Posted on 09/15/2014 2:40:41 PM PDT by Kartographer
Google is planning to test Internet delivery by drone high above New Mexico, according to a government filing.
On Friday, the company asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to use two blocks of frequencies for the tests, which are scheduled to last about six months and begin in October. They will be conducted above an area of more than 1,400 square kilometers in the center of New Mexico to the east of Albuquerque.
“Google recently acquired Titan Aerospace, a firm that specializes in developing solar and electric unmanned aerial systems for high altitude, long endurance flights,” Google said in its application. “These systems may eventually be used to provide Internet connections in remote areas or help monitor environmental damage, such as oil spills or deforestation.”
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
New Mexico PING!
That would be nice if it was possible. But drones are invisible and silent at operating altitudes.
Will these be helicopters or some kind of dirigible?
CC
I’d love to get good wifi in NM. I go there fairly often (not for business, but just because I like it) and anything that can do that has my vote!
Aaaaaaahhhhh OOOOOOOKKKKK!
Well, I think they just want to do wifi, not vaporization of enemies...
These are being built in Moriarty, a couple miles east of me.
Not a terrible idea, since satellite is the only way to get the web other than dial-up in this neck of the woods.
Several years ago, somebody floated the idea of using balloons to do this in North Dakota.
As if it wasn’t enough for commercial and private pilots to have to avoid jet fighters, weather ballons, c-130’s hugging the tree lines, hot air ballons, squads of black helicopters, alien space craft, and now they want to add Google drones??? New Mexico airspace is getting a wee bit crowded these days.
OK, thanks. I wonder what the “on station” is for something like that.
CC
Thanks for the ping! Interesting article.
Have you tried higher speed.net? They’re based in Edgewood and have wireless transmitters all around the East Mountains.
Had them for a few years. Lots of reliability issues, but they’re better than dialup.
I’m in a “dead zone” because of topography. Down slope of the Manzanos.
No big deal.
Well, my Windstream connection is presently running at .60 mbps, and that is up from .06 mbps earlier today. It is supposed to be around 4 mbps, and occasionally reaches 3.1 mbps, but usually is under 2 mbps. If Google can beat this crap, I’m game.
I wish them success, but these drones don’t carry much payload. Their current models carry 70 to 250 pounds.
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