The Canarian Association of Wireless Networks claimed a new world record earlier this month by establishing a wireless connection between two 802.11b-equipped notebooks over a distance of 70.5 kilometers (44 miles), without additional signal boosters.

According to U.K.-based WLAN community network pioneers Consume.net, the Canarian group established a 1-Mbit/s wireless link between the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The group used standard laptop computers and wireless cards with 24dB grid antennas.

The aim of the association is to link all seven of the Canary Islands using 802.11b.

— Dan Jones, Senior Editor, Unstrung
http://www.unstrung.com