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Google-backed drones will drop library books to kids in SW Virginia

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Google-backed drones will drop library books to kids in SW Virginia

#44

Post by aejnsn »

darren0 wrote: post #26
aejnsn wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for noting this! I am from (real) SW Virginia. While this looks great as a headline--because everyone knows of SW Virginia's impoverished situation due to coal economy dependencies--Montgomery is definitely NOT the poorest county in SW VA. That's on the border of barely qualifying as "SW VA" in my opinion. I'd rather see this impact in the coalfield counties of Buchanan, Wise, Dickenson, Russell, Lee, Tazewell…

Is 4G/LTE connectivity also an issue? You've seen internet access brought to people through smart phones but I'm curious if the geography poses even more problems with that approach.

Great question. I previously worked in a field where we relied upon mobile connectivity in this region for data collection, most carrier's coverage maps are low-resolution marketing bullshit based on theoretical detail--particularly in that area. That's the blunt observation from firsthand experience, I can probably name off a half-dozen areas where there is no signal to be had at all for miles. How that doesn't make it onto a coverage map is beyond me. Even when I am back in the area these days, there are several spots along highways US-19, US-58, US-23, etc., where calls will drop every single time you travel through the spot. Decent-sized towns have capable signal, but you leave those areas and the population density just doesn't support a carrier's business. I just wish their coverage maps painted a realistic picture.

The geography does pose a problem there. It's my understanding hardware on a cellular tower travels in a vertical beam, in addition to the more commonly understood horizontal beam. Altitude placement of towers is a factor as well. Altitude variance in those jagged mountains and rolling hills make for awful propagation. Radio/signals aren't my trade though, there's definitely somebody on HN who knows the specifics.

Re: Google-backed drones will drop library books to kids in SW Virginia

#45

Post by weare138 »

agarden wrote: post #31
darren0 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is 4G/LTE connectivity also an issue? You've seen internet access brought to people through smart phones but I'm curious if the geography poses even more problems with that approach.

I live just a couple miles from town and have no cell phone service at my house. And it isn't even down in a valley. Forget LTE; cell service in general is really spotty in this region.

I'm currently and temporarily staying in central VA and I can't believe how bad internet access and cell service is here. I'm basically in between Charlottesville and Richmond along the I64 corridor and there is no viable broadband here. I have a satellite connection but the latency is too high to do any actual work over it. They finally put in a cell tower close enough to get 1 or 2 bars of LTE if I strategically place the phone near the window. Before I had stand outside just to make a call and even then it was a crapshoot. Now I can at least tether through my phone for internet access. But holy crap I had no idea it was like that down here when I moved. And it's not even that rural of an area. I'm only like 45min away from Richmond or Charlottesville.

Re: Google-backed drones will drop library books to kids in SW Virginia

#46

Post by sinak »

weare138 wrote: post #45
agarden wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live just a couple miles from town and have no cell phone service at my house. And it isn't even down in a valley. Forget LTE; cell service in general is really spotty in this region.

I'm currently and temporarily staying in central VA and I can't believe how bad internet access and cell service is here. I'm basically in between Charlottesville and Richmond along the I64 corridor and there is no viable broadband here. I have a satellite connection but the latency is too high to do any actual work over it. They finally put in a cell tower close enough to get 1 or 2 bars of LTE if I strategically pl…

OK a bit of self-promotion but this is what we help people all the time. You can either run a hotspot with external antennas or put in a booster. https://www.waveform.com

Happy to help if you want to email me.

Re: Google-backed drones will drop library books to kids in SW Virginia

#47

Post by suifbwish »

zaphod12 wrote: post #30
suifbwish wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Electronic books are also not our future. Until there are ebooks with physical pages I can turn, I can’t be bothered with them and I am not alone. Ebooks will never be mainstream except for audio purposes and for reference material.

You aren't alone, but you are also incorrect. Ebooks are already very mainstream. Doesn't mean physical books are dead - over time sales of physical books have gone down and sales of ebooks have risen. (though this has been relatively steady of late - ebooks make up 20% of sales) fwiw, I hate ebooks for references because flipping around is pretty tough - but as someone who loves to travel and loves to read, being ab…

Don’t get me wrong I make it a point to collect as many ebooks as I can but I never read them. I feel through them now and then with some regex but I would never stare at a screen for hours just reading. Paper is softer on the eyes and it doesn’t take fossil fuel for them to continue existence and use. Until renewable energy makes up more than 50% of our energy sources, I hold that paper books are more environmentally friendly than ebooks as they do not require electricity to use or to store, additionally they permanently trap carbon in a useful way. Everyone is itching for everything to be “smart” but we don’t necessarily gain a benefit of making everything electronic
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