WV Communication Channels

HPhack · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 258 Location: Cambridge, MA

I've been thinking alot about the invitation to West Virginia, and part of me simply can't support the idea of more Sentries putting themselves in danger by heading into the wilderness with a cultist ... without a communication channel.

I don't want to lose any more friends, I don't want any more friends to head into a situation where all we can do is worry and wait.

We need to put our heads together and figure out a way to make sure our friends are never out of contact, even if they are backpacking out in the deep woods somewhere. We need to figure out what we need to ask Foresight for and what to demand from DC.

I think it is also safe to assume that what ever solution we come up with can't piss off any nearby radio astronomers or secret military intelligence detachments.

Sorry if I'm exceptionally freaked out these days. I don't have good emotional connections with that region, especially not in that time of year.
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Transtar · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 260 Location: Marietta, Ga

I have to agree howard, but with the restrictions in the area it is going to be very tough. Maybe we could set a specified check in time, where someone on the trip makes a land-line call to someone not on the trip...

Also, just trying to be pragmatic, but maybe those going should come up with a way to make sure we know who shows up is who they say they are. Example: someone could show up as Obs, and say he was obs, but the people there wouldn't know the difference. (I mean other than his overbearing modesty). Although I could just be Suspicion

EDIT: by the way, good to hear from you howard
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HPhack · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 258 Location: Cambridge, MA

I think we need more than that, Transtar. Not just check in times that could be missed and we wouldn't know why.

It's the 21st century. Truckers must still get some kind of CB coverage, right? Short wave? Satellite phones? A damn pay phone manned by a guy with a walkie talkie?

There must be something, something that we could control so that our friends are never more than a scream away from us summoning help, or a way for us to get them info if we think it would make the critical difference for their safety.

If we can crack Lucky5, we should be able to MacGyver something for this. Otherwise we're admitting we're sending our friends to black box with a cultist and we just have to wait for them swing back out from behind the dark side of the moon to hear how it went.

That scares me too much.
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Biff · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 439

List of non RF based communication methods:

Traditional:
Smoke signals
Flare Gun
Carrier pigeons
Long ass wire
cans and string

Non traditional:
Laser pointer morse code against highly visible stationary object like a radio tower or big rock (best for nighttime use)
High volume audio transmission (bring the Karaoke)
Some other form of audio or optical signaling
??

ETA:
Also, as tipped by Exu...(easier to see without the leaves) we could set up a point to point "cantenna" device to transmit W-Fi over long distance. The leaves would be dry enough to not block the signal.

ETA2: Here are the Guidelines for the NRQZ <link removed due to lack of useful information>

Unfictionrose · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 357

Excuse my ignorance, but do satellite phones work in that zone?

I love the idea of sending up flares as communication - except everyone who sees them will think they are emergency signals. I know you were brainstorming there Biff - if only we had wands like Harry Potter.

To add to the traditional methods, and how did you forget this one? Drums. And flags. Signal flags used to work well.
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Biff · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 439

This seems highly restrictive how close would we be to Green Bank?

Unfictionrose · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 357

I don't know how close we will be if we are within the 10 mile radius, we can't use anything really.

Of course, if the leaves are still up and the forest canopy is there, we won't be able to use a satellite phone anyway. Maybe we can use some of those hand held 2 mile radios? Or walkie talkies? Someone could stay back at the cabin (assuming there is a hard line there) and be on the radio with the others? That is the best I can think of.

The 2 mile radios don't need to be licensed but the 5 mile radius ones do.

I don't think we can rely on having transmission lines for Morse. Smile

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Servers aren't part of the collective unconscious. ~HPHack

DC had us give B.A. the finger. I don't think you can get much more explicit than that! ~Y2K

Unknown Quantity · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 287 Location: NOT HERE

Drums? Whistles? (Limited by hearing distance)
Optical link? (limited by line of sight and potentially expensive equipment if you want to do anything more advanced than Morse code and a laser pointer)

Sounds like some sort of telephone land-line would be optimal method for communicating with the outside world; a telephone or a computer with a modem should do (do we have a safe place to post contact information; contact phone #s, etc). Shorter distances would be tougher. Toy walkie-talkies might work, if they're low enough power to be under the threshold of acceptable noise... But that would, in turn, limit their effective range.

It might be wise to establish a base-camp around the nearest available communication (land line, payphone, what have you), and then send out parties from there (which are required to check in periodically). Of course, this is also limited by distance; the amount of ground a group can cover and return to base camp in the check-in interval.

Not sure any of these are reasonable solutions to out communication problem...
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Sinyx · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 241 Location: Brooklyn, NY

A quick google search brought up a sky watching event which took place at Spruce Knob earlier this year. They advised their members to bring Family Radio Services (FRS) Radios.

Since there is a land line in the house we are getting (The first letter asked us if we wanted to disconnect the phone and TV - I hope we said no), possibly one member of the party can stay behind with a phone or laptop connected to the rest of us who are not going. This person could communicate with the rest of the party going out in the wilderness through one of these low frequency radios. It's not perfect, but it's something.

Maybe one of these places in Pocahontas County rents them out? There's got to be some sort of emergency communication that hikers and splunkers in these parts use.

WolfHawk · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject:

I notice the FRS information says the event organizers checked with the observatory people to make sure their radios would not be using the same frequency.

Would it be advisable to ask Foresight what, if anything, can be used? Perhaps one of the people going could play "concerned family member;" their kid has health issues, their daughter is due to deliver her first child any day, their significant other is in the military in Iraq, their parent has health issues, etc. This person could tell Foresight that it was mandatory they had outside communications available at all times and what was acceptable.
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Mar_Vell · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 143 Location: Florida

I can sneak my cell in there. We may not be able to get much of a signal, but text messages usually work when there's even a hint of a signal. And if a text doesn't send on the first try, you can usually try it six or seven times and eventually it will get through. Sound like at least one good method, right?
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WolfHawk · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject:

If this has a chance of working lets share some cell numbers. I suggest they be exchanged through private message.
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Having abandoned my search for the truth I am now looking for a good fantasy.

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Unknown Quantity · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 287 Location: NOT HERE

WolfHawk · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject:

Maybe one or more of the board admins could get the numbers? I'll volunteer since I can't go anyway.

Are any Admins going?
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Having abandoned my search for the truth I am now looking for a good fantasy.

I think I am therefore I am I think.

Noyb · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 135

We could also use the wvsolitude site to tell what places in the area are good for contacting the outside world. Don't a few posts mention internet/phone access as giving the Hidden headaches, therefore those places *can* access the outside world.
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