HERMES System Upgrades Shortwave Radio with Secure Digital Data Capabilities for Remote Communities
Rhizomatica, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, has open-sourced a digital shortwave-radio system called the High-frequency Emergency and Rural Multimedia Exchange System (HERMES). This system, which includes a digital modem named Mercury, operates in the high-frequency (HF) band (3 to 30 megahertz) and significantly improves the transmission rates for digital data over shortwave radio, which traditionally has been limited to hundreds of bits per second. HERMES allows for the sending of various file types, including photos, emails, and voice memos, creating a 'data pipeline' over HF. Peter Bloom, founder of Rhizomatica, explained that HERMES uses the ionosphere as a 'satellite' or 'mirror' to facilitate long-distance communication, reliably achieving 400- to 600-kilometer links with small 20-watt radios. The system also incorporates encryption, which can be optionally turned on or off, to protect sensitive information for partners operating in vulnerable areas.
