Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#1

Post by grubles » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 8:58 PM UTC

Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally
blockstream.com

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#2

Post by SiempreViernes » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 10:10 PM UTC

The broadcast is global, the ability to recieve the broadscasts is... uh.... an implementation detail left to the user! (NB: involves satellite dishes)

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#3

Post by grubles » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 10:36 PM UTC

SiempreViernes wrote: post #2

The broadcast is global, the ability to recieve the broadscasts is... uh.... an implementation detail left to the user! (NB: involves satellite dishes)

The antennas required are the ubiquitous commercial satellite TV kind which you can probably find on craigslist for free. The other hardware costs < $100. The software is all free (along with the broadcast itself).

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#4

Post by g45y45 » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 10:40 PM UTC

If bitcoin is to be the global currency, it needs more channels to propagate than just public internet. Public Internet is too censorship receptive for system like Bitcoin. Broadcasting the block and tx data to the world via satellite gets us one step closer. Great work Blockstream!

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#5

Post by wmf » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 11:03 PM UTC

I wonder why they're using SDR instead of a standard like DVB-S2.

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#6

Post by RL_Quine » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 11:11 PM UTC

SiempreViernes wrote: post #2

The broadcast is global, the ability to recieve the broadscasts is... uh.... an implementation detail left to the user! (NB: involves satellite dishes)

Buy data transmission for an obscure currency, use obscure lightning software to use the obscure currency to pay a company to transmit data to something you need to buy dedicated hardware for. Hapless optimism aside it’s hard to see what benign purpose this could possibly be used for.

It’s sort of strange to bother with anything custom. Bitcoin signatures have a free, encrypted data channel within ECDSA signatures. You can just broadcast those through the normal bitcoin network without paying Blockstream.

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#7

Post by martindale » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 11:14 PM UTC

Congratulations, Blockstream! Great to see this come online. Will Liquid customers pay extra for this, or is it included?

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#8

Post by adam3us » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 11:20 PM UTC

wmf wrote: post #5

I wonder why they're using SDR instead of a standard like DVB-S2.

We tried to keep the equipment cost down, to support emerging market. Reusing existing 45cm/60cm TV satellite dishes is part of it. The usb SDRs cost $10-15 on ebay.

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#9

Post by adam3us » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 11:22 PM UTC

btw you can see the sent queue and send messages here https://blockstream.com/satellite-queue/

Re: Blockstream Satellite API: Pay with BTC via Lightning to Broadcast Data Globally

#10

Post by adam3us » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 11:23 PM UTC

There is a setup guide by grubles https://hackernoon.com/building-your-own-bitcoin-satellite-n... for linux capable people.