Wi-Fi Hack Aids Boarding Parties

Kage-Yojimbo writes with a link to the site Strategy Page. There, they're reporting on a military adaptation of civilian wi-fi equipment to use in boarding operations on the high seas. Modifications to normal off-the-shelf gear can result in a range of over 700 meters, allowing information to be passed through on-shore internet connections. "The main reason for all this was to speed up the transmission of passport photos and other personal data back to the ship, so that it could be run through databases to check for terrorists or criminals. This wi-fi hack cut several hours off the time required to check documents. The Expanded Maritime Interception Operations (EIMO) wireless system was developed last year, to provide several kilometers of range to the original wi-fi gear (which has been in use for over three years). Each pair of wi-fi units costs about $1400 to construct, using common parts to add more powerful antennae to standard 802.11g wi-fi equipment."

The Canadian Military Uses This Too...

[VE3OGG]

Except theirs is modified with a high-powered, ultra-top secret Pringles can...

Yarrr

[42Penguins]

Only pirates are allowed to take part in "boarding operations on the high seas".
The Military can, however, "liberate" vessels.

Now you've done it.

[shmlco]

Now you've gone and done it. By publicizing the fact that they're using commercial off-the-shelf equipment you've opened the door to someone higher up mandating a "military-grade" system costing 100x as much.

Re:The Canadian Military Uses This Too...

[mobby_6kl]

Canadian navy has ships that can take the additional weight of a pringles can?

Re:$1400?

[djmcmath]

It's the US Navy. If there's a $5 solution commercially available, we can guarantee that it will cost $500, and be delivered 20% past deadline. We're also very good at signing contracts that won't expire until the technology that we've contracted has been obsolete for 20 years. No worries, finest Navy in the world, right here, boys.

Re:The Canadian Military Uses This Too...

[Runefox]

We just a couple of years ago bought (lease-to-own) a few state of the art diesel submarines from Great Britain circa 1990, with very few leaks. Due to their leak-free nature, Pringles cans are allowed on board to replace the excess water normally stored in the crew cabins, and the high-powered, top-secret nature of the new cans allow for internet connectivity at depths as low as two inches, nearing the maximum dive depth.

Re:$1400 probably covers cost for procurment.

[Runefox]

Cousin Timmy: OK, General, you're all set.

Gen: Thanks, son. Hey, why is it telling me that the connection strength is low?

Cousin Timmy: That's nothing to worry about. Also, you need to reconnect every ten minutes, because the router's a little weird, and I don't know how to flash the firmware. That's what the tech support forum said I should do.

Gen: ... What?

Cousin Timmy: Don't worry about that, there's nothing to the workaround. You just right-click on this icon here, click "repair" and you're done. Every ten minutes. Oh, and you won't get speeds over 1mbps, and your firewall won't let you share files. Also, your email sometimes doesn't work. It's a weird issue, I'm not in the mood to fix it.

Gen: Now wait a minute, I don't think-

Cousin Timmy: Like I said, everything's set up, and I've gotta get to class. Ciao!