5 ms·

Worlds first 20 minute voice call from a Free Software GSM stack on a phone

83 points by bluesmoon 16y ago

ck2 16y ago
Now if only there was an open cell network. Just imagine if next to the commercial services the government actually reserved an amateur cell network for open use. I guess wifi is the closest we will ever get.
- furyg3 16y ago
  They do! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio
  - dmd 16y ago
    Except ... not really. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR#Criticisms http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR#Criticisms
tudorw 16y ago
If we mix that with http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ or http://www.tombom.co.uk/blog/?p=144 http://www.tombom.co.uk/blog/?p=144 'all' we would need is a frequency?
nimrody 16y ago
Careful with the patents... Cellular technology is an IP minefield. However, as long as you stay small and do it for educational value and fun -- you're OK. Also -- there's a big difference between making a call and sustaining the call across handovers, dealing with base stations from different manufacturers, etc...
tyuikolkjhgfh 16y ago
Mixed feelings about this. Opensource good M'kay But what if somebody gets a number in the wrong place and their call drops every other call in the cell? So makers have to suddenly start hardening their cell controllers against bad packets, the cost is passed onto users by some networks, others just crash whenever anyone with an XYZ brand phone starts a call.
- tlrobinson 16y ago
  That's like saying "What if we let people develop open source web browsers?! They might make a mistake that causes a buffer overflow on my webserver, then I'd have to harden it!" See: Postel's Law
  - tyuikolkjhgfh 16y ago
    More like allowing everybody to build their own electrical generator and connect it to the grid.
    - phaedrus 16y ago
      You mean like this? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071018201850AAhY5si http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071018201850AA... "In many states, power companies are required to buy any "negative" power that comes from home or business users, at a slightly higher rate; this is known as "net metering.""
      - deleted 16y ago
        [deleted]
      - tyuikolkjhgfh 16y ago
        exactly my point. This involves you gettign an expensive heavily enginered power converter built by a certified company, installed by a certified electrician and then approved by the power companies inspector. Now imagine anybody with a spare bit of wire was allowed to connect anything to the grid to test what would happen?

83 points by bluesmoon 16y ago

ck2 16y ago

Now if only there was an open cell network. Just imagine if next to the commercial services the government actually reserved an amateur cell network for open use. I guess wifi is the closest we will ever get.

furyg3 16y ago
They do! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio
- dmd 16y ago
  Except ... not really. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR#Criticisms http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR#Criticisms

tudorw 16y ago

If we mix that with http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ or http://www.tombom.co.uk/blog/?p=144 http://www.tombom.co.uk/blog/?p=144 'all' we would need is a frequency?

nimrody 16y ago

Careful with the patents... Cellular technology is an IP minefield. However, as long as you stay small and do it for educational value and fun -- you're OK. Also -- there's a big difference between making a call and sustaining the call across handovers, dealing with base stations from different manufacturers, etc...

tyuikolkjhgfh 16y ago

Mixed feelings about this. Opensource good M'kay But what if somebody gets a number in the wrong place and their call drops every other call in the cell? So makers have to suddenly start hardening their cell controllers against bad packets, the cost is passed onto users by some networks, others just crash whenever anyone with an XYZ brand phone starts a call.

tlrobinson 16y ago
That's like saying "What if we let people develop open source web browsers?! They might make a mistake that causes a buffer overflow on my webserver, then I'd have to harden it!" See: Postel's Law
- tyuikolkjhgfh 16y ago
  More like allowing everybody to build their own electrical generator and connect it to the grid.
  - phaedrus 16y ago
    You mean like this? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071018201850AAhY5si http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071018201850AA... "In many states, power companies are required to buy any "negative" power that comes from home or business users, at a slightly higher rate; this is known as "net metering.""
    - deleted 16y ago
      [deleted]
    - tyuikolkjhgfh 16y ago
      exactly my point. This involves you gettign an expensive heavily enginered power converter built by a certified company, installed by a certified electrician and then approved by the power companies inspector. Now imagine anybody with a spare bit of wire was allowed to connect anything to the grid to test what would happen?