Not sure this is the right place for this question but here goes. Since privacy is the primary goal of switching from Windows to Linux, what can be done to maintain mobile communications privacy? Are there non-carrier dependent mobile communications options, e.g., Ham, satellite, carrier pigeon, others, etc., that would free us of dependence on their system of control? With or without the Internet. Looking for creative ideas and options. I hate the idea that my location and communications are continuously monitored via my cell phone! Thanks.
2 Likes
This seems like a great starting point that Iâm looking into:
Also Matrix clients such as element:
I hope this gets the discussion started.
Ham radio looks like it could be very helpful, and the equipment investment may not be huge, though I think you need a fairly long antenna mounted on your roof. May be available for mobile too as Iâve seen the tall antennas on vehicles as well. But in the U.S. the FCC (Federal Communications Commission, government agency) ârequiresâ Ham operators to have a license, so thereâs no anonymity there.
Satellite phones are available, but are pretty expensive I think. But there too itâs a service thatâs probably going to require some level of registration and possibly tracking (?). Thereâs also Starlink (Elon Musk satellite internet), again not a cheap option, and may have the same issues.
Iâve heard some good things about Mesh networks (as noted above), so there may be something promising there.
2 Likes
Ham operator here. Check out app called rattlegram. Itâs an app that allows you to send a text message via an audio signal from cell phone to cell phone. The audio signal can be transmitted anyway you wantâham radio, FRS radio, CB radio, loud speaker, etc.
On the topic of ham radio: Ham radio by itself isnât private necessarilyâanyone with the right radio can hear what you transmit. Encryption is technically illegal on ham bands also, so encrypted communication is not really a legal option. Using a digital mode (read computer to computer) offers some level of privacy since someone has to know what mode youâre using and also have a setup to decode what youâre sending, but itâs technically open for anyone to decode. There is a lot of space on the ham bandsâtheyâre not setup in channels for the most part. So if you were having a conversation with another person on a particular frequency, a listening party would have to stumble upon you while youâre transmitting in order to find/overhear youâso there is some level of privacy there, just because of the large number of possible frequencies to use. Hope this helps.
Just curious, as I can tell much from the Google Play link:
If I got the app on an Android phone, I could use the app to record a voice message, and then transmit it to another phone as a text message? Would this work on the transmitting
Android phone over Wi-Fi instead of phone service (cell tower)?
This app will take a text message, convert it to a ânoiseâ similar to that 57k modem sound. You can then send this audio sound over radio(walkie talkie or ham radio, or any other type of radio). The person on the receiving end also has the app which decodes the audio sound and converts back into text.
1 Like
Oh, OK. So youâd hold the speaker of the phone with the app up to the transmitting radio microphone, start the audio signal and transmit via the radio, and then the phone microphone on the other end (also with the app) would be held up to the receiving radio speaker to receive the message?
It does seem like that would be a good âgrid downâ method of communication, not needing cell service to work.
Oh, OK. So youâd hold the speaker of the phone with the app up to the transmitting radio microphone, start the audio signal and transmit via the radio, and then the phone microphone on the other end (also with the app) would be held up to the receiving radio speaker to receive the message?
Thatâs right! There are some youtube videos showing it action I believe.
1 Like