Without batteries? Bullshit.
A glance at the video shows it lighting a LED. Where does that power come from?

It's a very old idea. Passive Radar was first demonstrated in 1935
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Again, you demonstrate that you haven't a clue.

Read the stories behind any big disaster, the New Orleans floods, the Indian ocean and Japan Tsunami.

The mobile phone service is the first to go, mainly because of cheap construction and lack of generator backup.

The crucial issue for emergency communications, is having people available who have suitable equipment and who actually know how to set it up and use it.

To be efficient with HF radio gear you need to use it daily. Learning what frequencies, what procedures, how to build and tune a makeshift antenna, how to arrange power-supplies, generators, etc.

TV is by far the biggest user.

If we had continued with a universal broad-band fiber network (aka NBN) it would have been possible to switch off free-to-air television.

Of course big media was terrified of exactly that.

This is a spiteful and meaningless troll.

The record shows that Hams have repeatedly provided emergency communications when it's really needed.
Thousands of Hams regularly volunteer their equipment and time in preparedness exercises.

Actually the Hams don't have much bandwidth on useable frequencies.
It's the age old story, the larger alocations are at frequencies that no one wants.

And of course the ham bands belong to the people, not to big business.
Are you the type of person who would be happy with selling off all our parks ?

Well, It's wrong. A Hacker originally was anybody who built or modified electronics
(not just Radar).

I know, I was there.........

It occasionally downloads firmware updates also. And of course you can transfer your own files via the Amazon link.

> I don't really find myself getting upset learning that the NSA is spying on foreign nations.

Only an American would say that.

And if the Foreign Nations were spying on you, that would be alright?

Stop and think. Should Americans respect the laws of Foreign Nations?
Should Foreign Nations respect yours?

Durian smells bad, but tastes wonderful

Been using them in Oz for years...

And of course, modern day high-reliability phone systems (in mines, etc) now use optical fiber (and local batteries) precisely because the most common point of failure is in the line itself (frequently caused by electrolysis).

> Yes, but the network powers the phone.

This is actually a liability. Having 50V DC on the pair dramatically increases the risk of corrosion and failure.

The original "magneto" phone system used dry batteries locally to power the phone. These only needed changing every few years.
High reliability phone systems (in mines etc) still do it this way. The military use voice powered phones (no batteries at all).

If we wanted to, it would be trivial to avoid sending power over the phone lines.
A long life battery pack, perhaps with a small solar panel would be sufficient.

You used the words "big" and "generator".

With good design, a battery bank and a modest solar array should be sufficient.
Solar powered Cell Sites are common world wide.

As you say, it must be me, but I find it much easier to send an email.

I can send or receive messages at a convenient time, can give more thought to the form and detail, can edit mistakes, can easily include necessary attachments and will always have an exact record.

I don't have a landline and rarely carry a mobile. My recorded message gives my email address and asks people to use it.