Solar Powered WiFi Repeater
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 06. 4.07
Meraki Networks have released a solar powered outdoor WiFi repeater, which can cover entire neighborhoods with Internet access. This of course makes it perfect for developing countries where electricity supply is scant or unreliable.
Sanjit Biswas, CEO and co-founder of Meraki, said, 'To change the economics of Wi-Fi access across the globe, there’s got to be a simple, efficient and inexpensive method for sending the signal long distances outdoors. The Meraki Solar and Meraki Outdoor will play an important role in our efforts to bring the next billion people online in the coming years.'
Of course, the device is also a perfect way to extend WiFi signals into your garden or to neighbours, without using any electricity. A very green way to surf; outdoors, and solar powered. :: Meraki.net
See also :: Danger: WiFi Eats Babies :: Solar Wifi Comes to St. Louis Park, Could Turn Ugly :: Solar Wi-Fi To Bring Internet to Developing Countries
I agree with the first part, but not with the second.
In terms of social justice, giving all the world equal access to things we feel are important, perhaps such as the internet, is a good thing. This may even be a good solution for that--much easier than stringing power and internet cables over unwired countries.
But then, WiFi for your garden? On a head to head Life Cycle Analysis, I would bet it would be smarter to plug in an extension cord if you can't live without your WiFi.
And, solar powered or not, 94% of the original resource NEVER makes it into the final product (Robert U. Ayres, discussing Industrial Metabolism). Therefore, this product represents an enormous investment of finite resources and literally space age materials. All this so that you can have WiFi in your garden?
Perhaps we should ask ourselves if gardens need WiFi. Is there no place where one might expect to find refuge, where one cannot be connected?
I think that the idea that we should have any possible convenience at our fingertips is just the attitude that got us into this mess. Sustainability is much more about execution than products.
This is a cool idea...also showed up on Next Net - Business 2.0 Blog this morning:
Well said, Ruben....my sentiments exactly! (agree with the whole bit, but also the last paragraph in particular!)
My first thought was of college campuses - we already have WiFi hotspots and repeaters all over campus, but many other local colleges are behind this particular curve, mostly due to funding and infrastructure issues.
REPEATER, JUST GET A BETTER WIFI BOOSTER ANTENNA, GOT A USB BOOSTER, SAYING IT REACH 1.24-8.95 miles (2,000-14,400 meters)