Communicate Off-Grid Without Cell, Wi-Fi and Satellites Using Your Smartphone

No cell service? No problem! If you’re planning a hiking trip, going camping, or simply find yourself in the middle of nowhere, one Brookyln-based startup has the solution to keep you connected at all times with what they’re describing as an “off-grid, mobile, long-range mesh network.”

A smaller sibling to the original goTenna, the goTenna Mesh pairs with your smartphone via BLE, enabling you to send text messages via an app and share your GPS location on offline maps with others — without the need for any cell towers, Wi-Fi routers or satellites.

What’s more, it allows you to chat privately in one-on-one or group conversations, as well as broadcast to any other goTenna Mesh device up to several miles away.

goTenna Mesh works by relaying messages via a 1W UHF radio transmitter. The range will usually be up to three miles in open terrain, and up to a mile in congested areas.

Most intriguingly, the goTenna Mesh can use people as a relay:

goTenna Mesh’s first-of-its-kind mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) protocol lets you intelligently relay your messages through other users to get to your recipients when they are out of point-to-point range of you. This makes it more likely your messages will get through in difficult situations, and creates a network that gets stronger the more people join it. And not to worry: this all happens automatically and privately.

If this all sounds awesome, that’s because it is. You can read all about goTenna’s goal of “people-powered connectivity” on its Kickstarter page here.