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In Part 1 we looked at the first "killer" in this series named the Internet Outage Killer. Article available HERE.
Many of you would say use real amateur radio radio's and you will not have to deal with silent amateur radio killers. With all do respect it is not about real radios. I use what I have available and that will serve the purpose that I have intended for it. In other words I use the communications medium for a specific reason and purpose. It is definitely not a hard and fast rule. I use old valve tech to the newest surface technology, VoIP, Digital Voice modes etc. whenever I feel like using at the time.
Now in this article I will be looking at the next silent Amateur Radio Killer out there. In short, the dreaded Server Killer - A "server killer" most commonly refers to a cyberattack or malicious script designed to crash, overload, or disable a network server (such as a DDoS attack). Depending on the context, it can also refer to malware targeting system security.
- The "Brick" Effect: If a master server or local gateway goes offline, your expensive digital radio cannot connect to talk-groups, leaving you completely cut off from the network.
- No Warning Signs: Unlike analog radio, where static creeps in to warn you of a weak signal or a failing repeater, digital voice gives no warning. It works perfectly until it instantly drops into absolute silence.
- Single Points of Failure: Centralized network servers handle routing IDs and call-signs. If hackers target these servers or the host data centers experience outages, entire networks go down globally.
- Loss of the "Radio Art": Critics argue that routing 99% of a voice conversation over the commercial internet via "hot-spots" turns a radio into nothing more than an expensive, glorified VoIP microphone.
| Digital Voice Mode | Primary Server/Network Infrastructure | Vulnerability to Internet/Server Outage |
|---|---|---|
| DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) | BrandMeister, TGIF, IPSC2 Master Servers | High; local hot-spots and linked repeaters fail if servers drop. |
| D-STAR | Gateway Servers, REF/XRF/DCS Reflectors | High; call-sign routing and global linking cease without the internet. |
| System Fusion (C4FM) | Yaesu Wires-X Servers | High; rooms and internet node linking go offline completely. |
| FreeDV (Open Source HF) | None (Pure Over-The-Air HF) | Zero; completely independent of servers for voice traffic. |
- FreeDV: An open-source digital voice protocol designed for HF (shortwave) bands. It does not use any central internet routing; voice is encoded, sent over the air via standard SSB radios, and decoded directly on the receiving side. If the internet dies, FreeDV keeps working.
- M17 Project: A completely open-source, non-proprietary VHF/UHF digital voice protocol developed specifically to break away from commercial, server-reliant restrictions.
- Digital Simplex / Local Repeater Modes: Using DMR or Fusion in "simplex" (radio-to-radio) mode removes the internet entirely, relying strictly on direct line-of-sight RF range.
Is moving away from server-dependence the true Off Grid Alternative or would running your own server from home not be the better alternative?
- Dependency on Internet ISPs: If you run a DMR or AllStar Asterisk server at home, you still rely on your internet service provider to route traffic to your fellow radio amateurs houses.
- Power Grid Vulnerability: A home server requires constant power. If a storm knocks out the local grid, you need substantial backup batteries or generators to keep it running.
- Public IP Changes: Home internet connections usually have dynamic IP addresses, which can change and break connection links unless you manage complex Dynamic DNS settings.
- Complete Privacy: You control who connects to your talk-groups or rooms, away from public network moderators.
- Immunity to Global Outages: If the main worldwide servers get hacked or experience a data center outage, your private network remains completely untouched.
- Custom Configuration: You can build unique talk-group structures and automated scripts tailored exactly to your local radio club.
- Off-Grid Internet: Radio amateurs use modified commercial Wi-Fi routers to create an independent, high-speed microwave data network.
- Local Servers: You can run a server at your house, and other hams can connect to it over the air without using the commercial internet at all.
During a recent Severe Weather event in the Southern Cape we experienced power and internet outages which resulted in the following servers being off-line during this event:
- BrandMeister Master South Africa
- Echolink Servers (All over the world)
- AllStarLink Servers (All over the world)
I would like to encourage my fellow radio amateurs to look at AREDN but also to look into hosting your own server locally in the Shack. (like a Private BrandMeister Master, a XLX D-STAR Reflector, or an AllStar Link Node) Some might be of the opinion that power- and internet outages do not last for weeks or months and to wait for a while will not hurt anybody or I will use my local analog repeater or HF Radio etc. if there is a need to communicate.
I respect your opinion but would it not be great to have alternatives available and I am not even talking about the opportunities here to learn and experiment to find alternative that work great. My whole life I tried not to be dependent on others. I try to be self sufficient as far as possible but also in the amateur radio hobby. So far I achieved what I wanted to do but there is ample work to be done in killing this amateur radio killer aka "Server Killer".
In a future posting I will be looking at other methods to "replace dead servers" which will allow me and hopefully others to communicate locally when servers go down. At least the equipment that depend on the Internet will not be useless in times of need. In the Afrikaans language we have a saying " 'n Boer maak 'n plan!". We need different plans / alternatives and the more the merrier. I made a few plans! Lookout for Part 3 coming soon.
Finally: Do you have a back-up plan for your digital voice radios should servers or the internet fails. If you have a solution or ideas then tell us about it. Send your comments to the following Email.
