[amsat-bb] Re: Portable satellite terminals for disaster relief
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, wrote: I guess you're observing that AMSAT's GEO proposal has to fit into the GEO satellite commodity market. Should Amsat be working with NetHope to design a better terminal? How do we work with these guys to convince them that they should be using a ham satellite instead of a commercial service? One big advantage of the commercial service is that it exists now. How do we get the money from funding agencies, either government, corporate, or non-profit? Where does Amsat fit in to this world? Have they even heard of us, our history and our capabilities? I've maintained that a GEO satellite is best suited to link widely deployed sectors of the Incident Command System. I think most government-based emergency authorities are not going to be interested in building or funding a system that they do not design and control. They consider amateur radio to be a last-ditch thing that they would rather not count on, they would rather have an in-house system that fits in to their chain of command and shows their funding authorities that they are fully on top of emergency communications and don't need to rely on amateur volunteers coming forward in time of need. A non-governmental organization like NetHope might be more receptive to our proposals. We need to think hard and come up with new ideas. Dan Schultz N8FGV ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Portable satellite terminals for disaster relief
Hi Daniel, Thanks for that link of the interview with with Radio Amateur Mike Outmesguine KG6NHH, I'd only just seen the text report, which is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8318156.stm 73 Trevor M5AKA --- On Tue, 27/10/09, Daniel Schultz n8...@usa.net wrote: From: Daniel Schultz n8...@usa.net Subject: [amsat-bb] Portable satellite terminals for disaster relief To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 8:14 I came across this program on the BBC, rebroadcast late Sunday night in Washington DC on WAMU FM: Digital Planet, October 20, 2009 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004l2hz This organization, NetHope (http://www.nethope.org), has developed a small $3000 portable satellite terminal for quick deployment to disaster areas, providing voice and internet service through a commercial geosynchronous satellite. They are called Network Relief Kits. Amsat can pretty well forget about attracting funding for a geosynchronous amateur satellite supporting emergency communications when the capability already exists. It would seem that the only remaining justification for amateur radio in today's world is for the education and self training aspects. I don't know if self training as defined in part 97 carries any weight in today's world. There was a time when most engineers started out as hams in their early youth, but today only formal school based education carries any weight with employers and funding agencies. What this will mean for Amsat's ability to launch any future satellites that are larger than a Cubesat and in a higher orbit remains to be seen. Where does Amsat fit in with NetHope and the other non governmental organisations of the world? Dan Schultz N8FGV -- From the BBC web site: NETWORK RELIEF KITS Network Relief Kits have been designed to provide immediate internet access in remote areas. It is a small portable kit that fits into a back-pack, and has provided a vital aid to workers who set out to help people after disasters. The engineer and journalist, Mike Outmesguine, explains how to build an internet relief kit. BILL BRINDLEY ON NetHope Bill Brindley, the CEO of NetHope, joins Digital Planet to discuss how his organisation developed the Network Relief Kit. Mr Brindley explains the importance of collaboration between non governmental organisations and other big business to further develop tools that will help in the restoration of connectivity to areas that have suffered natural disasters. ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Portable satellite terminals for disaster relief
Dan observed: Amsat can pretty well forget about attracting funding for a geosynchronous amateur satellite supporting emergency commun- ications when the capability already exists. An Amateur Radio Club (of which AMSAT is a unique subset) usually isn't the first-to-market with technical equipment. On the other hand, a lot of amateur radio's innovations have become day-to-day technology haven't they? Nethope at this point has only developed half of what AMSAT proposed - they did a ground terminal to communicate via an existing commercial service. Does that make AMSAT's hopes to also fly a payload someday plus a revived Namaste ground terminal a redundant proposition? Enough companies make commercial satellite ground terminals that it has become commodity equipment covering a broad spectrum of capability and cost. Of all the automotive suppliers people still choose what fills their needs or wallet. Hams choose what fills our needs or wallet from all the amateur radio gear manufacturers. I guess you're observing that AMSAT's GEO proposal has to fit into the GEO satellite commodity market. I've maintained that a GEO satellite is best suited to link widely deployed sectors of the Incident Command System. A satellite isn't generally useful in the often portrayed emergency communications scenario of the ham-in-a-yellow-vest pointing a 2M HT at a pile of tornado damage. future satellites that are larger than a Cubesat and in a higher orbit Yeah, at this point we're realizing that having a GEO satellite offer AMSAT 30x30x30cm of room is equivalent to winning the lottery. Perhaps for the next few years AMSAT's contributions to increased cubesat capability is a previously unforeseen intermediate opportunity to get us higher and louder. That seemed to me to be one of the key decisions coming out of the BoD meeting and Symposium discussions. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9...@amsat.org ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
