Anything Under the Sun

The idea of an internet hotspot on wheels might sound far-fetched. But one of the products on show at CES can turn any vehicle into a wi-fi zone.

The newly invented gadget called SpeedRay 3000 developed by RaySat is a round, low profile antenna designed to go on the roof of a vehicle and access satellite TV and broadband. The system is said to provide an always-on connection on the move, using GPS technology to track the location of a satellite. Inside, the antenna rotates and tilts to adjust its position.
"As long as you have line of sight to the satellite, you are fine," said RaySat's Lynette Henley, adding that the signal would drop somewhere like New York because of the skyscrapers.
People who own motor homes are seen as the main audience for the system, as well as the emergency services and the military. But communication on the go comes at a high price, with the antenna costing $7,000, together with monthly subscription costs. It is due to go on sale in the US in the summer.