[Tfug] Remote networking communications and Internet gateways

[Casey Townsend]

Hi All,

Before I begin working on probably reinventing the wheel I thought I'd ping this group for your advice and recommendations.

I would like to build (and then put together a how-to manual, with specific hardware recommendations and setup/config cookbooks) a system that can be deployed remotely to allow citizen journalists to be able to communicate with each other and upload video in real time from remote, no cell phone, no WiFi areas. My goal is to have this be almost as simple for the users as using their cell phones, while requiring minimal training for the technical people to set this up for them. Does this already exist?

I know 'google is my friend,' but I hope with your help to not have to wade through hundreds of lame search results. I do not have personal experience with satellite internet, wireless mesh networks, or even portable cell phone towers, so I am asking for you to share your experience and expertise with me to help ease my learning curve.

My initial survey shows that Ham radio may play an important part in this as well. Any recommendations on who to contact here in Tucson, or nationally, to help me with that too?

Many Thanks,

Casey Townsend