{"id":19626,"date":"2016-06-22T08:48:25","date_gmt":"2016-06-22T12:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=19626"},"modified":"2016-10-29T08:24:07","modified_gmt":"2016-10-29T12:24:07","slug":"bbg-take-note-shortwave-radio-distributes-smartphone-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/bbg-take-note-shortwave-radio-distributes-smartphone-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"BBG, take note: Shortwave radio distributes smartphone apps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"smart-phones\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to Andy Sennitt, who posted a link to this Mission Networks News article on Facebook<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Imagine being able to download an app…without the internet.<\/p>\n

Well, it’s finally happened, thanks to shortwave radio. \u00a0Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), take note: \u00a0Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), a Christian organization that distributes Bibles in parts of the world where they are\u00a0difficult to distribute, have a free smartphone app called Bible.is<\/a>. \u00a0The only problem is, the app wasn’t\u00a0available in countries where there is no access to the Internet nor where authorities block the app…at least, until now.\u00a0<\/em>By using Trans World Radio’s Guam shortwave transmitter site, they have successfully “downloaded” this\u00a0app to multiple smartphones in Thailand:<\/strong><\/p>\n

[D]ue to a major recent breakthrough by Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), they were able to deliver the Bible to an unconnected smartphone using shortwave radio towers over 3,000 miles for the first time ever.<\/p>\n

Troy Carl, Vice President of FCBH, explains, \u201cYesterday, we were able to transmit file casting data packets from Guam all the way to Thailand using shortwave frequencies,<\/strong> and we were able to do that in partnership with Trans World Radio. So it was really quite exciting! Basically what we did is created one-way internet access turning that tower into a super WiFi router. And that\u2019s quite a story because it\u2019s never been done!\u201d<\/p>\n

To put it another way, Carl wrote this description in a recent post:<\/p>\n

Just like the one you use everyday in your house, where you connect a data source (internet cable) and a power source (you plug it in) and the little antennas broadcast internet around your house (say 500 ft.) and you connect to it with your phone to read\/listen\/see the data it\u2019s transmitting.<\/p>\n

In Guam, we took a HUGE antenna, (supplied by Trans World Radio), hooked up a data source (a Bible.is app device), turned the power on (250kw) and sent the data into the air bouncing it off the ionosphere over 3,000 MILES!<\/p>\n

Our team in Chang Mai Thailand, hooked up to this giant router with a proprietary decompiler. Then sideloaded the Bible.is app with all its content to multiple smart phones using a simple wifi broadcaster!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As I wrote in,\u00a0Does Shortwave Radio Have a Future?<\/a><\/em>, I’ve always believed that the shortwave medium could be leveraged for international digital\/data communications, and should<\/em> be, especially in countries under repressive regimes such as North Korea. In my article, I focused on Radio Canada International (RCI),\u00a0which\u00a0was then dismantling their shortwave transmitter site:<\/p>\n

