rusty wire

( n.)

   [Amateur  Packet  Radio]  Any very noisy network medium, in which the
   packets  are  subject  to  frequent  corruption.  Most  prevalent  in
   reference  to  wireless links subject to all the vagaries of RF noise
   and  marginal  propagation  conditions.  "Yes,  but  how good is your
   whizbang new protocol on really rusty wire?".

[glossary]