I've been toying with this for nearly a year, drew up maps with customer clusters, and did some other research, but never had a good-enough solution to get around signal penetration problems in the forest -- but I was given an idea....!
Goal: Launch a self-sufficient tethered solar balloon to provide wireless Internet service in a hilly, forested area by 2015.Sub-goal A: Higher range, lower costs than leasing/building towers
Sub-goal B: Sustain one-year flight without maintenance
Sub-goal C: Using WISP software paid for in BTC, launch profitable WISP in rural, forested area with a minimum coverage of 500 people.
Sub-goal D: 1mbps down, 500kbps up @ $25/mo or less, <100ms Internet ping, <$200 upfront, less than 50% over-selling, no contracts.
Components required:
Lightweight high-cycle-life battery bank (LiFePO4 or LiPo, I'd think) -- NEED
Flexible solar panels -- NEEDHigh-speed ISP service with sub-leasing provision -- SECURED (up to 300 down, 50 up)
Solar balloon -- MAKE
Radio/"Router" -- HAVE (Ubiquity directional for testing --
need energy-efficient omni for full launch)
Lightweight PC for QoS/shaping/etc -- NEED (Possibly have -- see if Raspi can work)Components to tether balloon -- HAVE (high-gauge fishing wire)
Automated turrets to shoot back at the drunk -- WANT
Estimated cost for proof-of-concept test launch: Free-enough
Estimated total cost for "functional" test launch:
(<$500)
Estimated total cost for first fully-functional launch:
(<$2000)
Estimated total cost for coverage goal:
Contributors:
Myself (construction, battery testing, business stuff, general insanity)
Michael Brown (consulting [experience operating WISP], WISP software)
Deslok (consulting)
Google X & #bitcoin-assets (gave me the idea to use balloons instead of towers)
Roadmap:
By September, 2013 -- first FAA-complient test flight (balloon only)
By November, 2013 -- first test flight with simulated payload
By December, 2014 -- complete battery testing, decide on a bank, order all remaining components
By January, 2014 -- first test flight with functioning payload, WISP software loaded
By February, 2014 -- complete coverage testing, begin advertising
By March, 2014 -- launch two more functioning balloons to create mesh network
By April, 2014 -- complete coverage testing for additional balloons, advertise
By July, 2014 -- launch as many additional balloons as necessary to meet coverage goal.
By 2015 -- fully complete coverage testing and advertising, serving at least 200 people.
Balloon funds: $500
Balloon donations to date: 0BTC
Donations can be made to 1Ba11ooNy2b8EyPwW5F56mJnhauDK7va5Z. The first 50BTC will be put toward testing/startup expenses (this is essential to get moving). Anything additional will go either toward meeting sub-goal D by using upfront expenses to minimize maintenance costs, toward expanding service to other forested areas without decent ISP options, and/or toward low-income service subsidies.
IF: 5BTC donated, pictures will be included in future updates on balloon progress.
IF: 20BTC donated, battery bank testing sheets will be released (includes lead-acid, LiPo, LiFePO4 with mAh, mAh/lb, "voltage output under load by mAh consumed" with graph, time to charge, Wh & Wh/lb)
IF: 40BTC donated, sheets on solar panel tests will be released (unsure of what all will be included)
IF: 60BTC donated, all future balloons will have giant Bitcoins drawn on!
IF: 80BTC donated, customer management screens will be loaded with Bitcoin propaganda, with BTC payment option.
IF: 100BTC donated..... Idunno -- popular, and reasonable idea on thread implemented
Donations with stipulations accepted. Run by me, first. Currently think publicly selling equity or revenue would be too dangerous, so would instead prefer to help pass donations on to customers in the form of superior ISP service to their current options. If project is deemed non-viable, unused donations will be returned proportionally to addresses sent from. First priority is to launch in Parma, MI, as a proof-of-concept. Expertise always appreciated.
