GPS seems to be only part of the system in the Sears vans. Besides, the dome is way too large to house just a GPS antenna. I have seen those same type of "dome" assemblies on big rig trucks, repair vans, etc. They usually contain a motorized tracking antenna for satellite broadband. This allows the vehicle to be in motion and still be able to maintain contact with the satellite providing the network access. Similar types of devices are just now becoming available to the consumer market in the form of DirecTV antennas for SUV's, motorhomes, etc. They are motorized and allow viewing of satellite TV while the vehicle is in motion.
>From what I gather, the Sears trucks have the following: - Satellite tracking antenna - GPS receiver - 802.11 radio in Ad-Hoc mode - Ruggedized Laptop This allows the network connection to go from their Laptop -> Truck -> Satellite tracking antenna -> Internet. They use it to access repair information, set appointments, receive assignments, etc. It appears to be a very well designed system. The site aforementioned (http://www.ittc.ku.edu/wlan/phorum/list.php?f=1) tells you everything. It appears the SSID that is used by the Sears vans must be used in many other, similar applications. People have reported seeing signals from these devices "everywhere" and with incredible ranges. My guess is the company behind the technology uses the same SSID for all their customers, not just Sears. Oh, and also the Sears van is part of a secret government program to inject radio signals into our brains (See site for details) :P --Jason -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Fred Coffman Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:23 AM To: Greg DesBrisay Cc: Brian Lee; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [BAWUG] Sears Van They are GPS units - I quizzed the Sears man Greg DesBrisay wrote: > > > > I've seen those equipment pods on the top of Sears vans as well, but I > figured they were OmniTracs units (a satellite-based vehicle tracking > system, see www.omnitracs.com). Can't say for sure, but I'm guessing > the 802.11 gear is somewhere inside the van. > > Anyone here know for sure what an OmniTracs unit looks like? > > Greg > > > > > On Tue, 2003-11-18 at 13:02, Brian Lee wrote: > >>I've stumbled onto an Ad-Hoc network from a Sears Van today! It's outfitted >>with a real nice setup. I pick up signal from far away. I just wanted to >>share... >> >>SSID: SST-PR-1 >> >>Some pictures I took: >>http://www.yepo.com/vanaway.jpg >>http://www.yepo.com/vanback.jpg >>http://www.yepo.com/vanside.jpg >> >>Extensive coverage: >>http://www.ittc.ku.edu/wlan/phorum/list.php?f=1 >> >>Brian >> >>_________________________________________________________________ >>Page a contact’s mobile phone with MSN Messenger. Get it FREE! >>http://www.msnmessenger-download.com >> >>-- >>general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> >>[un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > > > -- > general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> > [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
