Grassroots radio networks using General Mobile Radio Service are providing Western North Carolina communities with communication alternatives during internet and cell service disruptions. Interest in the technology has increased following Hurricane Helene.
Recap by left917 · read the full story at the source
Hurricane Helene killed the cell towers. Internet went dark. And people watched their phones turn into bricks while the radio networks kept working. GMRS, General Mobile Radio Service, runs on handheld radios without needing a cell tower or internet connection at all. The networks are grassroots, living in neighborhoods and volunteer fire departments and ham radio clubs instead of some corporation's server farm. Interest spiked after Helene because the outage taught people what backup actually means. Read this if you want to know how to keep talking when the power fails.
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