"sillyputty" <karmictaragem@2die4.com> wrote in message
news:1189062780.497176.239100@d55g2000hsg.googlegr oups.com...
>I could probably find the answer to this by some research, but I'm too
> lazy. :D We have the beginnings of free wifi in our city (Portland),
> though it's still spotty, at best, since not all areas of the city are
> 'wired.' I was thinking about how the nodes only cover about 300'
> each, then there's obstacles, interference, etc. Why can't they put up
> one big antenna, like radio stations, and pump out 50k watts, or
> whatever would be necessary to cover the entire city?

You would not want one powerful station like that. You would take a
cellular/mesh approach to do what you want. WIMAX cells can cover a pretty
good size area.

Look up WIMAX and WISP (wireless internet service provider)
>