We're making an open-source $30 GPS/mesh radio, would like advice

Re:We're making an open-source $30 GPS/mesh radio, would lik... by kawfey on Wednesday March 11, 2020 @09:29AM (#22545622)

Radio amateurs might be some suitable beta testers for you. It being an open source radio system fits right into the mission and spirit of amateur radio.

However, I'll take the cynical route and say mesh radios, for the general public, are still not very popular. Gotenna and Beartooth, among others appear to be common and popular, and highly reviewed, but in my hikes and ski trips, I haven't seen or heard from a single one. I've seen FAR more basic FRS radios, and SPOT satellite messengers.

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Re:We're making an open-source $30 GPS/mesh radio, would lik... by glassuser on Wednesday March 11, 2020 @06:56PM (#22551694)

I'm one of those amateurs.

Gotenna is stupid expensive. And spot is pretty evil (or at least the instances I've encountered it).

I think what most of the public expects from a radio device is PTT audio. Which isn't going to work with these low bitrate lora devices. I think if they got conditioned to some of this form factor, it would catch on a lot better.

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Re:We're making an open-source $30 GPS/mesh radio, would lik... by punkgeek on Wednesday March 11, 2020 @01:00PM (#22547427)

FRS radios and SPOT are also awesome.

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