Mobile Phone Mesh Networks

In many doomsday scenarios, we still have working cell phones, we can still get them charged (solar power) but the cellular network is down. Landlines are down. The Internet is down.

Fortunately, for those who have prepared in advance, there is still a tech way to communicate with friends, family and neighbours, provided they are not too distant. No need for sketchy walkie talkies, CB, shortwave radio or smoke signals.

All you need is for everyone to have the same device that leverages the existing hardware of your phone. Here are some options. Be aware that they might not be legal where you live because of differing frequency allocations, but that won’t matter post-SHTF, and some testing should be fine.

goTenna Mesh

  • Send text, public broadcasts and GPS location
  • Range 6 kms in the open, 0.8kms in dense areas (one reviewer achieved much further)
  • Can network? Yes
  • Relay mode? Yes (you can tie your device to a tree and it can expand the range of the network…)
  • Encrypted? Yes
  • Battery lasts just 24 hours

Beartooth

  • Send text and PTT voice messages (same as a walkie talkie) and GPS location
  • Range voice 3.2km-8km. Text 6.4km-16.1km
  • Can network? No
  • Relay mode? No
  • Encrypted? Yes
  • Battery lasts 2 days
  • Includes high-res topographical maps
  • NOTE: Many negative reviews on Amazon, seems to be a bit flaky

Gotoky (from Slovenia)

  • Send text and PTT voice messages (same as a walkie talkie) and GPS location
  • Range 1.6km to 30km
  • Can network? No
  • Relay mode? No
  • Encrypted? Yes
  • Battery lasts 4 days and can constantly transmit for 8 hours
  • Emergency location beacon
  • NOTE: As of April 2021 the project is on hold due to a lack of funding…

Sonnet is similar and hasn’t launched yet

They can vary physically but what matters is getting the device that will perform the best for you. No point having the smaller gadget if it means the shorter range jeopardises something critical.

Range Rules

Being able to directly and instantly communicate is key. How you do it, as long as the message is understood, is secondary. Possibly, in some scenarios, the speed of voice is an advantage. But range is what really counts, because the unpredictability of the scenarios means more range is better. If you have a large property/farm, then fixed devices with solar power and a mesh network would be awesome. Yet, aside from being on lookout, such communications aren’t that necessary.

How Many?

After testing and deciding that a device is the one you want, the really hard part is how many? If you have like-minded people on board, just get one or two each (redundancy!). But if you expect to be surviving with non-survivalists, then many might be the answer.

Other Options

The other choices are either not fully developed, or satellite phones like the Garmin InReach. Satellite phones have one potential drawback – in a solar storm there is a good chance the satellites will be wrecked. But otherwise, for long-distance disaster-proof communications anything on the Iridium satellite network is a great option. Just make sure you have a lot of paid data up front. Or, with Garmin, you can activate a plan only when you need it. Just do so before local infrastructure fails!

Bivy is good for occasional and emergency use, with no monthly fees

Other options for satellite communication include Spot and Somewear (which is cheaper, from only $8/mo).

Be aware that coverage is not necessarily global. Globalstar (sic), used by Spot, covers way less than half the planet

You can make your own, utilising the very-low-bandwidth LoRaWAN. See Meshtastic or MSG Lab or PyGo1.

Disaster Radio looks great but still hasn’t (won’t?) launch.

BONUS

Communication is an important aspect of life, and such devices could come in handy even outside of a disaster scenario. From the simple possibility of your regular service being down, to if perhaps you want to avoid government surveillance. I can imagine drug dealers using a mesh network.

There can be non-physical disasters that affect communications, from cyber attacks to financial problems to sanctions (turns out your cellular service provider is owned by a Russian oligarch…).

And when it comes to being able to always be assured that you can contact family and friends, that reassurance has value.

Also, mesh networks work anywhere, so they are great for when you are travelling with someone and don’t want to buy a local SIM etc.