Jamming, military style

Given its plans to embrace more wireless network technologies, the military is doing lots of upfront research.

To address concerns about the jamming or interfering with wireless network signals, some long-term research sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) promises to foster new software-based methodologies for converting radio-based signals instantly from one radio frequency to another.

"It's at least five years out," said Bill Jeffery, deputy director at DARPA, speaking at a recent conference. But he said research is proving it's possible to have a software-based radio that can use an antenna to "sniff the frequency" and then convert to the available frequency to transmit voice or data communications.

In other research, the military is interested in developing wireless voice-over-IP technology that would let soldiers request supplies by speaking to a wireless device.

- Ellen Messmer