Minneapolis Wi-Fi: Time to Pull the Contract?
From:
Dave Garland
Date:
Mar 23 20:11 UTC
Short link
On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:54:31 -0500, Dyna wrote:
>Now it appears to be quite possible
>to plug the "Ruckus" modem into most mobile laptops, but the "Ruckus"
>modem has another cord coming out of it with a pair of rectangular
>prongs on the end. While you'll find the appropriate power providing
>receptacle for the "Ruckus" modem in most any home, you're pretty
>unlikely to find a household power plug on any vehicle in Minneapolis
>fleet or it's citizens and visitors. So the system has failed it's
>most basic test- it cannot be accessed by mobile users from well over
>95% of the city.
A glance at the Ruckus website shows the Ruckus runs on 12VDC. My guess
is that, should it be desirable, smart mobile users (or the city's
in-house radio shop) will not have much difficulty powering it from the
typical (12V) vehicle. Two plugs, one piece of wire.
And if you don't want to use a (non-authorized) cord to the cigarette
lighter outlet, for $20 or so you can buy a cheap inverter that will
provide 110V to plug your authorized power pack into.