Good point. Most, if not all, US military aircraft are TCP/IP enabled by
now, as far as I know. (Should check with my dad - he designs these
kinds of systems for a living.) So far I haven't heard any mention of
the use of helicopters, unmanned drones or balloons for setting up
airborne networks as of yet. The national guard is being deployed with
large numbers of satellite phones, but that probably won't benefit
individuals still stuck in New Orleans or the surrounding parishes,
since they'll be reserved for first-responders and security.
ac
Taran Rampersad wrote:
OK, thanks Andy. If SMS isn't working, I suppose helicopters with
bullhorns will have to work. What's strange here is that modern military
helicopters should be TCP/IP enabled, and be able to propagate a
wireless network.
Andy Carvin wrote:
Actually, communications are a huge issue. Reporters have interviewed
police officers who are at their wit's end. Almost none of them have
satellite phones, and the local mobile phone networks have failed.
Some SMS is getting through, but it's sporadic.
I talked with Larry Anderson yesterday, who's in Mississippi, a way's
north of where the damage is. He's been using his ham radio to connect
with people in the coastal towns. He described the communications as
"real grim." Once again, ham radio seems to be the one technology
that's reliable...
andy
--
-----------------------------------
Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://www.tsunami-info.org
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
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