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."

Re:$1400?

[xSauronx]

Or basic WISP equipment. Tranzeo has 4.9ghz systems that start at $433 per radio, and can do a good 5 miles or so. Each unit can act as a client, a bridge, or an AP (they sell directional units, and units with n-connectors so you can attach a direction or omni antenna) Ive installed their 2.4ghz radios as far as 5 miles from an AP. $1400 bucks for a pair of radios seems a bit much, IMO. Not that the article was heavy on details anyway.

Re:$1400?

[rs79]

"and $20000 for a toilet seat"

It was $10,000 not $20,000. It later came to light this was hoy money for covert operations was being found.

Re:Yawn

[DejaFu]

Bingo. No prob @ 500mw 2-way with antennas. Prob is: how do they get an 802.11 sig *back* from std xmit pwr w/o antenna @ 700 meters? I smell fish (fish = selling to bureaucrats). Here, fishy, fishy, fishy...

Re:Party Yachts

[ralewi1]

I believe you've missed the point on what EMIO (Expanded Maritime Interception Operations) involves and what this WI-FI communications system is used for - it's for boarding teams to relay information back to the mother ship, where specially trained sailors can use databases to help determine if there is a terrorist or smuggler on the boarded ship's crew. I understand that you're making an attempt at a cheap political joke, but this is serious, dangerous work, and it happens every day in the Gulf and other parts of the world.

TO ALL WHO RESPONDED

[PHAEDRU5]

I was making a smartass remark. Really.

I'll bet there's a Mil Std somewhere that requires the equipment to be resistant to everything from sea-salt to EMP. This adds cost. Probably for no actual good. However, as one of my commanders once told me "regulations are writen in blood."

$1400 may sound expensive, but what price on a life?