5 ms·

Fascinating. A microSD card is 0.5 grams. I could tape one of these to a postcard, overnight for $25 using USPS and probably achieve a faster data rate than I c

by debt 7y ago

Fascinating. A microSD card is 0.5 grams. I could tape one of these to a postcard, overnight for $25 using USPS and probably achieve a faster data rate than I could if I just send it over the air.

hobs 7y ago
It's been true for a long time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_over_Avian_Carriers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_over_Avian_Carriers
- privong 7y ago
  It's been around longer than RFC-1149, dating back to station wagons carrying data tapes in the 1970s: https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/20jlv3/never_underestimate_the_bandwidth_of_a_station/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/20jlv3/n...
anamexis 7y ago
Assuming a drop-off at 5 PM and a delivery at 9 AM, that's a data rate of 139 Mbps.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- dijit 7y ago
  These metrics fail to account for the transfer to a more stable medium, or even just a single full read of the data.
- gooseus 7y ago
  True, but it seems like the max weight for a letter/postcard is 3.5 ounces (~99 grams), also a postcard is about 148x105mm while a microSD is 15x11mm. I would propose making your postcard out of a 9x9 grid of 1TB microSDs and tape to give you an 81TB postcard that can be delivered overnight at the minimum price while providing 11.25 Gbps given the numbers you used.
  - kruffin 7y ago
    Sobering to think of the true (hardware only) price of that postcard in full view of anyone handling it: $36k ($450 * 81). But amazing to think how far technology has advanced.
    - setr 7y ago
      Exchanging data and money offline, in a very compact format :-)
kevinsundar 7y ago
Never underestimate sneakernet speeds. https://aws.amazon.com/snowmobile/ https://aws.amazon.com/snowmobile/ It can "move 100 petabytes of data in as little as a few weeks, plus transport time. That same transfer could take more than 20 years to accomplish over a direct connect line with a 1Gbps connection."
- bradknowles 7y ago
  From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. —Tanenbaum, Andrew S. (1989). Computer Networks. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. p. 57. ISBN 0-13-166836-6.
izzydata 7y ago
https://what-if.xkcd.com/31/ https://what-if.xkcd.com/31/
agumonkey 7y ago
I was thinking of small inner city channels with floating storage keys the other day. Messages^14 in a bottle kind of.
itsrajju 7y ago
25 cents you mean? :)

by debt 7y ago

Fascinating. A microSD card is 0.5 grams. I could tape one of these to a postcard, overnight for $25 using USPS and probably achieve a faster data rate than I could if I just send it over the air.

hobs 7y ago

It's been true for a long time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_over_Avian_Carriers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_over_Avian_Carriers

privong 7y ago
It's been around longer than RFC-1149, dating back to station wagons carrying data tapes in the 1970s: https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/20jlv3/never_underestimate_the_bandwidth_of_a_station/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/20jlv3/n...

anamexis 7y ago

Assuming a drop-off at 5 PM and a delivery at 9 AM, that's a data rate of 139 Mbps.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
dijit 7y ago
These metrics fail to account for the transfer to a more stable medium, or even just a single full read of the data.
gooseus 7y ago
True, but it seems like the max weight for a letter/postcard is 3.5 ounces (~99 grams), also a postcard is about 148x105mm while a microSD is 15x11mm. I would propose making your postcard out of a 9x9 grid of 1TB microSDs and tape to give you an 81TB postcard that can be delivered overnight at the minimum price while providing 11.25 Gbps given the numbers you used.
- kruffin 7y ago
  Sobering to think of the true (hardware only) price of that postcard in full view of anyone handling it: $36k ($450 * 81). But amazing to think how far technology has advanced.
  - setr 7y ago
    Exchanging data and money offline, in a very compact format :-)

kevinsundar 7y ago

Never underestimate sneakernet speeds. https://aws.amazon.com/snowmobile/ https://aws.amazon.com/snowmobile/ It can "move 100 petabytes of data in as little as a few weeks, plus transport time. That same transfer could take more than 20 years to accomplish over a direct connect line with a 1Gbps connection."

bradknowles 7y ago
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. —Tanenbaum, Andrew S. (1989). Computer Networks. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. p. 57. ISBN 0-13-166836-6.

izzydata 7y ago

https://what-if.xkcd.com/31/ https://what-if.xkcd.com/31/

agumonkey 7y ago

I was thinking of small inner city channels with floating storage keys the other day. Messages^14 in a bottle kind of.

itsrajju 7y ago

25 cents you mean? :)