Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Try 'n Call

OK, I"v been thinking up a project. I've really got to get a hobby project so I Have something fun to work on. the projects at work are just plain BORING.

heres my latest brainstorm, feel free to critique: I call it Try 'n Call. Build a device that merges VoIP (voice over IP) and wardriving (using free open wireless network access points) and possibly a GPS to help that searching out a bit.

ideal solution:
some embedded device that has 2+ wifi adapters, a GPS, and a line-in/out -> telephone adapter. This thing would sit in my car adn while i'm driving look for open access points. Upon connecting to one it sends my ID to a server (or group, or something) to let them know I am within a calling region. now that one antenna has a good lock, the other antenna searches for the next network so I can attempt to seamlessly transfer within my personal wifi cells. The line-in/out -> telephone adaber is useful because i can plug ANY standard land-line phone in it, including 900mhz wireless ones (so I don't screw up my 2.4 ghz wifi signal) and actually take the phone in to work, or a store, etc. Some kind of lights [blinking LEDs for us geek people] would tell me that I have a cell lock, and other lights would tell me who in my buddy list is online.

yup.. I might just get 5 minutes of talk time on my way home!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

"is your light blinking now?"
hahaha sounds like fun =)

forkev said...

i like the idea, except the range of most wireless networks is so limited withough HUGE antenas on your side that it's not feasable through most of your drive.
therefore, make a server based phone book for ham radio that allows you to ask a server to connect you to someone over the internet's ham.
http://www.eham.net/newham/whathamsdo
pretty cool for calling people as long as their basestaion has 24/7 internet, and you are within earshot of your base station, or can catch a repeater into it.