"Must Have App" that makes it so you dont need Cell Towers

[GrizzlyGuy]

Originally Posted by mindwip

Grizzlyguy. I never knew that about the ham. I know some ham guys can send data over ham but did not know it was wifi compatible.

Njineermike.
Dont worry, I learned something new too.

Most of our data comms actually aren't wi-fi compatible. You simply connect a computer's sound card to the mic input and headphone output of a standard HF or VHF/UHF radio. Software on the computer creates audio tones that encode the data, using whatever the encoding method is for the data mode you choose to use. There are literally dozens of different data modes in use. The most popular are RTTY (good ole teletype) and PSK31. Data rates are much-much less than WiFi of course, since you are sending all the data through a (typically) 2.4 kHz wide audio channel. On the other hand, distances can easily be much farther (e.g., around the world) since you are bouncing the signals off the ionosphere, moon, meteor trails or whatever.

Back on topic, here is an article that was in QST magazine a few months ago about some hams who set up a WiFi network out in the desert so that they could transmit live video from a race's finish line back to the start line. Their longest link was 9 miles, and they made that distance using just 80 mW (0.08W). Imagine how far they could have gone with 1500W (18,750 times = 43 dB more power).

Their network would also support people communicating from the start area to the finish area using this app on their cellphones. The cellphones would connect to one or the other access point, and the hams' "hinternet" would handle the long haul between them.

[problemchild]

Back in my Photog/camping days when I lived in my Diesel truck I used big DB Yagis to make my cell phone talk 70+ miles to a tower down by the freeway. I also used a sat dish to make a wifi work near 40 miles. I was running boosters on both.

[mindwip]

Good wardiving skills there.

[mindwip]

Wardriving*

[DavidR310]

So Grizzly Guy, how would this app be superior to say Echolink?

[GrizzlyGuy]

Originally Posted by DavidR310

So Grizzly Guy, how would this app be superior to say Echolink?

I don't think either are better than the other, they are just different.

This app doesn't require a ham license, so that's nice if you don't have one (and are sticking to normal WiFi frequencies and power ranges vs. the ham bands and higher power). The WiFi based communications would also be less susceptible to intercept and eavesdropping, especially if you are just running a LAN. If you are just trying to provide communications for a local group, the app costs less than buying everyone ham radios.

On the other hand, ham radio and Echolink would let you talk to lots more people at greater ranges.

[Stryfe76]

If I understand this correctly. With Solar or other chargers to keep the phones powered. Your group can communicate with each other for a few hundred feet with out infrastructure using the app and even further with the units in between acting as repeaters or mini-towers.

If there is some infrastructure around or other app users between you and the person you are calling you can connect at longer ranges.

Looks like a good thing to load on some old android phones you want to use for a BOB and you can call your destination when you get close.

[theunion1]

If you want to communicate with neighbors why not just use radios? If power is out... How would anyone communicate through wifi?

[sdkevin]

Great read, time to put it to work, thanks!