Yes, it's part of a mesh that needs a lot of passive sensors to hop farther than the radio. However, it's still long range and low power. You can get anywhere from like 1 mile to 50 mile distance in one hop depending on whether you have sight of them, like being at the top of a hill or something.

For an emergency situation where a family is within miles of each other, you can probably still make good use out of it as a long range radio.

Also, we assume that you take the device out and enable it during an emergency, so that others in an emergency will have access to a mesh. I imagine this would currently be the case. I mean, my devices are off right now. If shit hit the fan, I'd turn them on. I imagine I'm not the only one with this plan.

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lIlIllIlIIIllIlIlII 3 points 10 days ago

Some devices are needed, many devices can collapse the mesh. In fact, depending on the conditions, it is recommended to use a rol "client_mute" (do not contribute to the mesh) in your device if there are many devices, for avoiding too many retransmits. I hope you understand, my english is limited.

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paper_moon 4 points 11 days ago

Anyone got any bag suggestions? I tried to look some up at one point and threw my hands up with all the bad reviews, they worked a few times but eventually if you open/close it a few times it started to leak radio signals.

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PhatalFlaw 3 points 11 days ago

Sorry for the YouTube link if you don't want to go there, I get it. SaveItForParts does a decent video on their usefulness and what you should look for when shopping.

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Carl 4 points 11 days ago

Or just use a standalone device with a hard power switch, that doesn’t tether to your phone. My wife and I have a tiny little ESP32 mesh texting+location devices for when we’re in crowds where the cellular spectrum will be saturated, or where the reception is typically just shit. But they stay off unless we’re actively using them (like when we’re separated in the crowd).

If we go to a weekend festival, we just charge them before we leave and then they easily last all weekend. Because we’re only really using them as temporary beacon system to find our way back to each other.

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tophneal 20 points 11 days ago

Standalone mesh devices with on/off switches are pretty niiiiice. No mobilek required

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Sanctus 10 points 11 days ago

Outside without my Mobilek? But hes my best friend!

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whosepoopisonmybuttocks 2 points 10 days ago

Not taking your phone: simple

Using a phone in airplane mode with Bluetooth enabled to use a lora device: minimal concern in most contexts.

Standard android / iOS: A privacy nightmare.

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