Re: Raspberry Pi   
     By: iretch to All on Wed Jan 11 2012 03:07:00   
      
    > Has anyone thought about buying several raspberry pi devices ($25 arm linux   
    > computers) and having them stragically placed around the globe running as bb   
    > nodes for when Obama's new SOPA law tries to shut down free speech? This is    
    > s the only way we can ensure communication remains free as the expansion of   
    > powerline broadband is designed to minimize the efforts of ham operators   
      
   The Raspberry Pi shows some promise for price + features, but you could also   
   make a BBS out of microcontrollers and components already on the market, among   
   other low-power devices.  You mentioned ham radio, and as an example many   
   packet radio TNCs have basic built-in BBSs that can do basically what you   
   describe.  Also, many packet BBSs are on VHF and UHF which IIRC are not as   
   affected by BPL.  (HF nodes could however be fewer and farther between, albeit   
   with tighter bandwidth constraints.)  Something like the Pi would of course   
   allow for a more full-featured system.   
      
   At a glance, SOPA's language seems to target The Internet specifically.    
   Thankfully the uptake on something like your proposed network wouldn't be huge   
   anyway; if it became popular enough, legislation would be amended/introduced to   
   include any sort of "online service".  Not to mention if any node did decide to   
   make itself accessible via The Internet (it could and would happen) new   
   complications could arise surrounding definitions of terms as they currently   
   stand in legislation.   
      
   I'm also not sure that a POTS or radio BBS would be immune to search and   
   seizure even if there is no legislation specifically targeting it - which for   
   all I know there may be.  IIRC sysops have had their gear seized in the past.   
      
   All that said, it's a good concept that already exists in one form or another,   
   and I'd be happy to participate in that sort of project.   
      
   echicken   
   electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com - 416-273-7230   
      
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