Greets...
well, after reading through the backlog of spread spectrum stuff, I was surprised to read about the radio-network-on-a-board (Julieboard) article that someone posted. A couple of us here in Australia have been kicking around the idea of a cheap network, running via repeaters in _very_ small boxes tossed all around a city, which would be indestructible through sheer numbers (a la the arpanet). So: anyone got any ideas, schematics, information?
Haha! That's exactly how I got hyped about the Julieboard -- rummaging in the backlog of the voluminous-but-valuable cpunk posts... My question: Exactly how cheap can we make these things? Mass produced boards, a bag of appropriate components, and a few dozen cpunks working in parallel could work wonders. What about surface mount components? Harder to assemble, and fewer people have the skills, but the resulting box would be very small and more easily concealed.
The main idea is a huge number of small, low-power and CHEAP nodes which would handle through traffic which anyone with a radio modem could tap into, with the nodes disguised and placed in extremely hard to get to places (tops of telephone poles, buildings, on bridges and overpasses, etc).
Possible power sources: batteries (but they need to be changed) solar power (Australia leads the world in solar power technology, and I know people who know people). Near Field Interaction and EMF pickups (stick 'em near high-frequency power transmission lines). Something that convert heat to electrical energy
If you are hiding boxes on telco poles, an obvious source of power presents itself. :-) I like the EMF idea! Ideologically and technically interesting... Is it practical? Heat to electricity? hmm...
I have no idea how this could be done across interstate or international distances, but I'm sure people might have ideas. Bounce signals off satellites (are those big shiny things from the 50's still about?); send stuff encrypted via the internet, etc etc.
Someone suggested general use of IR laser links, but someone else mentioned that it would be a bitch to operate a decentralized network of IR links. Well, lasers and microwave are probably best suited for mid-range connections betweens clusters of boxes. (Ham radio tinkers with microwave and laser communication experience should probably comment here... ) Since the FCC frowns on encrypted amateur radio, I doubt we could openly use the ham nets or satellites...but how about bit fiddling with slow-scan TV? :-) The list has generated many good ideas on tunneling naughty data in otherwise innocent exchanges... How many people are interested in this idea? Is it time for a radiopunk task force? Does one already exist? :-) Jason Asbahr 116 E. Edgebrook #603 asbahr@uh.edu Houston, Texas 77034 asbahr@tree.egr.uh.edu (NeXTmail) (713) 941-8294 voice asbahr@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov UH NeXT Consultant