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  • 10 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
Cake day: June 11th, 2023
  • renard_roux@beehaw.orgtoTechnology@beehaw.org•10 to 100 Times Faster than a Starlink Antenna, and Cheaper Than Fiber: Taara Unveils a Laser Internet That Could Shatter the Status Quo
    0·
    5 days ago

    Asked cgpt to compare lasers to microwave for data transmission; take with a grain of salt, but seems transfer rate especially isn’t comparable.

    🔄 Comparison: Laser vs Microwave Data Transmission

    📋 Comparison Table

    Feature Laser Transmission (e.g., Taara) Microwave Transmission
    Medium Free-space optical (light, like a fiber-optic cable without fiber) Radio/microwave frequencies (GHz range)
    Wavelength ~780–1600 nm (near-infrared) ~1–100 GHz
    Typical Data Rate 10–100 Gbps (Taara targets ~20 Gbps and higher) 100 Mbps – 1 Gbps (modern line-of-sight microwave)
    Max Practical Range ~10–20 km, highly sensitive to weather ~30–50 km, more tolerant of weather
    Line-of-Sight Requirement Yes, with tight beam alignment needed Yes, but more forgiving alignment
    Weather Sensitivity High — fog, rain, dust degrade performance Moderate — heavy rain can attenuate signal
    Latency Low Low
    Power Usage Lower power for same data rate Slightly higher power use
    Security High — narrow beam, hard to intercept Moderate — wider beam, easier to jam or intercept
    Deployment Harder — requires precision mounting and stability Easier — flexible mounting, ruggedized equipment
    Cost Higher upfront (optical gear, alignment systems) Lower per-unit, mature market
    Use Cases High-throughput backhaul (rural, terrain-constrained areas) Medium-throughput links, often as telco backbone

    📌 Key Insights

    • Bandwidth: Lasers have a much higher data capacity, similar to fiber optics. Microwave is far more limited in throughput.
    • Range: Microwave wins in raw distance, particularly in less-than-ideal weather. Lasers struggle with any visibility obstruction.
    • Stability: Lasers require precision alignment and environmental stability (wind, vibration can disrupt link). Microwaves are more forgiving.
    • Security: Lasers are harder to intercept due to their tight beams. Microwaves, being broader, are more vulnerable to eavesdropping and interference.

    🧠 When to Use What

    Use Laser Links (e.g., Taara) when:

    • You need fiber-like throughput without laying fiber
    • The link is short to medium range (under 20 km)
    • You can ensure clear line-of-sight and good weather conditions
    • You prioritize security and low interference

    Use Microwave Transmission when:

    • You need a reliable, moderate-speed link over 30–50 km
    • Operating in all weather conditions is a must
    • You want easier setup with more flexibility in alignment
    • Budget constraints are tighter
  • renard_roux@beehaw.orgtoTechnology@beehaw.org•I love my smart TV (From Mastodon) - RepostEnglish
    0·
    5 months ago

    We have a Samsung “smart” TV, hooked up to an AppleTV box. The TV’s original remote is in a drawer somewhere, forever unused.

    I have the apps that I need, the tiny Siri Remote turns on the TV and handles volume, and, apart from the aggressively, insanely, mind-blowingly horrible on-screen “keyboard” / text input (we don’t have Apple phones we can use to mitigate this, sadly. Also, what the fucking fuck, Apple?!) we’re happy. For now. I trust Apple to make the experience incrementally worse as a fact of life.

    Not perfect, but leagues better than dealing with Samsung’s interface.

  • renard_roux@beehaw.orgtoTechnology@beehaw.org•My little macgyver meshtastic node ^^English
    0·
    9 months ago

    Never heard of Meshtastic before, quite the rabbit hole, and sounds super awesome!

    Had a look at your other thread (not a member there so seems I can’t comment, or maybe it’s just my client), and trying to understand what you guys are using these for.

    Official site says “Hiking safety GPS”, something to that effect, but all this talk of “local topics” has me confused. What’s your use-case?