I know your small staff @Syed@Abhishek@zoltan has its hands full now with new hardware, and filling all your back orders from DXers, FTA Enthusiasts, HAMS, and other techies - -
but we need to start planning on getting Outernet equipment into the hands of disadvantaged communities where it can be most useful. Those of us with stable systems view your uploads daily and find them useful. Some of us have added additional local capabilities such as Rachel (www.worldpossible.org) to make them even more useful.
I remember back in the Ku Band days your guys installing dishes and power supplies on hut rooftops in Africa, but not much along those lines have happened in a while.
Don’t think of this as “pressure to do something”, but merely to open a dialog among Forum members. I’m sure many of us could be available (pro bono) to help out. Ken
Even here in the United States there are many disadvantaged communities. Let’s just take for example the state of Alaska. There are many Inuit communities and others that have little or extremely expensive internet. This would fill a need and at a very reasonable price.
I recently visited a residential school in Sitka, AK where kids from these villages came to this STEM magnet school and had their lives changed. I demonstrated the Outernet to them and they were wowed.
I believe this is the point of the Lantern. We’re early adopters and testers to help support a long-term product that can be easily shipped and cheaply deployed into communities where it is needed.
Perfect example - - NOW we need to get them (meaning buy and install) a terminal to connect to their system (router network) so they can all benefit from the Outernet feeds. Sounds like we can send them a terminal and they have the knowledge to connect it up. Ken
@Mudflap@DarkStar Yes, this is exactly what the whole point of Outernet was. I should say still is, but I’m bogged down with so many operational and business-related issues that I’m not able to focus on this at all.
I was just in Sitka, AK less than a month ago at the Edgecumbe School. I think I will be returning in the early Fall as a continuation of the GenCyber activity.
24 hour solar with a usable battery than can withstand the weather would be great.
I understand. There is likely some funding for us to pull off at least a prototype and test set up in Sitka, AK at Edgecumbe School for testing. There is a terrific STEM teacher there who spent several years living in an Inuit village.
I will keep you apprised of the forward motion so I can plan on getting and packaging the needed equipment before I go again.
OK @Syed Syed, this is what we need: A Lantern box with your new LNA/SDR board, patch antenna, newest CHIP, a USB power cord, and a LIPO. We need it now and will burn it in for a month before we go to Sitka.
Let me know when it can be made available. This Summer is the ideal time to go to Sitka as Bob will confirm. Ken
On paper it’s overkill, but would actually work reliably.
In situations where security is important The battery/lantern could be mounted in a steel box, and the solar could be bolted to a sheet of steel, which could then be bolted to the floor.
You’re right - - I forgot that. I though Outernet was coming out with an enclosure sooner rather than later. I have 2 Lanterns here, one is the signal attenuating ABS plastic, and the other has the clear case which works fine.
The only way to make a terminal work right in Sitka is with the clear case. A DIY kit won’t do. Let me think about that. Thanks, Ken
Any terminal we deliver to Sika must run 30 days without shutdowns or other glitches at levels similar to the following which I customarily get in Annapolis, MD on Americas. Ken
Ken
