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Comments (33)
- ericolI'm from the area where this happens (My city is actually named in the article).Can confirm that this is, effectively, a staple of normal life around there. Calling it "the first social network" made me chuckle.Younger generations might not be aware of this mostly due to reduced AM radio audiences, but my daughters (3x ~30 yo) do know what this is about.
- andyjohnson0The distances and remoteness mentioned in the article are impressive. And is the human need and ingenuity for communication. It reminded me of William Gibson's description of 1950s farmers in the US using metal wire fences as radio antennas.In the 70s and 80s (and probably before) in the UK, the BBC used to broadcast occasional "sos messages" [1] prior to the main daily news summaries on FM radio - for people who were away from home and, for whatever reason, uncontactable. They usually related to a relative being dangerously ill. I remember hearing them on my parent's car radio on summer camping trips.Obviously the uk is a small and quite densely populated island but, without two way personal communications, some needs were similar to those described in the article. It changed a lot of things.[1] https://swling.com/blog/2012/09/radio-4-and-now-an-urgent-so...
- hxiiIt's interesting to see use-cases like this "in the wild" (as opposed to some hobbyist group trying stuff out).With a little investment, I think Meshtastic/Reticulum could do wonders for communities like this. With Argentina being largely flat, even putting up a relatively short mast on the roof of a house should give it a good enough range (~10-30km).
- fjdSailing communities have a tradition called "Cruisers' Net", some of them having started back in 1950-60. Usually in the morning via VHF different people will take turns speaking and doing parts. They'll do segments like weather, arrivals/departures, events, buy/sell/trade, etc.
- bookofjoe
- fennecfoxy>Argentina, the world’s eighth-largest country I think this says something about human progress. We haven't really pulled it together yet, have we?Through the efforts of many (and yet still few) we have created such amazing technologies. And yet so many are still so poor and without the benefits of modern technology because we've allowed a system (capitalism) to be created where wealth and access to technology accumulates up top and no, it does not really "trickle down".To me, it really is the saddest thing about human existence and entirely predictable because of how most of our human behaviours are linked to evolutionary processes.It's nice to romanticise human emotion and connection in a rugged environment using technology that we consider defunct and for them to be able to live a life that many would consider "more natural". But then one of them gets sick. Someone who loves, is loved, who creates art and consumes art, who smiles when the petrichor hits their nostrils after a dry Summer. And then they die.I just really wish that things were more equitable because we definitely have enough to go around.
- jmbwellSee also, Houston’s Prison Show on KPFT, for messages from friends and families to the incarcerated:https://theprisonshow.net/(ETA: Ah, missed reaperducer beat me to it)
- reaperducerKPFT/Houston has been doing something very similar for almost 50 years.KPFT's version is a little more specialized. It's called The Prison Show and transmits messages from families to their loved ones behind bars.When I'm in Houston, I try to listen because it gives you a taste of a segment of life and people you may otherwise never come in contact with. If you're interested in human nature and the power of communication, it's very engaging.The last time I heard it, it was on in the evening, I think on a weekend.
- successdrafteeInteresting. I wonder how missed calls work.
- pratik_soni[flagged]
- entterprice[flagged]