xkcd #3307: Spectrum Allocation

Title text:

Rumor has it that they're finally auctioning off the zeppelin navigation bands, but everyone is worried that the scary boat captains will express interest.

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3307/

explainxkcd for #3307

Rumor has it that they're finally auctioning off the zeppelin navigation bands, but everyone is worried that the scary boat captains will express interest.

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[–] 22 points 1 day ago

A similar situation applies to the IPv4 ranges

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  • [–] 15 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    Amateur radio operators triggered by the false distinction of amateur and ham radio

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  • [–] 50 points 1 day ago (5 children)

    All modern wireless infrastructure

    HE KNOWS

    This must be the most significant meta reference since what, the explainxkcd namedrop in the title text that one time?

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  • [–] 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)
  • [–] 34 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    All I have to say is that the boat captains really do need all that space.

    Because half of it is taken up by drunk guys sitting on their PTT button while the other half is the coast guard telling someone to head over to channel 22/24.

    All we have left is channel 69 these days.

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  • [–] 23 points 1 day ago

    If you want to see the real chart... (For the US at least)

    NTIA Frequency Allocations

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  • [–] 25 points 1 day ago (3 children)

    Oh man I don't know why numbers stations are so spooky but they spook me out

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  • [–] 18 points 1 day ago

    This is more accurate than I expected.

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  • [–] 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    I'm really interested in this radioastrology.

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  • [–] 20 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    Disappointed that "Pork Radio" didn't make the cut. He must have considered it.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 day ago

    Those security guard walkie talkies take up a lot of bandwidth.

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  • [–] 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    but if they auction off the zeppelin navigation bands, how will the zeppelin NT avoid getting lost?

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  • [–] 11 points 1 day ago (4 children)

    I'm appreciating the early explainers:

    Explanation This is a humorous misinterpretation of the spectrum plan. Death Rays are not on the real spectrum plan, and if they are, do not listen to it.

    it is also very unlikely there's a entire spectrum part for garage door openers

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  • [–] 6 points 1 day ago (3 children)

    HAM radio uses multiple parts of the spectrum as well. Is he no longer doing research or am I missing something in the presentation?

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  • [–] 7 points 1 day ago* (3 children)

    What if aliens don't want to broadcast on the Hydrogen Line? They'll likely try Methane if they are truly into the butt stuff.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    That’s what “weather balloons” (including the quote marks) is for. I believe it’s a reference to the official story on the Roswell incident.

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  • Is this out of date? I thought we no longer had 1G and 2G in the US with 3G on its way out too.

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