Yesterday we put together a video-teleconference (VTC) from here to Mosul, Iraq, so family members could speak with their deployed loved ones from Task Force Olympia. We did it over a secure IP link that was bridged in Kuwait. Each person got 10 minutes with their loved one. Well, except General Hamm's wife - she got 15. Rank has it's privileges.

Pretty cool deal.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Got one on my desk here at work. Actually a tandberg unit. They are pretty cool and it's great to see the tech being put to good use. Instead of meetings about meetings... I bet the soldiers love it. We use IP tunnels/IPSEC. You are probably doing the same, more secure a little less overhead on the line...Although they do gobble up the BW. It can be tough in that part of the world to get good BW. At least twice a week we run into some problems with local ILECS or Telco getting the BW or lines dropping. The infrastructure just isn't there yet.
Anyway,

Nice work, Harley.

I still remember communicating with my dad via recorded cassette tape when he was at sea.

Back in 91, our cutter was the first or second to install a satellite phone.....Bad thing was, it cost $5.00 per minute calling from the Bering Sea....


Got to love the internet...

Harley


Nice work. I am sure both the Troops and their families appreciated the work you all but into it. It is a tough time anytime servicemen and their families are seperated while they are fulfilliing their duties and that little bit of time they had yesterday with their families does wonders for moral (sp) botoh over there and here at home.

Gh

That is very cool thanks for sharing. 10 min X all those soldiers is a lot of time

We actually did it over the SIPRnet - Secure IP Routing network. It's a closed system that's encrypted. The regular internet is called the NIPRnet - Nonsecure IP yada yada yada.

Bandwidth can be a problem during certain times of the day. We did the VTC last night from 5 PM to midnight. The data rate is usually 128K or 256K but sometimes we can bump it all the way up to 384K.

The stuff we use is from Polycom.

Cool, I think that SIPR only runs on the Govt Backbone? We have a connecting with SIPR in Chantilly. The gov, for security and redundacy has it own backbone network around the world. Pretty cool stuff, Man kids going in the military now a days have it made. All the new tech they get their hands on is invaluable outside. I get to work with those guys once in awhile. Ask the guys in Shemya Alaska... Poor souls.
You know anyone with a active TSSI? We are ALWAYS needing them.


Tunnels are 128bit encrypted (IPSEC), they just run over public or PVC's depending on how much $$$$ you have. Many people use them to VPN into work from home or where ever they maybe.

If you are getting BW that high over there count you stars. Somedays I see lines running under 56 and even down to 19k.

Anyway that's great. Sure wish thay had that when I was in... I remember my Dad calling on HF on good days from Germany to Ft. Bragg.

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