January 13, 2026
Silence of the LANs
Ask HN: Iran's 120h internet shutdown, phones back. How to stay resilient?
Iran’s web goes dark: HN splits on ham radios, satellites, and old-school phone trees
TLDR: Iran’s internet has been down for five days; only phone calls work. Hacker News exploded with old-school ham radios and phone trees vs satellite dreams and shaky mesh apps, plus 56k modem jokes and stoic coping — a crash course in staying connected when governments pull the plug.
Five days without internet in Iran, and Hacker News turned into a survival bunker. With phone calls back but data still dead, the crowd split fast: ham radio diehards shouted “this is the way,” satellite dreamers waved at Starlink and BGAN, mesh-network optimists invoked BitChat and Meshtastic, and the phone-tree nostalgics preached chains of calls plus literal runners. It was equal parts prepper guide and neighborhood watch, with a dash of “stay calm” via Stoicism.
The spice? A radio veteran warned HF (the “shortwave” bands) can reach the world—but broadcasting is like turning on a giant flashing beacon, so don’t expect stealth. Another commenter clarified the alphabet soup: HF is lower than VHF, cue nerdy correction drama. Mesh fans hyped Bluetooth peer-to-peer, but skeptics clapped back: short range, spotty hops, big promises. Satellite got cheers, then reality checks: cost, coverage, and visibility to authorities. Meanwhile, old-school phone trees plus radio DJs from civil rights-era playbooks stole the pragmatic spotlight.
The meme moment: “If phones work, fire up a 56k modem,” igniting dial-up nostalgia. And somewhere between radios, satellites, and mesh fantasies, one link to Stoicism reminded everyone: resilience is tech and mindset. Classic HN—part hackathon, part therapy.
Key Points
- •Iran has experienced a 120-hour (5-day) internet shutdown.
- •International phone calls have resumed, but data connections remain blocked.
- •The poster is seeking technical solutions for resilient, long-term communication.
- •Requested solution categories include peer-to-peer messaging, mesh networks, and satellite-based options.
- •The solutions sought should not rely on local ISP infrastructure.