Weather problem for city broadband

The experiment in broadband-for-the-masses that Sneak reported on recently sounds very similar to the WMAN – or wireless metropolitan area network – that a company tried in Atlanta (Where do I stick it, 2 June).

The company, Biltmore Communications, thought it would be a good idea to mount 802.11b yagis and receiver drums around the city, bounce the signal around and then down into the apartments and businesses with cables. A great plan – except Atlanta has lots of hills, a terrible line of site, bad storms, and did I mention massive heat waves?

Jon