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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

#31

Post by myself248 »

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.

It'd be cool if Meshtastic's UDP mode could run over BLE like this, for local bluetooth clouds linked by just a few LoRa nodes.

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

#33

Post by dzhiurgis »

lxgr wrote: post #9

Very nice! Could this be published in the App Store, or does it use any APIs Apple considers off-limits? I'm regularly frustrated by modern phone's complete inabilities to allow any communication when outside of mobile network or Wi-Fi coverage, not even within the two large walled gardens. It would be so easy for Apple to extend iMessage to work peer-to-peer, at least between people that have already messaged each o…

I'd much rather Apple allow running something like this (open source) myself rather than use their "just trust me bro" store.

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

#34

Post by Tika2234 »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #33
lxgr wrote: post #9

Very nice! Could this be published in the App Store, or does it use any APIs Apple considers off-limits? I'm regularly frustrated by modern phone's complete inabilities to allow any communication when outside of mobile network or Wi-Fi coverage, not even within the two large walled gardens. It would be so easy for Apple to extend iMessage to work peer-to-peer, at least between people that have already messaged each o…

I'd much rather Apple allow running something like this (open source) myself rather than use their "just trust me bro" store.

[dead]

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

#36

Post by syntaxing »

myself248 wrote: post #31
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.

It'd be cool if Meshtastic's UDP mode could run over BLE like this, for local bluetooth clouds linked by just a few LoRa nodes.

Yeah, a BLE first mesh system honestly makes more sense in today's world since it's baked into every phone. In theory, a BLE to LoRA bridge should be doable with the existing meshtastic hardware like Nordic's nRF52840. The biggest caveat is going to be the data rate. Meshtastic is designed for around 200 bps (Long range mode) which vastly pales the ~2Mbps BLE expectation.

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

#37

Post by OsrsNeedsf2P »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #33
lxgr wrote: post #9

Very nice! Could this be published in the App Store, or does it use any APIs Apple considers off-limits? I'm regularly frustrated by modern phone's complete inabilities to allow any communication when outside of mobile network or Wi-Fi coverage, not even within the two large walled gardens. It would be so easy for Apple to extend iMessage to work peer-to-peer, at least between people that have already messaged each o…

I'd much rather Apple allow running something like this (open source) myself rather than use their "just trust me bro" store.

I've never understood this argument. Apple spends billions of dollars vetting their store for high quality apps. You can't even verify the build you get off Github was compiled from the same posted source.

As much as people want to be "leet" and run 3rd party software, it's inherently insecure and that's why Apple shuts it down.

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

#39

Post by syntaxing »

eternityforest wrote: post #28
syntaxing wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Super interesting! Leaving the transport layer as modular is definitely a great choice! I like the idea of MQTT because there’s a lot of methods of serving it. I’ve been in the middle of setting up a meshtastic MQTT mode to try it out.

I was originally going to do OpenDHT, but that would have required building and paying to host a proxy backed for the web app. I wonder what other transports you could do, like 38khz IR through a telescope?

Any line of sight stuff can be tough. Another one is standard 433 radio but difficult since its such a noisy environment.

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

#40

Post by K0balt »

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.

It depends on the antenna efficiency of course, but I was surprised to discover that BLE modes around 128kbps using coded-PHY have a range extending over 1-1/2 km without a directional antenna. At 2.4ghz its line of sight, of course, but still…
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