Get Internet Access When Your Government Shuts It Down

pcworld ^ | January 31, 2011 | By Patrick Miller, David Daw, PCWorld

[Mechanicos]

These days, no popular movement goes without an Internet presence of some kind, whether it’s organizing on Facebook or spreading the word through Twitter. And as we’ve seen in Egypt, that means that your Internet connection can be the first to go. Whether you’re trying to check in with your family, contact your friends, or simply spread the word, here are a few ways to build some basic network connectivity when you can’t rely on your cellular or landline Internet connections.

[Mechanicos]

This article discusses ways to keep connected if the internet is shut down like in Egypt.

[Gene Eric]

We need to launch a satellite. Let’s call it Freepnik. It’ll be our moment.

[JRandomFreeper]

Sorry, I won't have time to be on the internet. I'll be in my country, ridding it of tyrants that think they have the power to shut the internet down.

/johnny

[doc1019]

Ping for later.

[mo]

Yeah...well they can deal with the 20-30million armed Americans showing up in DC looking for that switch....

[tubebender]

Tech Ping...

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I’d rather grab my gun.

[Army Air Corps]

Now, If I could just rig a connection for a crystal set radio to my laptop...

[magslinger]

Party like it’s 1776.

[bunkerhill7]

Does anyone make a WiFi`d AK-47?

[southland]

bookmark

[Southack]

The author concludes with FidoNet over dial-up phone lines and packet radio over ham airwaves, both of which are easily shut down by a hostile government.

No mention in the article of using powerlines for communication. Shutting down electricity to a population tends to rally people against said government, forcing hard choices on a tyrant: either leave up that communications avenue, or else alienate everyone by cutting off power.

Also, no mention of mass print communications (read: newspapers and pamphlets), both of which are considerably more difficult to police and shut down...and both of which are commonly used in wartime for propaganda dissemination.

[Mechanicos]

The article discusses that for Ham Radios...

[Slump Tester]

LOL - you beat me to it!

[Mechanicos]

Ping.

[Lazamataz]

No mention in the article of using powerlines for communication.

Educate pls.

[Southack]

Data can be transmitted over powerlines.

[TiaS]

What would be their rationale for shutting down the internet? This is the voice of the people, and in a land where there is freedom of speech protected by the constitution, they would be guilty of violating the very document they are sworn to protect from, “all enemies, foreign and domestic”.

[TiaS]

And don’t forget, out here in the wild west there’s always smoke signals.

[Bullish]

They ever shut the internet down and it will prove everything we’ve been saying about them to all but the most insane skeptics.

From there it’s GAME ON!