[Guest]

Before there was me, 29 stood for the task,

We often stretch side by side, though I will outlast.

I can only go so far, and than an arc I must face,

Across long distances I go, carrying my parcels place to place.

Sometimes I bring to you, other times I take it on the road,

It is you, not me, that chooses the contents of my load.

[Guest]

... a telegraph? Or a cable of some sort? Carrying "data packages?

[Guest]

... a telegraph? Or a cable of some sort? Carrying "data packages?

You're on the right path IdoJava. Keep going in that direction.

[Guest]

i'm thinking a telephone or electrical line up on a pole

[plainglazed]

fiber optic cable?

[Guest]

well done plainglazed!

the answer is "fiber optic cable" or just "fiber optics"

for those of you curious about the clues:

Before there was me, 29 stood for the task, (29 is the atomic number for copper, which is being replaced by fiber optics in telecom & datacom)

We often stretch side by side, though I will outlast. (most parts of the world are using both copper and fiber, but fiber is the way of the future)

I can only go so far, and than an arc I must face, (fiber cables can only be so long, and then a fusion splice or electrical arc is used to join it to another cable)

Across long distances I go, carrying my parcels place to place. (data is carried in waves of light in fiber optic cables)

Sometimes I bring to you, other times I take it on the road, (2 way transfer of data)

It is you, not me, that chooses the contents of my load. (pretty straightforward)

[Guest]

i was going to say fire

[Guest]

Coppers atomic number is 29, so the old type is copper wire, what type do they use now? I'll just say an ethernet cable

[Guest]

Coppers atomic number is 29, so the old type is copper wire, what type do they use now? I'll just say an ethernet cable

Elbryan, you picked up on that clue right, but . . .

ethernet cables are also made with copper. see my last post for full explanation or keep guessing. You are right at the finish line.

[plainglazed]

well done plainglazed!

the answer is "fiber optic cable" or just "fiber optics"

for those of you curious about the clues:

Before there was me, 29 stood for the task, (29 is the atomic number for copper, which is being replaced by fiber optics in telecom & datacom)

We often stretch side by side, though I will outlast. (most parts of the world are using both copper and fiber, but fiber is the way of the future)

I can only go so far, and than an arc I must face, (fiber cables can only be so long, and then a fusion splice or electrical arc is used to join it to another cable)

Across long distances I go, carrying my parcels place to place. (data is carried in waves of light in fiber optic cables)

Sometimes I bring to you, other times I take it on the road, (2 way transfer of data)

It is you, not me, that chooses the contents of my load. (pretty straightforward)

Well done by you as well.

"parcels" and where that led and misled me.

Ended up helping.

Edited May 14, 2009 by plainglazed