On: Graphene Antennas Would Enable Terabit Wireless Downloads

[InclinedPlane]

Don't be so quick. Don't just consider single link transfers, remember that wireless is always shared bandwidth. If you have a terabit for everyone that means you can have hundreds of megabits for tens of thousands of folks in a small area all connected to one access point / cell tower.

[trotsky → InclinedPlane]

They are talking about terahertz bands that aren't suitable for distance communication, the ranges are practically measured in centimeters.

[lutusp → trotsky]

> They are talking about terahertz bands that aren't suitable for distance communication, the ranges are practically measured in centimeters.

If this argument had merit, light would be unsuitable for long-distance communication.

[trotsky → lutusp]

Water vapor in these bands is a strong absorber limiting distance in earth's atmosphere to ~10 meters or less. Subtract a good deal for omnidirectional emissions and decent snr.

[lutusp → trotsky]

That's very wavelength-specific, as this graph shows:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Atm...

Water and water vapor has the same effect on the visual part of the spectrum also, but this doesn't reduce people's enthusiasm for it as a potential communications medium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terahertz_radiation