URGENT: Help Needed Communicating with Egyptian Protestors

**n0pants** · Thu 27th Jan 2011, 08:20

Hi-

I'm an Internet activist working with Telecomix, a Europe-based group that works for free speech & an open Internet. We are currently providing comms support for protesters against the Mubarak dictatorship on the ground in Egypt - ways to evade Internet censorship, retweeting, IRC channels, medical advice, etc..

As communications conditions deteriorate (the city of Suez was completely cut off from the outside world tonight), we are exploring non-Internet modes of communication, including ham, shortwave and pirate radio. We need your help.

We are looking for radio operators who can reach Egypt (European, presumably), as well as technical advice and recruiting assistance. I will continue to monitor this forum, or you can join us on irc.telecomix.org (web client).

Thanks!

--n0pants

**5B4AJB** · Thu 27th Jan 2011, 14:30

Originally Posted by n0pants

providing comms support for protesters

Our license prohibits us from transmitting anything political, religious or commercial.

C.B. radio is a good bet, there are lots of cheap radios available.
P.M.R. 446 or "family radio" is another, shorter range system.

**n0pants** · Thu 27th Jan 2011, 15:38

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Our license prohibits us from transmitting anything political, religious or commercial.

C.B. radio is a good bet, there are lots of cheap radios available.
P.M.R. 446 or "family radio" is another, shorter range system.

We would be more than happy with receiving news reports out of the country - would such "listening only" communication be problematic? We absolutely do not want anyone to violate their license or otherwise cause themselves trouble.

**n0pants** · Thu 27th Jan 2011, 15:46

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Our license prohibits us from transmitting anything political, religious or commercial.

Spoke with one of our people with more radio experience (but no equipment), she said:

On the ham side, we're talking about running an emergency net along the lines of an ARES net, so that Egyptians can pass messages to family and friends outside the country.

**KC0SJH** · Thu 27th Jan 2011, 15:49

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Our license prohibits us from transmitting anything political, religious or commercial.

I think what n0pants is talking about is more along the lines of an ARES-style emergency net, helping people in cut-off areas maintain contact with family and friends outside of Egypt.

**k6ee** · Sun 30th Jan 2011, 07:00

n0pants:
The first question is if there are ham operators in egypt who are willing to participate, and what setup they have, that is, on what bands they have antennas. With this information it will be easy to find ham operators in Europe etc who can communicate with them