Could Reticulum Power A Post-Internet Network?
Key Points:
- The Tech Prepper is promoting Reticulum, a fully decentralized cryptographic network stack designed to operate over high-frequency (HF) radio as a backup communication system in case the internet fails.
- Due to regulatory restrictions, encrypted signals are generally banned on ham radio bands, so the demonstration uses a dummy load instead of an antenna to comply with legal limits while showcasing the technology.
- The setup involves using EmComm Tools on Ubuntu along with a Mercury HF modem, illustrating how to create a post-internet network that could function during disasters or as an alternative to the current internet.
- Reticulum offers a cyberpunk and survivalist approach to communication, but other open-source options like modem73 also exist, enabling legal, unencrypted BBS-style communication over radio.
- The concept appeals to those interested in resilient, decentralized networks and nostalgia for earlier online experiences, such as Bulletin Board Systems (BBS).