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Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

github.com

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Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#171

Post by t43562 »

This is something I've wanted for ages. I go to some event with the family - in London for example or to an airshow - and there's a huge crowd for one reason or another which overloads the mobile network and makes your phone useless. You can lose people who are just a few metres away.

I am glad it's public domain - I don't think I really want to invest any effort in getting non-techy people to try and use something that might go away one day and be irreplacable. OTOH, I need Android as well so....

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#172

Post by sardine5 »

subscribed wrote: post #136
nullify88 wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I commonly Signal call my partner when we are at opposite ends of the house. I can see something like this being useful to prevent using some remote Internet server to facilitate a very local call. I wonder if there's a home lab / self hosted solution for this.

Bluetooth to reach and reliably hold a high throughout connection to the device across the house? I don't think so.

You can do a surprising amount with a low throughput connection though. I've been playing with Google's Lyra V2 codec - it chews up a fair bit of CPU, but 3.2kbps over a CodedPhy link sounds fine.

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#173

Post by IshKebab »

sardine5 wrote: post #86
roshin wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cool technology, but what is the usecase? I can imagine traveling abroad without a sim and using it as described. But is it any better than using the cellular network (when you have access to it)?

I possibly live more remote than you do - but mobile data isn't really a thing (in the UK at least) you can rely on continuously when you're cycling, or visiting the supermarket and you've lost your partner near the cheese aisle...

I mean it is in most of the UK. Maybe not in remote areas of Scotland or Wales.

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#175

Post by [deleted] »

IshKebab wrote: post #173
sardine5 wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I possibly live more remote than you do - but mobile data isn't really a thing (in the UK at least) you can rely on continuously when you're cycling, or visiting the supermarket and you've lost your partner near the cheese aisle...

I mean it is in most of the UK. Maybe not in remote areas of Scotland or Wales.

[deleted]

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#178

Post by benbristow »

miroljub wrote: post #154
notfish wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its best for places like football games or festivals, where the traditional network gets overrun

If you go to a football game or a festival to frantically keep messaging, better stay at home.

Spoken like someone who's never lost their pal at a festival

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#179

Post by RenThraysk »

estsauver wrote: post #131
syntaxing wrote: post #4

Whoa this is really neat. I’ve been trying to get into Meshtastic but it’s hard to convince others when you need special hardware. Would be super neat if Apple did something similar. Shouldn’t be too hard since the AirTags use the same idea? Would also be neat if there was a way to build a LoRA proxy to extend the range. I might give this a try with my meshtastic devices.

FWIW, I've found a T-1000e to be a pretty good way to get people into meshtastic. It's not perfect because it has a weird dongle to charge, but it's pretty cool and I think you can convince people it's a worthwhile thing for emergency recovery.

Heltec MeshPocket is another. A powerbank and LoRa device.

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#180

Post by mschuster91 »

moneywaters wrote: post #96

I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones. Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the messag…

basically, a user friendly and publicly accessible variant of APRS for ham radio?
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