I would guess it’s to prevent messages from being missed or lost by a receiver out of range or switched off. I haven’t thought deeply about it but I don’t see much reason to be sending transactions of value over a system like this; if the internet is down the state of life is likely nothing like what we have now and for OPSEC I don’t think even transmitting a high power radio signal is a good idea as it makes your location known to any party with the right equipment.
Discussion
Mm makes sense. Though here’s a thought, it’s unlikely we would *all* lose internet at the same time, so how about a scenario where one person has lost their Internet for some reason and a family member elsewhere still has it, and the one who lost Internet, wants to send bitcoin to the other, or should I say, needs to send it, for some purpose in a hurry.. it might make sense for them to risk doing the transaction this way.
Also, aside from of course, military grade equipment, is there no way to obscure a radio signal location ?
Military equipment does not exempt one from the laws of physics. You can use directional antennas and remote location repeaters, maybe satellite comms, but at the end of the day you are putting electromagnetic energy into the environment that will travel, bounce off objects, and eventually dissipate.
If the internet goes down from a global thermonuclear war, it’s done and over; maybe pockets of small networks would retain intranets, or local networks, but unlikely that Bitcoin is worth anything in that situation because electricity would be extremely rare, let alone computers.
If society as we know it ends from a nuclear war the most valuable currency is going to be food, medicine, and other hard goods that support survival. I’m talking all the basics at your local supermarket that are taken for granted because they arrive without thought by global supply chain.
Yes agree with all that and thanks, understand the point about the laws of physics.
But I still wonder about the situation I described where Internet in one area is down, but still functioning most everywhere else…
In that scenario, perhaps the ability to send a transaction via radio, despite the risk, would be worth it. I understand there are many nuances here, just wondering if it is even possible.
I know Blockstream has their satellite and wonder if that could be utilized in this type of situation
It local governments take the internet offline, like we have seen in many countries over the past few years using satellite internet connectivity is the best option IMO. IP over radio provides a way for two parties to transmit encrypted data back and forth for some level of privacy, but puts the risk of either transmitting party being triangulated.
Satellites unfortunately are owned by big tech who can censor and shut down connections whenever they want, but while they are working they likely are less prone to local detection if signals are funneled only up. Some reflections might happen in the ionosphere, but tracking that back to a ground location is much harder than a normal radio would be.
I think people should start with getting a basic radio and learning how to talk to people in their inner group of trust; the people you would want to communicate with in the event of a war/disaster/tyranny out of that you can build up your understanding and capabilities.
Thanks so much, makes sense. Been on my bucket list for too long to get a radio and learn how to use it, need to prioritize it.. waiting until it’s needed is useless!
I’d suggest you start with an inexpensive Chinese made UHF radio such as a Baofang, they cover a wide spectrum of frequencies, you can listen to NOAA, and I believe even cover marine bands. Be aware some frequencies require a license to transmit on, but here in America we can transmit on those frequencies without a license if it’s an emergency. Local laws will vary though, so connect with a local HAM operator and pick their brain.
Cheers
Great advice thanks Avid!
Potential outcome of nuclear conflict: