Re: distributed autonomous networks

[hiscdcj@lux.latrobe.edu.au (Dwayne)]

>  >[stuff about possible power sources and transmission media]

>A television report on 'Beyond 2000' described meteor-bounce radio.  The
>technique extends the idea of bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere (for
>distance), to bouncing off the atmospheric trails of micro meteors. 

Are these particularly common? Or only when there are meteor showers...

>Reported applications are economical (at least run-time economical,
>start-up cost was not discussed) weather telemetry stations in remote
>areas.  A solar panel provides the power, a small computer is needed to
>direct transmission.

Right. what sort of computer? Would it be possible to run this sort
of setup from an 8088? They are pretty cheap at the moment.
:-)

>This technique may not be feasible in the context you are describing, but
>the telemetry application was parallel in that it also comprises many
>independent, self-contained transmitters.

Ahh. Well, I'll have to look into it.

Dwayne.