4 ms·

We experimented with decentralized networks during our university classes and one of the professors described this, basically you can form a phased array with l

We experimented with decentralized networks during our university classes and one of the professors described this, basically you can form a phased array with loads of small senders in perfect timewise sync, sending slightly delayed. Its very energy intensive though. The sending and the high resolution clockworks. (Similar to gps recieving). Funny sidenode: We found out that almost every building has a huge central antenna, called elevator ropes & shaft. Attach a wifi router to that and everyone in the building can overcrowd that one central wifi. Good times.

h2odragon 4y ago
> very energy intensive utterly unrelated (but fun) anecdote: Had a "phased array" CB antenna setup consisting of 3 antenna elements, carefully placed and spaced on a mobile ground plane, and very carefully cut and coiled lengths of Big Chonky cable too hook them all up to the radio. It worked well; did Chicago to Colorado once on legal 4watt power. But then someone gave us a "1000w linear amplifier" to try. This turned out to be a bad idea. the third antenna element glowed red a few seconds after key up and then the harness joints de-soldered. Best we could figure the SWR changes induced by the antenna whips moving around weren't big enough, at 4w input power, to even notice. but when stood up to larger potential the tiny misalignment caused by the tips of the whips waving were enough to result in significant direct power loss.
yellow_lead 4y ago
> We found out that almost every building has a huge central antenna, called elevator ropes & shaft. Very fun idea :)
RicoElectrico 4y ago
> high resolution clockworks. (Similar to gps recieving). There has been a paper about access arbitration to a Wi-Fi network using FM RDS data for timing https://hackaday.com/2015/11/11/improving-wifi-throughput-with-fm-radio/ https://hackaday.com/2015/11/11/improving-wifi-throughput-wi...

h2odragon 4y ago

> very energy intensive utterly unrelated (but fun) anecdote: Had a "phased array" CB antenna setup consisting of 3 antenna elements, carefully placed and spaced on a mobile ground plane, and very carefully cut and coiled lengths of Big Chonky cable too hook them all up to the radio. It worked well; did Chicago to Colorado once on legal 4watt power. But then someone gave us a "1000w linear amplifier" to try. This turned out to be a bad idea. the third antenna element glowed red a few seconds after key up and then the harness joints de-soldered. Best we could figure the SWR changes induced by the antenna whips moving around weren't big enough, at 4w input power, to even notice. but when stood up to larger potential the tiny misalignment caused by the tips of the whips waving were enough to result in significant direct power loss.

yellow_lead 4y ago

> We found out that almost every building has a huge central antenna, called elevator ropes & shaft. Very fun idea :)

RicoElectrico 4y ago

> high resolution clockworks. (Similar to gps recieving). There has been a paper about access arbitration to a Wi-Fi network using FM RDS data for timing https://hackaday.com/2015/11/11/improving-wifi-throughput-with-fm-radio/ https://hackaday.com/2015/11/11/improving-wifi-throughput-wi...