SkyTel 

Public interest wireless 
 

March 2011
US Borders Virtual Fence -- Using Meteor Burst Communications

The US “Virtual Fence” project (DHS-Boeing) failed, at a reported cost of nearly one billion dollars.
Dozens of reports can be found.

A cost effective US borders virtual fence can be built &

operated using Meteor Burst Communications (“MBC”).

SkyTel provides in its Scribd MBC Collection (where this

document will be placed) the characteristics of traditional
MBC, and indications of more advanced MBC now
possible. The following would use MBC with
advancements clearly possible at this time, but based on
well-proven MBC technologies and network architecture.

Right

The failed Virtual

fence:

to show the basic

concept:

no-gap linear
wireless network

links surveillance
sensors to the
monitoring and
response network.

Issue: how to get the

vast-coverage secure
wireless network?
Problem. Following is form this article at Officers.com (emphasis added):
http://www.officer.com/print/Law-Enforcement-Technology/Securing-the-nations-BORDERS/1$43294

Then the problems began — a sequence of events which showed that what worked well in the
design room couldn't negotiate the tricky desert where even commercial-grade cell towers often
won't work. . . .

The radar and ground sensors used also proved to be too sensitive, sometimes confusing
raindrops for people, other times, bushes waving in the breeze would set them off. And, the
terrain, lava fields, thick mesquite, and hilly land cobwebbed with washes, defeated the network's
wireless system. . . .

After DHS rejected the original plan, Boeing absorbed much of the cost of repairing its faulty
systems, spending twice as much as it had earned to try and repair the broken system.

New plans arise

…. Morrissey won't discuss the type of radar used or the focal length on the cameras that will
be mounted, but says the agency is comfortable that the wireless hotspot issues have been
resolved.

If the virtual fence has no nervous system, it won’t work. That nervous system is no-gap, very reliable,
wireless. The virtual fence needs other thing, but they are secondary, and no “fence” of any kind is
perfect.

The question is what is cost effective and well worth the endeavor. It is also serves other national
purposes, it gets very interesting.

Solution. A MBC virtual border fence, and related MBC for environmental monitoring and protection,
and many other applications, can easily be shown as providing exceptional value--
saving the
government and the
nations’ industries
and population huge
amounts, even in a
short time after
implementation.

Right:

Simple depiction of
one MBC link.

Near-constant links are

possible with the right
system components,
spectrum and
architeture.

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Right:

A very remote MBC

wireless station.

Not complicated.
Not expensive, relative
to value.

Solar+ battery powered.

Lasts decades.

No other way but

satellite to get very
extensive coverage
along approx. 6,000
miles of US land
territorial borders,
similarly extensive
maritime territorial
boundaries.

But MBC can be fully

private (not open to
public), far more
secure, far more cost
effective, etc.

Right:

A very remote
MBC wireless station:

Used for
US DOA
“SNOTEL”
environmental
monitoring station:
Over 700 thus far.
See next page.

First picture above: http://www.mse-ta.com/meteorburst/meteorbursthowitworks.html

Second picture above: http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/siteinfo/typical_snotel.html

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Description of US DOA US MBC system, covering Western US (emphasis added).
From: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/factpub/sntlfct1.html

SNOTEL Data Collection Network Fact Sheet

Introduction

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) installs, operates, and maintains an
extensive, automated system to collect snowpack and related climatic data in the Western United
States called SNOTEL (for SNOwpack TELemetry). The system evolved from NRCS's
Congressional mandate in the mid-1930's "to measure snowpack in the mountains of the West
and forecast the water supply." The programs began with manual measurements of snow courses;
since 1980, SNOTEL has reliably and efficiently collected the data needed to produce water
supply forecasts and to support the resource management activities of NRCS and others.

Climate studies, air and water quality investigations, and resource management concerns are all
served by the modern SNOTEL network. The high-elevation watershed locations and the broad
coverage of the network provide important data collection opportunities to researchers, water
managers, and emergency managers for natural disasters such as floods.

Meteor Burst Technology

SNOTEL uses meteor burst communications technology to collect and communicate data in near-
real-time. VHF radio signals [in 30-50 MHz range] are reflected at a steep angle off the ever
present band of ionized meteorites existing from about 50 to 75 miles above the earth. Satellites
are not involved; NRCS operates and control the entire system.

An available map shows the locations of over 730 SNOTEL sites in 11 western states including
Alaska. The sites are generally located in remote high-mountain watersheds where access is often
difficult or restricted. Access for maintenance by NRCS includes various modes from hiking and
skiing to helicopters.

Sites are designed to operate unattended and without maintenance for a year. They are battery
powered with solar cell recharge. The condition of each site is monitored daily when it reports on
8 operational functions. Serious problems or deteriorating performance trigger a response from
the NRCS electronic technicians located in 6 Data Collection Offices.

The SNOTEL sites are polled by [only] 2 master stations operated by NRCS in Boise, Idaho, and
Ogden, Utah. A central computer at NRCS's National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) in
Portland, Oregon controls system operations and receives the data collected by the SNOTEL
network.

In other words, Meteor Burst Communications (“MBC”) is proven, reliable and cost effective.

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Each MBC link can
be up to 1500 km or
more – to fixed and
some vehicle and
man-pack stations
(mobile use requires
sufficient power and
antennas, much greater
than on personal mobile
communication devices).

But, SkyTel plans

MBC for fixed links
mostly: from the
MBC remote (non-
master station links),
using mobile ad-hoc
and fixed mesh
networks to large numbers of vehicles and persons in movement. This will use radio frequencies other
than used on the MBC links. MBC will use spectrum in 30-50 MHz range that SkyTel holds. The
terrestrial wireless mesh net links will use some of the same spectrum range, and some 200 and 900 MHz
spectrum SkyTel holds.

Skytel plans to provide essential wireless, for transport and other safety, environmental monitoring, high
accuracy location and other applications of high public-interest value, at no cost.

Of course, US government can and should implement border security on its own, with its control and
security. The planned SkyTel network can share some facilities, each with firewalls and other required
security separation.
As noted above, MBC can provide both US borders virtual fence and other vital application, for example

(Depiction and table on this page from ITU at: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/fg7/case_library/documents/MBC001.html

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 Conclusion

SkyTel will propose the above (in much more details, with various expert showings) to US DHS
and other agencies.

See other SkyTel papers explaining MBC and associated wireless (all can be coordinated) including
Cooperative High Accuracy Location (“C-HALO”) at the Scribd link below.

Warren Havens
President
“SkyTel” entities --

Skybridge Spectrum Foundation

ATLIS Wireless LLC
V2G LLC
Environmentel LLC
Verde Systems LLC
Telesaurus Holdings GB LLC
Intelligent Transportation & Monitoring Wireless LLC
Berkeley California
510 841 2220 x 30

www.scribd.com/warren_havens/shelf

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