I would like to see more unifying people and forces in the world than divisive people, so I'm very glad that you do speak well of a product when it has a good impact. I've seen many sweep Starlink under the rug in their reporting due to their values, and I'm glad to see that despite your misgivings you are sharing where it's helpful, as well as sharing your discomfort in doing so.
What I'm excited to see happen over the next 5 years, though, is better direct to cell satellite service. Rather than having to buy a starlink terminal as part of an emergency operations kit, imagine having a cellphone that can become a satellite internet access point for a winlink gateway. While direct to cell is slow compared to starlink, it's fast enough to relay winlink traffic, and it doesn't require particularly specialized or uncommon or large or unweildy antennas or power hungry hardware to access.
The reverse side of that coin, though, is that it's absolutely astonishing that the technology used in starlink - hundreds of phased array antennas communicating in a dance with moving satellites with seamless handoff - is as cheap as it is, particularly when you notice that cell phones are often more expensive than a starlink terminal.
As great as the technologies we are using in amateur radio are, the industry long past left us in the dust. Meshtastic is a fun toy, but why aren't we bringing 5G networks online, and playing with phased satellite antenna arrays to bring disaster relief to hard hit areas? Mass manufacturing and patents play a role in all this, but is it really reasonable that our good HF rigs cost thousands of dollars and require significant expertise to use well? I know for many that's part of the hobby and enjoyment - but I think we could make a few leaps and make products for people that are plug an play. ALE, digital modes, measuring current environmental conditions, allowing anyone to talk to someone else nearly anywhere without having the expertise and knowledge that is required to make the same contact with today's limited hardware.
Anyway, I appreciate your time and effort. Definitely take care of the things you need to do, your contributions and time towards the community are very much appreciated and I hold you in high regard.
Thank you, Adam. Very thoughtful. I'm sure what I'm about to say will run some folks the wrong way, but here goes: we would benefit from making emergency comms easier to quickly deploy. Your comment about satellite internet through a cell phone is on point, especially when it comes to forwarding winlink traffic. I actually carry *two* cell phones! Even though both can be used as hotspots, I tend to use one only as a hotspot (plus it serves as my backup if my primary phone goes down). Adding satellite internet to a cell phone would be an amazing step forward.
Hi Tom, do what you need to do with real life. We'll be here when you get back. (I paused ARW for 3 years while in grad school then picked it up again like it had never stopped. Saw more interest after that hiatus than before.) Thanks for all the great info each week!
Thank you! And I probably should have put in a plug for Amateur Radio Weekly (https://hamweekly.com/), especially as you had linked the Wired.com article on amateur radio and Helene/Milton! Good stuff. Thank you for all you do for the community :-)
I would like to see more unifying people and forces in the world than divisive people, so I'm very glad that you do speak well of a product when it has a good impact. I've seen many sweep Starlink under the rug in their reporting due to their values, and I'm glad to see that despite your misgivings you are sharing where it's helpful, as well as sharing your discomfort in doing so.
What I'm excited to see happen over the next 5 years, though, is better direct to cell satellite service. Rather than having to buy a starlink terminal as part of an emergency operations kit, imagine having a cellphone that can become a satellite internet access point for a winlink gateway. While direct to cell is slow compared to starlink, it's fast enough to relay winlink traffic, and it doesn't require particularly specialized or uncommon or large or unweildy antennas or power hungry hardware to access.
The reverse side of that coin, though, is that it's absolutely astonishing that the technology used in starlink - hundreds of phased array antennas communicating in a dance with moving satellites with seamless handoff - is as cheap as it is, particularly when you notice that cell phones are often more expensive than a starlink terminal.
As great as the technologies we are using in amateur radio are, the industry long past left us in the dust. Meshtastic is a fun toy, but why aren't we bringing 5G networks online, and playing with phased satellite antenna arrays to bring disaster relief to hard hit areas? Mass manufacturing and patents play a role in all this, but is it really reasonable that our good HF rigs cost thousands of dollars and require significant expertise to use well? I know for many that's part of the hobby and enjoyment - but I think we could make a few leaps and make products for people that are plug an play. ALE, digital modes, measuring current environmental conditions, allowing anyone to talk to someone else nearly anywhere without having the expertise and knowledge that is required to make the same contact with today's limited hardware.
Anyway, I appreciate your time and effort. Definitely take care of the things you need to do, your contributions and time towards the community are very much appreciated and I hold you in high regard.
Thank you, Adam. Very thoughtful. I'm sure what I'm about to say will run some folks the wrong way, but here goes: we would benefit from making emergency comms easier to quickly deploy. Your comment about satellite internet through a cell phone is on point, especially when it comes to forwarding winlink traffic. I actually carry *two* cell phones! Even though both can be used as hotspots, I tend to use one only as a hotspot (plus it serves as my backup if my primary phone goes down). Adding satellite internet to a cell phone would be an amazing step forward.
Hi Tom, do what you need to do with real life. We'll be here when you get back. (I paused ARW for 3 years while in grad school then picked it up again like it had never stopped. Saw more interest after that hiatus than before.) Thanks for all the great info each week!
Thank you! And I probably should have put in a plug for Amateur Radio Weekly (https://hamweekly.com/), especially as you had linked the Wired.com article on amateur radio and Helene/Milton! Good stuff. Thank you for all you do for the community :-)
https://www.wired.com/story/hurricane-helene-milton-north-carolina-florida-amateur-radio/