HERMES HF System Achieves 400-600 km File Transfers at 20 W for Remote Communities

Rhizomatica deployed HERMES stacks in Bangladesh, Brazil, and Ecuador. Ten to eleven fishing vessels in the Bay of Bengal received units in 2024. One vessel transmitted GPS coordinates and SOS after mechanical failure 100-200 km offshore, enabling coordinated rescue without terrestrial infrastructure. The system operates in the 3-30 MHz band and functions as a file pipeline rather than voice-only channel.

Field data show reliable 400-600 km links at 20 W output. File transfers replace voice read-outs for manifests, telemedicine lists, and geolocated photos. Optional encryption addresses partner requirements in sensitive regions despite varying amateur-radio rules. Prior HF digital modes were limited to hundreds of bits per second; HERMES software stack increases usable throughput for binary payloads while maintaining low power.

Operationally, HERMES reduces dependency on satellite terminals in off-grid zones where infrastructure deployment costs remain prohibitive. It supplies verifiable position reports and evidence files that voice channels cannot convey. Rhizomatica’s model pairs the radio with local operators, creating persistent data channels where fiber or cellular coverage is absent.

Next deployments target additional artisanal fleets and indigenous territories in South Asia and Latin America, with expanded modem testing for higher-order modulation under varying ionospheric conditions.