The report that you use says what John indicates. "Many networks" is equal to "not all networks" and indeed, there was Internet access in downtown New Orleans and other locations during and after the flooding.
I do not believe that anyone will tell you that a D-STAR repeater is going to be 100% guaranteed, no matter where it is at. BUT, there are a number of things that you can count on. In a disaster, a basic D-STAR repeater can be just as reliable as a FM repeater. The gateway is not required for operation. So as long as the repeater continues to work, it provides the same capabilities that an FM repeater would, PLUS. The PLUS is the ability to send slow speed data and voice over the same links, even at the same time. So it actually combines the functionality of a packet node and FM repeater in one package. And even if the repeater dies, this same capability exists on simplex. So with a handheld or mobile and a computer, I can send voice and data. BUT, if Internet access IS available, then I can provide all of the above, as well as direct communications with remote locations such a State EOCs, FEMA EOCs, and other government organizations in DC such as the Red Cross. So if I compare the common non-linked FM repeater to the commonly Internet connected D-STAR repeater, the D-STAR repeater at it's worst does a heck of a lot more, and at the best, just blows the functionality of a FM repeater away. If I have D-STAR radios, then I have the option to use both. If I don't then I CAN'T use the advanced functionality. Oh, and for getting Internet connected D-STAR access in disaster areas, that's where a couple of us have portable repeaters available for deployment. For my repeater, I travel as close to the area as I can get Internet, whether it is via cellular modem, hotel Internet, or even a WiFi Hot Spot, the repeater gets setup and that then gives 20 or so miles of coverage into the impacted area, which is often all that is needed. Ed WA4YIH From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of john_ke5c Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 8:47 PM To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: new to the group > D-STAR works with or without Internet. The Internet enables gateways. So does FM. > During Katrina there was Internet connectivity available through a > couple of ISP NOCs (even though the building was flooded). If I can't find any data or verification of that claim; am I searching incorrectly? For all of New Orleans and surrounding parishes? I did find a report on the general disruption of internet infrastructure by Renesys: "Recovery efforts continue, but obviously, with a significant portion of the city of New Orleans under water and without reliable power or transportation, many Louisiana-based outages will not be fixed for the foreseeable future. ... Many networks in the affected region, especially those in Louisiana, have been unreachable for a prolonged period of time. These networks may not see service restored for some time to come, unless they can be brought back online at disaster recovery sites outside of the region." > Shoot, with that thinking I shouldn't bother having a car because > bridges will probably go out during a major earthquake in my area. Yes, I think it would be pretty dumb to expect your car to be of any use during a major earthquake in your area. If your goal is to have some form of transportation in that emergency, get a bicycle. I think it would be equally dumb to build an emergency communciation system that depended on the internet. If your goal is to have emergency communications in that emergency, get an FM (or better yet, HF) radio and a generator - I'm pretty sure that's what they used during Katrina... > Hams can improvise under conditions that would bring public safety > radio folks to their knees. You put a hotspot somewhere that has > Internet connectivity (these events rarely take out every possible > avenue to the Internet) et voila you are back on the D-STAR network. There are a lot of claims and promises for DStar as an Emcomm solution but no real world success stories. Time will tell, but I'd take an a mutli-mode HF/VHF rig like the FT-857D if I could have only one rig for an emergency... 73 -- John [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
