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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. bmgxyz · · focus · HN ↗
          If you&#x27;re curious what&#x27;s allowed on the ham bands, have a listen to 7.200 MHz LSB. (If you don&#x27;t have a receiver, try one on the web[0], such as this one[1].) As of writing, someone is spamming the channel with racial slurs and KKK propaganda using a soundboard.

          In my experience, enforcement of the rules is unheard of.

          [0]: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;websdr.org&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;websdr.org&#x2F; [1]: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;websdr.k3fef.com:8901&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;websdr.k3fef.com:8901&#x2F;

          1. driverdan · · focus · HN ↗
            It&#x27;s not unheard of but is unfortunately rare. The FCC sent a nastygram to one of the 7.200 nuts recently.
          2. unethical_ban · · focus · HN ↗
            The other day, I tuned into webSDR around that ban and immediately heard a woman blaming &lt;slur&gt; for everything under the sun. I knew it wouldn&#x27;t take me long to hear whackjobs on that band... 40m-80m seems to bring out the crazy.

            I did it after my friend tuned into AM radio for the first time and heard all the far-right radio and I said &quot;hold my beer&quot;.

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