Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mililani, HI, USA
Posts: 256

brennerj,

You're dealing with just one possible use of bluetooth, but bluetooth isn't restricted to Internet application. So in fact, bluetooth is available globally--not just in certain cities. If you're restricting the use of bluetooth to internet application in space, then the limitation that you've outlined is correct. But most of us were thinking about bluetooth simply as a means of sharing data, or remotely controlling things in space--as a faster, secure, and more user-friendly kind of "IR beam".

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Deep Space.
Posts: 76

While the use of bluetooth as a generic data transfer protocol is quite interesting, their is a lot too consider. For instance I heard that bluetooth uses the same spread spectrium 2.4 gigahurtz frequences as the ISS's exisiting onboard wireless lan. It could also conflict with the suit's camera transmitters. Quite a bit of stratigic planning is needed to insure all this works as reliably and safely as possible. We already must rule out IR com on the ISS because it sets off the Russian fire detectors. Ooops. Oh well...

[This message has been edited by Explorer1 (edited 11-19-1999).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mililani, HI, USA
Posts: 256

Explorer1,

LOL!
Very interesting. Thanks for the post.