McCain Wants Predators to Provide Wi-Fi for Iranians

Gizmodo, AFP ^ | June 26, 2009 | Jesus Diaz

[SolidWood]

Reportedly, Senator John McCain wants Predators to provide with uncensored Wi-Fi coverage to the people of Iran. I don't know if this is even technically possible, but its so preposterous and fantastically cool that I love the idea:

"During the Cold War, we provided the Polish people and dissidents with printing presses. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are the modern-day printing presses. They are the way to spread information and keep the hope of freedom alive amongst the Iranian people."

Of course, the Predators—or whatever other method—could be taken down with missiles or fighter planes, but the basic idea is spot on: Give everyone free access to information at any cost.

Free dissemination of information is one of the keys to the independence and freedom of citizens everywhere. Actually, I wish there was some kind of global Wi-Fi system—one that will allow any citizen in the world to access information freely, without intervention of dictators and authoritarian figures in China, North Korea, Iran, or Cuba.

Maybe some crazy nerds with loads of money could work on something like that. You know, like Paul Allen putting a buttload of money, Steve Wozniak leading a new space-based Wi-Fi hardware standard, and John Carmack providing with cheap rockets to launch satellites. [AFP]

[grey_whiskers]

Good idea, John.

Let's indirectly provide our enemies with all the information on the flight and telemetry capabilities of the predators.

The man must have Alzheimers.

Quelle dorque!

Cheers!

[livius]

I can name somebody else in the US government, alas, who doesn’t want the Iranians to get anywhere near the Internet.

He’s happy now that the regime has essentially locked down the country and you can’t hear those pesky Iranian citizens anymore.

[OCCASparky]

Well, remember, this is a guy who the MSM gleefully told us doesn't even e-mail. Nevermind that it's not his technical ability that hinders that ability, it's physical limitations.

That being said, John--not a great idea, even with a drone at 70K feet. Plus there's that silly "line of sight" issue and the fact that most mobile devices only have a power of 1-2 watts, meaning their effective range is only to basically the nearest couple of cell towers.

[SolidWood]

Matter of factly McCain didn’t say we should use Predators. He said ‘They are the way to spread information’.

The interpretation about predators seems to be from the Gizmodo.com author. Note that this is filed under weird stuff lol.

I wonder though whether it would technically be feasible.

[taildragger]

What makes McCain think they are immune from what ever toys the Russians sell them, or did he accidentally just spill the beans on the Predators capabilities?

2nd, would not the wi-fi be a signal to home in on and blow out of the sky?

IMHO he might have been better off doing this quietly, the cat is out of the bag, not a way to sneak up and reek havoc on despots.

[Erik Latranyi]

I’m sure we are not too far away from the day when data service will be provided by satellites, ensuring global coverage for voice, data and video for every human that wants it.

Satellite phones are just the beginning.

[Steel Wolf]

Let's be fair. Our enemies watch our predators fly all day long, and have for years. I'm no John McCain booster by any means, but this is an interesting idea.

There's probably better ways to skin this particular cat, but the idea of finding a way to provide internet access to people when their government shuts it off could be a real game changer in the 21st century.

[Darkwolf377]

Just because we have so many real issues with McCain doesn't mean we should piss all over him ALL the time.

So he doesn't know the technical end--so what? 99% of us AND the Congress doesn't know how things work. Not their job.

He's floating the idea to get the GOP to be seen as on the side of the Iranian people, against the do-nothing, say-nothing Obama.

This is a good thing. It gets the ball rolling, and we should be talking about it as one way to show the party has some damned energy instead of us all just sitting around bitchin about Obama.

[bamahead]

possible ping

[bamahead]

I’m not sure whether to tell McCain he’s nuts or pat him on the back on this one. But it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.

[Larry Lucido]

So the headline (not yours, I’m sure) bears false witness.

[DemforBush]

I don’t know the technical hurdles involved here, but the idea does intrigue me.

[Larry Lucido]

Wow, what a convoluted mess. Fake headline in a blog misquoting an AFP story printed in yet another linked blog.

Can’t find the direct AFP link but here a direct link to the second blog with the whole story. Nothing about predators. Not a thing. Geez.

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_Senators_vow_help_for_Iran_dissi_06252009.html

Normally I am opposed to excerpting a blog. This idiot should have been excised, not excerpted.

[nuconvert]

I think he basically has the right idea that word needs to get out to all Iranians in order for them to be more organized, including people in more rural areas. The opposition needs to use audio and CD’s, DVD’s, whatever.

[mazda77]

Keep the regime looking up for what it is they are looking for while in reality it is right under their noses. Excellent misdirection play.

[bmwcyle]

That is the best idea I have ever heard from McCain.

[stuartcr]

How would someone being able to use their wi-fi, access any of that information you mentioned. All they would know, is that there is an access point available. It would be completely separate from anything having to do with the aircraft. Of course they would know where it’s at, they would have a signal, but that wouldn’t matter.

[grey_whiskers]

If the Wi-Fi signal is being broadcast from the Predator...one can figure out its location.

Once the location is known, you can put up a live trailer or monitor the transmissions to find speed, time of flight, duration, etc.

As well as following back to the launch points.

Cheers!

[justlurking]

The concept is possible, although there are a few problems:

• The drone/access point must be visible above the horizon for anyone that wants to use it. That means that it has to be inside Iran, and I doubt the Iranian Air Force would ignore it.

• The low power levels typically used in WiFi would require users to move outside, onto the roof, etc. It wouldn't work well from inside a building, or under trees.

• The number of users in a typical metropolitan area would overwhelm a single drone overflying it by trying to transmit to it simultaneously and interfering with each other's uplink. It could be used for broadcast (i.e. Multicast), but there are already efficient ways to broadcast information.

There are a few companies developing drones specifically designed to fly at high altitude and provide Internet access to sparsely populated areas, but I wasn't able to find a URL quickly and I'm not aware of anyone that has actually deployed it.

But, the concept has been around for quite a while -- it's not an original thought.