[B]roadcasters should not dismantle their transmission sites as Canada is currently doing. Not only is the current service originating from these sites a more reliable form of emergency communications than the Internet, should a national disaster befall us; not only do they continue to provide a broad-spectrum mode of diplomacy; but should future digital communication modes find a way to take advantage of the HF spectrum as is now under discussion, this would be most unfortunate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imagine a wi-fi signal with a footprint as large as several countries, digital devices with tiny fractal antennas that receive this signal containing rich media (e.g., audio and video)\u2013\u2013these are not science fiction, but highly plausible uses of these transmission sites, even within the next decade…<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FCBH’s innovation is simply a first step in this direction. If it turns out that this method is both\u00a0accessible<\/em> and affordable<\/em>, this could truly pave\u00a0a new road on the mobile information highway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Andy Sennitt, who posted a link to this Mission Networks News article on Facebook. Imagine being able to download an app…without the internet. Well, it’s finally happened, thanks to shortwave radio. \u00a0Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), take note: \u00a0Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), a Christian organization that distributes Bibles in parts of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,56,1114,960,3,43,1167],"tags":[5206,5207,5209,5204,5569,5205,5210,3782,5208],"class_list":["post-19626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-broadcasters","category-digital-modes","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-whats-on-shortwave","tag-bible-is","tag-fcbh","tag-guam","tag-innovations","tag-shortwave-internet","tag-shortwave-smart-phone","tag-shortwave-wi-fi","tag-smart-phones","tag-trans-world-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-56y","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10412,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/bbg-publishes-report-on-the-efficacy-and-future-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":19626,"position":0},"title":"BBG publishes report on the efficacy and future of shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"August 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bennett Kobb, who shares this downloadable Report of the Special Committee on the Future of Shortwave Broadcasting. If you recall, this\u00a0report was produced by a Broadcasting Board of Governors committee\u00a0and chaired\u00a0by\u00a0Matt Armstrong. Both Bennett and I believe it's unfortunate that the committee failed to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/VOA-Greenville-Curtain-Antennas.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8869,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/bbg-seeking-comments-on-relevancy-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":19626,"position":1},"title":"BBG seeks comments on relevancy of shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"March 3, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The United States' Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)--the governing body responsible for all US international broadcasting--is asking for your comments on the relevancy of shortwave radio broadcasting today. In short, simply send the BBG an email (limited to 1,200 words or less) with your comments by March 14th, 2014. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Teacher in rural South Sudan with an ETOW radio. (Project Education Sudan Journey of Hope 2010)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/PESTeacher21-201x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17922,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/bbgs-fiscal-year-2016-congressional-budget-request\/","url_meta":{"origin":19626,"position":2},"title":"BBG’s Fiscal Year 2016 Congressional Budget Request","author":"Thomas","date":"March 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares a link to the Broadcasting Board of Governor's\u00a0Fiscal Year 2016\u00a0Congressional Budget Request. Click here to download as a PDF. I've read key portions of the request. Regarding shortwave, the BBG are asking for budget reductions in almost all of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BBG-Budget-Request","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/BBG-Budget-Request.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/BBG-Budget-Request.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/BBG-Budget-Request.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/BBG-Budget-Request.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8977,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/deadline-approaching-bbg-seeks-public-comment-on-relevancy-of-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":19626,"position":3},"title":"Deadline approaching: BBG seeks public comment on relevancy of shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"March 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Reminder: The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)\u00a0is asking for your comments\u00a0on the relevancy of shortwave radio broadcasting. In short, simply send the BBG an email (limited to 1,200 words or less) with your comments\u00a0by Friday (March 14th, 2014).\u00a0The BBG has set up the following email address:\u00a0ShortwaveCommittee@bbg.gov Click here for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Students in South Sudan listen to their favorite shortwave radio program, VOA Special English.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/DSCN2988wtmk-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":31329,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/bbg-budget-includes-plans-for-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":19626,"position":4},"title":"BBG budget includes plans for shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"March 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley who shares the following item from Kim Elliott. Note that this news is dated February 22, 2018 (yes, it was lost in my drafts folder!): Broadcasting Board of Governors budget request includes plans for shortwave Kim Andrew Elliott 22 February 2018 The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2-1-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2-1-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/VOA-site-B-Wallpaper-MainBuilding2-1-1024x640.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3404,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/shortwave-offers-the-most-physical-resistance-to-interdiction-of-any-medium-available-to-international-broadcasting\/","url_meta":{"origin":19626,"position":5},"title":"Shortwave offers “the most physical resistance to interdiction of any medium available to international broadcasting”","author":"Thomas","date":"April 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I recently read the following comments by\u00a0Kim Andrew Elliott regarding the Broadcasting Board of\u00a0Governors' strategic move away from shortwave radio. I think Kim is spot-on: As a shortwave listener for nearly a half-century, I am saddened to see the reduction of shortwave broadcasting, especially by US international broadcasters. As an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"VOA transmitter site in Greenville, NC","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/VOAgreenville-300x171.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}