Long-haul radio offers open Linux platform

"Despite its name, the Satellar is not a satellite radio, but a long-distance radio modem designed to operate on private networks in remote areas where phone cables are not available. Applications include oil and gas discovery, wind farms, electrical networks, and water distribution systems, says Finland-based Satel. With its wide temperature range, the Satellar is also touted for its abilities in applications ranging from snow guns (for preemptively setting off avalanches) to SCADA systems for monitoring oil or gas pipelines in the desert.

"The Satellar is available with three modular units: a central unit housing a 200MHz ARM9 processor, a radio unit, and an expansion unit that offers an additional radio. The central unit's ARM9 processor is supported with 64MB RAM and 128MB of flash, says Satel.

"Measuring 5.1 x 0.9 x 3 inches (130 x 21.7 x 76.5mm), the unit is equipped with a 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 display, as well as an Ethernet port and both USB host and device ports. The central unit can also be bought in a version that lacks the display, in which case it consumes about 1.4 Watts. The display version, meanwhile, is said to consume 2.0 Watts."

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