, ...) you enter realm of quantum physics. There is no clearly defined "is" and "is not" - there are only continuous probabilities.

Re:Power...

[MichaelSmith]

The ability to transmit VHF (TV) into the hinterlands had as much to do with multi-kilowatt signals as it did with frequency. Pump 60 Kw into a 2.4 GHz wifi transmitter with a good directional antenna placed on a high tower and I'll bet the punters in the outback can find a working hotspot -- probably one in China at that power.

You would be talking about over the horizon radar, but it requires megawatts. VHF TV frequencies can refract, diffuse and (to a small extent) skip off the ionosphere. I reckon that 2.4GHz would be easier to pick up on Alpha Centauri than in China.

Sometimes I'm amazed by Slashdot

[JSBiff]

I mean, how it is *remotely possible* that an article with only 1 technical fact (TV frequencies can be used for long-distance communication relatively cheaply), and a bunch of complete *bullshit* (High Speed Internet a "basic human right", Internet as an analog signal, no decrease in speed with increase in users), make it through the editorial screening for the "News For Nerds" site, but I *know* that other articles with much greater merit get completely ignored?

No, I'm not new here, but man, it's like they just don't give a shit about *pretending* to give a shit about doing their job anymore.