🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <i2ut4q$a1k$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
jcdill  <jcdill.lists@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>There was cell service AND WiFi internet signal at Black Rock City in 
>2009.  I expect the same will be true again this year.  There has also 
>been a VoIP-over-802.11-over-microwave payphone (free, no coins 
>required) at BRC every year since 2004.
>
><http://portfolio.jcdill.com/Art/Burning-Man-2004/9804154_29ULW/4/665673686_3KQ2F#665680891_549PR>
>
>In years past when there wasn't any cell service, they had ham service 
>to connect to public safety services (fire, police, etc.) for emergencies.
>
>jc


While there are ham repeaters covering BRC, the primary communication 
system on the playa is a UHF LTR trunked system, with some conventional
UHF and VHF channels, as well as VHF-AM for the airstrip. The system
supports all of the official BM services, and provides mutual aid links
to cooperating agencies. I recall the number that I heard was about 60
talkgroups defined for various functions, and the activity level was 
similar to SF or Oakland on a busy night. I forget how many radios
are issued, but i seem to recall it was >500.

One of the channels supported is MURS (I think they use channel 3. 154.570),
which is used as a form of 911 channel from participants to the dispatch
center. I haven't looked recently, but IIRC, there were about 20 UHF pairs
licensed, of which ~10 are used for the LTR system.

BM takes their comms seriously, and the comm systems are planned and
prepped well in advance of the event. There are some permanent comms 
in place in Gerlach, but the primary system goes online early in the 
build process, and is one of the later things removed.

-- 
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