[gurps] Re: Internet on blue planet and like worlds

[Jeff Wilson]

From: "David Scheidt" <dmscheidt at gmail.com>
>> > David Scheidt wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> For communication between fixed points, cables will always be cheaper
>>> >> than radio links in the the long run.  They're also faster and more
>>> >> reliable.
>>> >>
>> >
>> > I'm not sure I can agree with you unless you specify the distance between
>> > the fixed points and whether you can rig masts for additional range due to
>> > LOS issues.
>> >
>> > If you have LOS, then point to point wireless communications is much less
>> > expensive, both in the short run (setup costs) and long run (maintenance
>> > costs).  If you're looking at distances of several hundred miles and can use
>> > solar/battery powered relays, then you're still going to be less expensive
>> > over running cable between the two fixed points.
> 
> There's a reason there are no long-distance microwave links anymore:
> They're expensive to run (radios consume lots of power), they're
> expensive to maintain, they're unreliable, they're weather sensitive,

I think you're overlooking advances in DSP and other fields. A kitbashed 
  cantenna will push an off-the-shelf wifi connection to 10+ miles, and 
all the larger public schools here in Texas' 8th region are connected 
via dish and mast to regional HQ in Mt. Pleasant (50 mile radius; though 
the weather here is very mild during the school year, I will admit).

-- 
Jeff Wilson - jwilson at io.com
< http://www.io.com/~jwilson >