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McCain Wants Predators to Provide Wi-Fi for Iranians
Gizmodo, AFP ^
| June 26, 2009
| Jesus Diaz
Posted on 06/27/2009 5:13:15 AM PDT by SolidWood
click here to read article
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1
posted on
06/27/2009 5:13:15 AM PDT
by
SolidWood
To: SolidWood
Good idea, John.
Let's indirectly provide our enemies with all the information on the flight and telemetry capabilities of the predators.
The man must have Alzheimers.
Quelle dorque!
Cheers!
2
posted on
06/27/2009 5:14:48 AM PDT
by
grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
To: SolidWood
I can name somebody else in the US government, alas, who doesn’t want the Iranians to get anywhere near the Internet.
He’s happy now that the regime has essentially locked down the country and you can’t hear those pesky Iranian citizens anymore.
3
posted on
06/27/2009 5:16:28 AM PDT
by
livius
To: grey_whiskers
Well, remember, this is a guy who the MSM gleefully told us doesn't even e-mail. Nevermind that it's not his technical ability that hinders that ability, it's physical limitations.
That being said, John--not a great idea, even with a drone at 70K feet. Plus there's that silly "line of sight" issue and the fact that most mobile devices only have a power of 1-2 watts, meaning their effective range is only to basically the nearest couple of cell towers.
4
posted on
06/27/2009 5:17:31 AM PDT
by
OCCASparky
(Steely-Eyed Killer of the Deep)
To: grey_whiskers
Matter of factly McCain didn’t say we should use Predators. He said ‘They are the way to spread information’.
The interpretation about predators seems to be from the Gizmodo.com author. Note that this is filed under weird stuff lol.
I wonder though whether it would technically be feasible.
5
posted on
06/27/2009 5:17:55 AM PDT
by
SolidWood
(Down with the islamic regime! Freedom for Iran!)
To: SolidWood
What makes McCain think they are immune from what ever toys the Russians sell them, or did he accidentally just spill the beans on the Predators capabilities?
2nd, would not the wi-fi be a signal to home in on and blow out of the sky?
IMHO he might have been better off doing this quietly, the cat is out of the bag, not a way to sneak up and reek havoc on despots.
6
posted on
06/27/2009 5:18:28 AM PDT
by
taildragger
(Palin / Mulally 2012)
To: SolidWood
I’m sure we are not too far away from the day when data service will be provided by satellites, ensuring global coverage for voice, data and video for every human that wants it.
Satellite phones are just the beginning.
7
posted on
06/27/2009 5:19:52 AM PDT
by
Erik Latranyi
(Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
To: grey_whiskers
Let's be fair. Our enemies watch our predators fly all day long, and have for years. I'm no John McCain booster by any means, but this is an interesting idea.
There's probably better ways to skin this particular cat, but the idea of finding a way to provide internet access to people when their government shuts it off could be a real game changer in the 21st century.
8
posted on
06/27/2009 5:21:14 AM PDT
by
Steel Wolf
(Oh, well. Back to the drawing board....)
To: SolidWood
Just because we have so many real issues with McCain doesn't mean we should piss all over him ALL the time.
So he doesn't know the technical end--so what? 99% of us AND the Congress doesn't know how things work. Not their job.
He's floating the idea to get the GOP to be seen as on the side of the Iranian people, against the do-nothing, say-nothing Obama.
This is a good thing. It gets the ball rolling, and we should be talking about it as one way to show the party has some damned energy instead of us all just sitting around bitchin about Obama.
9
posted on
06/27/2009 5:22:18 AM PDT
by
Darkwolf377
(Pro-Life Atheist whose employer--an Obama supporter--is losing the business.)
To: ShadowAce
10
posted on
06/27/2009 5:25:43 AM PDT
by
bamahead
(Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
To: rabscuttle385
I’m not sure whether to tell McCain he’s nuts or pat him on the back on this one. But it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.
11
posted on
06/27/2009 5:27:07 AM PDT
by
bamahead
(Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
To: SolidWood
So the headline (not yours, I’m sure) bears false witness.
12
posted on
06/27/2009 5:30:33 AM PDT
by
Larry Lucido
(Why excerpt your own blog? If its that damned important, then (Excerpted. Click here to read more))
To: SolidWood
I don’t know the technical hurdles involved here, but the idea does intrigue me.
13
posted on
06/27/2009 5:34:40 AM PDT
by
DemforBush
(Somebody wake me when sanity has returned to the nation.)
To: SolidWood
Wow, what a convoluted mess. Fake headline in a blog misquoting an AFP story printed in yet another linked blog.
Can’t find the direct AFP link but here a direct link to the second blog with the whole story. Nothing about predators. Not a thing. Geez.
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_Senators_vow_help_for_Iran_dissi_06252009.html
Normally I am opposed to excerpting a blog. This idiot should have been excised, not excerpted.
14
posted on
06/27/2009 5:35:50 AM PDT
by
Larry Lucido
(Why excerpt your own blog? If its that damned important, then (Excerpted. Click here to read more))
To: SolidWood
I think he basically has the right idea that word needs to get out to all Iranians in order for them to be more organized, including people in more rural areas. The opposition needs to use audio and CD’s, DVD’s, whatever.
15
posted on
06/27/2009 5:35:59 AM PDT
by
nuconvert
( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
To: Steel Wolf
Keep the regime looking up for what it is they are looking for while in reality it is right under their noses. Excellent misdirection play.
16
posted on
06/27/2009 5:40:00 AM PDT
by
mazda77
(Rubio for US Senate)
To: SolidWood
That is the best idea I have ever heard from McCain.
17
posted on
06/27/2009 5:41:30 AM PDT
by
bmwcyle
(Obama is an illegal alien)
To: grey_whiskers
How would someone being able to use their wi-fi, access any of that information you mentioned. All they would know, is that there is an access point available. It would be completely separate from anything having to do with the aircraft. Of course they would know where it’s at, they would have a signal, but that wouldn’t matter.
18
posted on
06/27/2009 5:50:13 AM PDT
by
stuartcr
(Everything happens as God wants it to...otherwise, things would be different.)
To: stuartcr
If the Wi-Fi signal is being broadcast from the Predator...one can figure out its location.
Once the location is known, you can put up a live trailer or monitor the transmissions to find speed, time of flight, duration, etc.
As well as following back to the launch points.
Cheers!
19
posted on
06/27/2009 5:54:23 AM PDT
by
grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
To: SolidWood
The concept is possible, although there are a few problems:
- The drone/access point must be visible above the horizon for anyone that wants to use it. That means that it has to be inside Iran, and I doubt the Iranian Air Force would ignore it.
- The low power levels typically used in WiFi would require users to move outside, onto the roof, etc. It wouldn't work well from inside a building, or under trees.
- The number of users in a typical metropolitan area would overwhelm a single drone overflying it by trying to transmit to it simultaneously and interfering with each other's uplink. It could be used for broadcast (i.e. Multicast), but there are already efficient ways to broadcast information.
There are a few companies developing drones specifically designed to fly at high altitude and provide Internet access to sparsely populated areas, but I wasn't able to find a URL quickly and I'm not aware of anyone that has actually deployed it.
But, the concept has been around for quite a while -- it's not an original thought.
20
posted on
06/27/2009 5:54:25 AM PDT
by
justlurking
(The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.)
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