Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Cloud
  • 5G
  • Big Data
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Networking

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

By Bill Detwiler June 28, 2006, 9:00 PM PDT on Twitter billdetwiler

Image
1
of 11

1709.jpg
1709.jpg
Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Amanda Termen/CNET News.com

A mesh network of more than 700 Internet access points covers Tempe, Ariz., the first larger city in the United States to go border-to-border wireless. The access points, attached to light poles around the city of 160,000 inhabitants, provide download speeds of up to 1Mbps.

Amanda Termen/CNET News.com
Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman uses the wireless Internet on his cell phone, BlackBerry and laptop to stay on top of his public responsibilities, both at work and in his spare time. Hallman said the network presents a great benefit to the people working in high-tech companies around the city.rn

rn”They can change their work space by going to a coffee shop or going out to our two-mile-long lakeshore and enjoying life as they work,” Hallman said.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

With a telescope-like camera on the roof of its command van, the Tempe Fire Department monitors the development of fires and accidents. Pictures are sent to headquarters over the city’s wireless network, so that decisions can be made about sending more personnel.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Al Jensen, hazardous-materials specialist at the Tempe Fire Department, said the wireless Internet access makes his job quicker, easier and safer. Over the city’s network, he can monitor an incident, download floor plans of buildings, and get laboratory help in identifying unknown substances.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

At the Tempe Police Department, all officers carry laptops that will soon be connected via the city’s wireless network. The command center vehicle, which is sent out for major crises, has a built-in access point and antennas connecting with the Wi-Fi network.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

The police command center vehicle seats 15 people, who are no longer limited to the use of radios and phone for communication. Police Detective Joe Retkowski uses the wireless Internet to download mug shots, as well as aerial pictures for tracking down lost children or controlling traffic situations. “It helps you make quicker and better decisions,” he said.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

As the daytime temperature soars with the coming of summer, Tempe’s streets empty of people. Even if the wireless Internet covers 95 percent of the 40-square-mile area, only a small percentage of the population can get indoor coverage. That may be one of the reasons why only slightly more than 650 people have subscribed to the service so far.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Dan Saine, a teacher in Tempe, is beta testing the enhancement device that’s needed to get Internet coverage indoors. He is very happy with the speed of the city network but hasn’t gotten rid of his cable yet. “I am waiting to see what it’s going to cost,” he said.

Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

Tempe has had a rough time as a pioneer in the development of citywide wireless Internet. Nonetheless, the city believes it’s heading in the right direction. MobilePro, which set up, deployed and maintains the network, is currently attaching access points to light poles in the neighboring cities of Chandler and Gilbert. Together the three districts will form a wireless area of 187 square miles by year’s end.

  • Networking
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Photos: Arizona city goes wireless

    Your email has been sent

Share: Photos: Arizona city goes wireless
Image of Bill Detwiler
By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
  • Account Information

    Contact Bill Detwiler

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Bill's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Checklist: How to manage your backups

    PURPOSE Backups are essential to any IT job. Some consider backups as the most critical tasks in an administrator’s day. Why? Because when a backup is done correctly (and performed regularly), recovering from a disaster is less of a nightmare and more of an inconvenience. Without those backups, your business could be non-operational for some ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 29, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 30, 2023, 3:04 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Prompt engineer

    PURPOSE Recruiting a prompt engineer with the right combination of industry knowledge, organizational awareness, experience and technical expertise will require a comprehensive screening process. This hiring kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY TRAITS, ...

    Published:  May 29, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 30, 2023, 8:37 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Office relocation checklist

    PURPOSE New office launches and site relocations run the range from straightforward to overly complex. For intricate, sophisticated new office deployments and larger site moves, TechRepublic Premium’s Office relocation checklist can help plan, monitor and execute such projects. From the checklist: LIST REQUIRED OF EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES Begin by creating a simple list of required ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 25, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 26, 2023, 11:17 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Onboarding and offboarding IT staff checklist

    PURPOSE Onboarding and offboarding employees requires careful attention. Otherwise, team members may receive insufficient permissions to perform their jobs or continue to have access long after their employment’s termination. Given the stakes, the problem is even worse when managing IT staff permissions, so it’s imperative that your company adopts a system to ensure consistency. Employees, ...

    Downloads
    Published:  May 24, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  May 25, 2023, 9:19 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice