Amateur Satellite WiFi Network Proposed

(KE4AL drawing via Twitter)

Also in the news from AMSAT is a proposal for launching a constellation of nanosatellites which will talk to each other as well as stations on the ground. According to the AMSAT News Service, the goal of the so-called amsatLink project - proposed by AMSAT VP of User Services Robert Bankston, KE4AL - is to create an ad-hoc 802.11 wireless network, using amateur frequencies in the 2.4-GHz band, which would support data modes as well as digital voice. The program would use off-the-shelf components to hold down costs. It's estimated that each satellite would cost less than $5,000 and that ground stations could be set up with an investment of about $150.