Communications

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Internal

Wireless phone system - GSM/Bluetooth/WIFI accesspoints feeding into a PBX such as Asterisk.

Paging system - "Smart system" where everyone wears a transponder so the communications system knows where to page/ring you?

Fire/Life Safety systems - Detection and Warning

Entertainment - Internal Fiberoptic network to move large quantities of data - movies, etc? Cable TV analog

External

Satellite Communications Satcomms could cover phone, internet and TV. Our current provider at my 'remote location' is all SatBased to the UK. We have a sat Modem, and on the London end our VOIPS connect to a call manager and Public Internet\Phone is provided in this way as well. Costs about 60k a year for a very well sustained (no double sale of bandwidth) 4mb up/dn and can serve 300 people easily. The price of this will come down as the technology for Seasteading goes up.

Phone - The only way to ensure access to phone access globally is via satellite or radio relay (digital or analog). When a platform is close enough to shore to be above the radio horizon, regular wireless links such as WiFi and GSM can be used.

Internet - The same goes for Internet access, however using HF radio is considerably more cumbersome.

Satellite Entertainment TV/Radio

Multiple dishes?

High Frequency Radio (2-30MHz) - HF is a worldwide option for phone and network access, however it has several problems that limit its usefulness. It does have the advantage of low latency.

  • Requires large antennas (30+ meters or longer)
  • Requires a lot of equipment.
  • Use of encryption is heavily restricted.
  • Establishing reliable links is difficult. Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) is a possible solution to this.

Troposcatter Over the horizon communications

Range is something like 100 to 1200 miles. Data rate to 40 Mbps

Some oil platforms use troposcatter. There is troposcatter hardware for sale.

Possible 'Pirate' Radio Station(s)?

GMDSS System Global Maritime Distress Signal System, SOLAS requirement

VHF-FM Radio Marine Band 156-158 MHz SOLAS requirements to maintain a listening watch on distress frequencies

Coordinate small boat activities around SeaStead, each small boat equipped with one of these too.

Relatively small radios, low power (~25w ERP), small antennas (2 meters or less in length, max. Handhelds ~8" long)

VHF-AM Radio Aircraft Band 118-136MHz

Coordinating air traffic inbound and outbound.

Several frequencies: Departure/Approach, Tower (landing), Ground (ground movement), coordination frequencies

Air Traffic Control radar

Air Navigation aids? VOR/DME/ TACAN or rely on GPS?


Tactical Radios - Trunked 800 MHz systems? Used for:

Firefighting / EMS

Maintenance

Defense

Law Enforcement?

Need to investigate frequency propagation through structures.


Other radios - Ability to monitor/speak on military frequencies, ie

30-70 MHz FM (Military Tactical Net);

220-400 MHz AM (Military aviation band), etc?

"Company" radios for SeaStead operations, similar to business-band frequencies (VHF-FM High at 150MHz or UHF-FM at 450-470MHz and/or 800 MHz trunked system. Will probably require robust encryption.

External Links

  • seatel.com - makes satellite equipment for use on boats
  • seabandsat.com - service provider for satellite communications at sea