3 ms·
Cool idea, but doesn't Meshtastic already do this but with better range because it uses radio instead of BT?
by RankingMember 7mo ago
Cool idea, but doesn't Meshtastic already do this but with better range because it uses radio instead of BT?
- redgridtactical 7mo agoMeshtastic is great if you're willing to carry extra hardware. Everyone in your group needs a LoRa radio (which can range from $30-50 each), and you need to pair them, flash the firmware, configure channels, etc. For a SAR team or preppers who already own the gear, it's definitely a solid choice. Red Grid Link was more so for those already carrying their phones and those that don't want to buy anything else. The trade-off is range for convenience. BLE gets you maybe ~50-100m in the open, ~20-60m in densely woooded areas. That's enough to keep tabs on a hunting party spread across a hillside or a hiking group. Absolutely not a replacement for a radio relay across a valley. Different tools for different problems. If I need a 2km mesh range I'd set up Meshtastic too.
- RankingMember 7mo agoGood points. I like the ghost marker functionality, helps with the shorter-range of BT.
- redgridtactical 7mo agoThanks, yeah the ghost markers ended up being one of those features that came out of necessity. Once I accepted that the BLE range was never going to be amazing, the question became what happens when someone drops off? Felt wrong to just remove them from the map.