2003 Seattle Wireless Field Day 71
propellerhead writes "Today is 2003 Wireless Field Day for Seattle Wireless. 'Similar to amateur radio field day, a mock emergency network will be created this summer using off-the-shelf 802.11b hardware, computers, and battery/gas power supplies. Network applications such as VoIP (Voice over IP or Internet Telephony), streaming audio and video, file sharing, chat, network games, and others will be implemented across a multi-hop wireless infrastructure. If resources allow, the goal is to connect this mobile network to the existing Seattle Wireless network, which currently exists in the Seattle area. This network can also provide access to the internet and our community network partners like Seattle Pacific University and Council House Projects.'"
Emergency network, eh? (Score:3, Insightful)
Network applications such as VoIP (Voice over IP or Internet Telephony), streaming audio and video, file sharing, chat, network games, and others will be implemented...
Like people are really going to need to chat, share files, and watch streaming video during an emergency.
Re:Emergency network, eh? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yea, kudos for being able to create an information network that can handle running without a power source (by providing your own power gen hardware.) As we saw when NY NY was under attack two years ago the problem isn't lack of electricity. The real problem is that during an emergency everybody tries to use the network at once (ie, phone system, cell phone network, etc...) and just overloads it. In the event of a real emergency it needs to handle a slashdotting of users trying to get through at once, and the system as described (an 802.11b network running hardware a bunch of hackers bought at Frys) isn't gonna cut it.
Neat experiment, though.
Because we all know... (Score:5, Insightful)
power outage? (Score:2, Insightful)
"Power out... disaster... locusts...
That's an SEP. (Someone Elses Problem.)
Don't compare this to Amateur Radio Field Day (Score:1, Insightful)
Let's say you are in a massive earthquake. You need help, or you're going to call for help for someone else. Phones are dead, your cell phone network is jammed, and your ISP was hit big time too. You're screwed!
That's the one flaw here. All these guys could set up an intranet in the event of an emergency, but if the various ISPs are down for the count (as they likely would be), the only coordination would be between users of this phantom wireless network.
Ham radio users, on the other hand, don't need any ISP to coordinate. Sure we have central repeaters, and those might get knocked off the air, but our rigs are allowed to broadcast up to 1500 watts! Furthermore, most counties where I live have emergency radio councils where Hams can take classes and become certified disaster communication specialists. They learn to pass traffic, they are known to local fire departments and police departments etc. Even on my 2 meter handie-talkie, I've got 5 watts and can cover my entire valley. General and extra class licensees could easily get on HF and talk to the world and coordinate with the feds.
In an emergency, I'm not going to log on to my computer and hook up a Yagi connected to a linksys router. I'm going to say, "Mayday, Mayday" on my 2 meter HT on a pre-designated frequency I've received training on.
Like I said, this is very cool, but it's of limited usefulness in a real emergency.