Iowa motorists, like those in Texas and Maryland can now check their e-mail and surf the Internet at wireless hot rest stops, while they stretch their legs.
The Iowa Department of Transportation said a six-month trial will test three wireless rest stops, then access may expand to 40 rest areas statewide.
Wireless users will be directed to a customized home page that includes links to Iowa weather and road conditions; Amber Alerts concerning missing children; food, lodging and fuel at nearby businesses; and tourist attractions and events.
“This new service has the potential to significantly increase tourism activity and local spending in communities around the state,” said Nancy Landess, manager of the Iowa Tourism Office. The Iowa rest area wireless access is provided at no expense to state government by Des Moines-based I Spot Network, which hopes to profit by selling advertising.
“We don’t want people saying, ‘Hey, that’s kind of cool, but why are my taxes being used for this?’ ” said Mark Wheeler, I Spot chief executive officer.
The Texas Department of Transportation began experimenting with free wireless Internet access at the state’s 84 rest areas and 12 travel information centers while Maryland is launching “hot spots” at two of its welcome centers on Interstate 95.
A large 75MHz of bandwidth has been allocated for mobile communications with safety applications to get priority at 5.9GHz, or precisely from 5.850 to 5.925GHz. Tolls are presently taken at about 915MHz in north America (within 902 to 928 MHz, a shared band). The new north American 5.9GHz standard is designed around the 802.11a so that it will be able to use mass produced componentry and software.
There’s a working group: 802.11p. It will operate at ranges of up to 1km (3280ft) and move data at up to 27Mbps though it will normally be powered for a range of 300m (1,000ft) and a 6Mbps datarate.
Next up: WiFi in Cars.
The Mount Hood Loop Highway was completed 80 years ago, today, in 1924. The highway starts and ends in Portland, Oregon and circles Mount Hood. Some WiFi hotspots wouldn’t hurt.
.gif)
