Military System Offers Worldwide Cell Access

coondoggie writes to mention a technology in use by the U.S. military in remote regions of the world, which allows high-quality cell reception to reach troops. A portable box, called the Tactical Base Station Router, can serve as a gateway for cellular communications and VoIP network calls. Developed by Alcatel-Lucent, it allows deployment of reliable services in disasters, search and rescue operations, and (as has seen use in recent years) military encounters. "The TacBSR is available for U.S. government customers only ... Customers include the U.S. Army Reserve Command, which is using the TacBSR as a portable cellular system for forward-deployed operations and disaster recovery. The system allows U.S. Army Reserve Commands to take GSM-capable cellular systems anywhere they need to go ... Smaller than a laptop, the TacBSR can be used in a stand-alone configuration to enable communications for a small team or as part of a multibox mesh that supports a large geographical area."

Comments

LoS or Satellite? Crypto? Trackable?

[loimprevisto]

As usual TFA is light on technical details. Did anyone pick up on how this works? I'm also curious about the encryption- they mention that it can be used for encrypted cell calls, so does that mean that the data/VOIP side is sent unencrypted?

One other thing just occured to me- if this is supposed to be for remote military operations, would it be of any use against an opponent who can track radio signals? I don't think cell phone protocols can do all of the fancy frequency hopping and other tricks that most military radios use...

Re:fuck the military

[RocketScientist]

The US Military is the global first responder to natural disasters worldwide. Find a single natural disaster, even in countries where we're hated (Iranian earthquake anyone?) and you'll find the military and civil law enforcement doing search and rescue, communications, command, and control infrastructure. The tsunami in the indian ocean. The iranian earthquake.

And the exact response we get when we develop technology that has no real application to us making war, and only serves to make it easier for us to respond to disasters?

"fuck the military"

Yeah. Just die in the earthquake next time jackass.

Re:fuck the military

[Red Flayer]

Historically, the English, French, and German governments have each started more wars than the U.S. government.

The world is a lot different than it was 300 years ago, 150 years ago, even 70 years ago. Furthermore, you're mistaken about the German government starting more wars than the US. I suggest you bone up on your European history.

What is important is what is happening in this era.

Besides, "b-b-b-but so-and-so did it first" doesn't excuse bad behavior.