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HERMES radio enables voice and data communication over vast distances

189 points · 71 comments · SamuraiLion

  1. mesh · · focus · HN ↗
    This is a cool project, but fyi, in the US, this would require a license to broadcast (not receive), and I am pretty sure encryption, even with a license, is not legal (again, when broadcasting from US).

    And then only on certain bands:

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.arrl.org&#x2F;files&#x2F;file&#x2F;Regulatory&#x2F;Band%20Chart&#x2F;Hambands4_Color_17x11.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.arrl.org&#x2F;files&#x2F;file&#x2F;Regulatory&#x2F;Band%20Chart&#x2F;Hamb...

    1. bityard · · focus · HN ↗
      Correct. Encryption (or more specifically, obscuring the meaning of a message) is generally not allowed for amateur radio stations except in very narrow circumstances. So any hams using this would have to turn the encryption off.

      However, it looks like this stack has encryption available as an option for stations who are transmitting sensitive data and are NOT operating under an amateur license. (Probably government-sanctioned communications or emergency humanitarian efforts.)

      1. nowittyusername · · focus · HN ↗
        what would happen if you were to break that law? like im talking enforcement here not whats on the books.. for example torrenting and uploding copyrighted files is illegal but most people dont give a shit as enforecement is almost non existant. i know radio is taken more seriously then torrenting but this must also be very low on priority for the government unless you are jamming people or somehow stand out enough for anyone to care or notice....
        1. aeturnum · · focus · HN ↗
          In practice very little. The FCC tends to focus on long-lived stationary stations (&quot;pirate&quot; radio) with their few enforcement actions. That said it&#x27;s important to remember that radio transmissions can easily be tracked to their source (doubly so with drones) and you should plan for that eventuality.

          My sense is that at most you will be yelled at by HAMs - unless you are actually disrupting emergency communications. Ensuring radios can be used in emergencies is why licensing exists at all and people take ensuring it can be used for that pretty seriously (for good reason).

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