Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: Bitcoin and ham radio
by
matthewh3
on 29/07/2014, 17:57:04 UTC
6 blocks/hr * 1048576 * 8 = 50331648 bits/hr

50331648 bits/hr / 3600 seconds = 13981 bps = 13.981 kbps   (with no additional overhead)

For 7 blocks/hr, 16.311 kbps   (with no additional overhead)

These rates exceed conventionally available AX.25 packet radio / TNC throughputs for HF and VHF ham bands (generally 300 baud FSK for HF, and 1200 baud AFSK or 9600 baud AFSK for VHF/UHF).  Either use of higher frequency bands or a custom modulation format that would tend to have a bandwidth exceeding amateur radio rules in most ITU countries on HF, VHF and UHF frequencies would be needed.  At that point you might as well just set up a 900MHz, 2.4GHz or 5GHz 802.11 link.

Yeah it looks like the full blockchain over HF is a no go'er.  We'd be best supporting the Bitcoins in Space project - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=334701.0 - Or in setting up a project to build a cheap WiFi mesh-networking router that can hold bitcoind.  As even the public PMR446 UHF band only permits 3.6kbit/s per channel.  Although possibly maybe we could use the unlicensed 900MHz 33cm UHF band for a custom mesh-network with better propagation than the 2.4GHz 802.11n.  There's off the shelf license free 802.11g 900MHz 33cm UHF equipment like this - http://www.alvarion.com/products/product-portfolio/breezeaccess/breezeaccess-900 - and this - http://www.xgtechnology.com/xMax-articles/xmax-system-overview.html - That we could attach a cheap lightweight nettop too to hold bitcoind.