Milt Gregory is on an assignment to set up wireless networks crossways bodies of water. His newest achievement: San Francisco Bay.

Gregory, president of Sunrise Wireless, said he has set up concerning $2 million value of Wi-Fi, WiMax and wireless backhaul cog from Proxim Wireless Corp. approximately the bay to serve 62 square miles on the water.

There is a WiMax wireless network for commercial vessels, counting ferries, tankers and dinner-cruise ships, with public-safety rescue boats. The other network, based on Wi-Fi, is for leisure boaters to use. Gregory said laptops are capable of get a nice signal a half-mile from shore, using long-range aerials from Proxim.

The thought for location up wireless for the bay came from supplies trader friend who required doing his trades from his yacht, Gregory said in a conference.

The administrator name for the two networks running above ordinary backhaul is the clumsily named SFOWetNET.

Gregory said he required to create the system in the custom of huge Silicon Valley start-ups, using family funds and liability much the work himself. He mounts lots of steps to raise the gear atop high business district San Francisco buildings.

With the assist of some contractor, he installed aerials for 40 miles of backhaul and eight cell-tower positions atop the buildings, with six radios on each one.