-------- Original Message --------
From: Ted Smith <[email protected]>
Apparently from: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Multiple Internets]
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:02:57 -0500

>I'm a little skeptical of wireless mesh networks as a general solution
to this sort of problem, because they're inherently chatty, and have
very limited reach.

Wireless meshes are usually short range but there is no architectural reason 
they can't be linked by LoS or even longer distances connections. One area 
familiar to hams in the VHF/UHF bands is troposcatter. Tropo is similar to the 
more common HF phenomenon ionospheric reflection ("skip") but instead uses 
refraction changes in lower layers of the atmosphere due to temperature/density 
differences.

Tropo is shorter range (generally 100-500 km) than skip and less RF efficient 
but tends to be more reliable and because it operates using much higher 
frequencies can support much higher bandwidth (data rates). All the VHF/UHF ham 
bands and several unlicensed bands (900 MHz, U.S. only), 2.4 GHz and 5.7 GHz 
can all support tropo though reflection efficiency tends to be greatest at the 
lower frequencies.

Until the advent of satellites tropo use was widespread by commercial and 
military. Now that anti-satellite tech is becoming more widespread (e.g., 
recent Chinese launches) tropo is again being investigated 
http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2013/07/army-troposcatter-communications.html
 I'm considering tropo experiments in one of the ham or ISM bands. Please PM if 
you might have SDR or RF skills, time and some money to throw toward this.

Speaking of skip, in my PP Hacker Conference slides 
http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=03580328025747098705 I discuss a variant, 
NVIS (Near Vertical Incident Skywave), first developed by the Germans during WW 
II, which allows HF stations operating between 2 - 12 MHz to bounce signals off 
the ionosphere for intermediate rage (25-100 km) non-LoS communications.

WW
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