I want more cool stuff in my car. (wireless networking)

Let's get this board back up to speed.

In the few days since I've finished my planned install of my computer into my car, I've started thinking about other cool things I can do to it. First is wireless networking. Just file transfer stuff probably, not roaming internet access. Yet.

Anybody have good, cheap ideas (preferably < $200) for wireless networking? I was considering the Diamond Homefree system, as well as the WebGear Aviator.

And hell, if anyone's got a good cheap idea for roaming internet access, I want to hear that too. Or other ideas for cool things (uses for webcam, etc).

The only idea for wireless internet (that wouldn't be horribly expensive) I could come up with is getting ahold of one of those StarTac flip phones and get the cable for it. You'd only connect at 9600, so all it would be good for is email, but it's a start.

The people over at <a href="http://www.megacar.com">megacar</a> got 16 cellular channels and then created a linux packet router to evenly distribute the communication, thus getting mobile 150kbps internet. That would be quite pricey though.

If you are in the coverage area www.metricom.com has FLAT RATE WIRELESS internet.. @ 28.9 in june- july they will have 128kb.. (ISDN SPEEDS!!)

Mike Down
AutoTekNic.mp3car.com

[This message has been edited by mdown (edited 02-20-2000).]

Wow! They are making wireless internet faster that I can get it at my house! That would make me really jealous to see someone cruising the road with a faster connection than I can get from my own home.

GR1NCH
grinch@jetcity.com

To upgrade from a cellular phone internet and still almost be portable, you might be able to somehow get a satalite dish on your trunk =) and use that to recieve data, while having a standard cell phone linked to the satalite provider to be able to send data. It would give you higher download/surfing speeds but don't try anything else =). I just thought this up, havn't figured through it yet, just an idea.

Keep in mind with stuff like the WebGear Avaiator, it wouldn't tie into (bridge) an already existing network. for that you'd have to buy something a little more pricey which has what is called an "access point" which bridges the wireless network into the phsyical one. Those access points cost 700-800 bucks at the cheapest and some are 1000 dollar range, ouch! If you only have one home pc and you just want to network the car and your home PC, the Aviator might be the way to go. Check the reviews tho, its got some bad ones.

Not necessarily. I think you could put both the wireless card and a regular card in a single machine and connect the networks that way. I don't know how well it would work with Winblows, but I'm pretty sure you could get a Linux box to do this.

sure you could have both cards in a machine, but you wouldnt be able to access other computers on the network from the car computer, because the two networks would be separate, as i said the Aviator, isnt bridgable according to the company themselves. Only on NT, and even then they dont seem to support that either. as I siad previously it wouldn't be a bad thing to try if all you have is one home computer and the car pc.

Does anyone know about doing TCP/IP over RF. I heard of this about 3 years ago - the network guy at the office was into HAM radios and mentioned something about this. Is this stuff for real? Does it work pretty well?