The endless challenge of "Comms"

This video was suggested by frequent commentor "Gary" and is reposted with his permission.

In a nutshell, the video describes an off-the-shelf system that allows cell phones to interact with other cell phones without relying on cell towers or the internet.

The "network" are sets of low power repeaters that are positioned closely enough that they can talk with each other via redundant pathways. The cell phone speaks to the closest repeater via Bluetooth. The message propagates outward over the repeaters closest to the receiving repeater and thence to the intended receiver.

Low power means low bandwidth, i.e. text messages with few or no attachments. Low power means that repeaters can be installed in remote, less visible places and powered with solar + battery. Networks can be joined via repeaters on towers with optimized antenna (like a Yagi) to connect the two local networks...say Eaton Rapids to Albion. Then Albion to Hillsdale means a church (for example) in Albion could reach all of its congregation even though the farthest members lived 70 miles away from each other.

Why this might be useful

According to Insurrection Barbie*, protesters in Minnesota are using various apps and internet platforms to interfere with ICE agents. You don't have to be a brain surgeon to realize that those channels will be flooded with misinformation and performance will be degraded, perhaps with Denial of Service attacks.

The value of information is subject to the law of diminishing returns

If the sender knows they have limited bandwidth to work with, every byte has value. If the sender believes they have unlimited bandwidth every gigabyte is nearly worthless.

At a local level, high value messages might look like:

"The peaches on my trees are ripe. I cannot pick them. Need three pickers and will pay 1/4 share to the pickers. Contact Timmy Gibson" 

"My Australian Cattle Dog had pups. 3M 2F. Think papa was a Lab. Contact Chelsey Greene"

"Alpha Bapt Church picnic. Nobody signed up for pot salad. Need lifeguards and overwatch sign-up"

"Houses being broken into on Kemler btw 12 and 3 in morning. Beware"

"Have extra pallets. Looking to trade for 16d nails. Contact Brad Hammer"

"Riot forming outside Windsor Estates Trailer Park 5:17 p.m.. Avoid area."

Those kinds of messages put a trivial load on the network and are extremely useful. 

Longer range than a conch shell

This kind of system is not "secure" nor is it impervious to outside forces jamming or disabling it but it is WAY more useful than smoke-signals or waiting until Sunday church to catch-up on the neighborhood news.

*A tip of the hat to Bayou Renaissance Man for the Insurrection Barbie link