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

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

#361

Post by hombrebuffalo »

Beretta_Vexee wrote: post #209

As much as I like the idea of people working on peer-to-peer networks, delay tolerant network, if I'm within Bluetooth range, it's quicker to chat with the person I'm talking to than to go through a messaging app. That technology is interesting, but it is probably not a good usecase. There are potentially lots of interesting things you could do with smart watches and bike computers, such as uploading activities witho…

You don't need to be close to send a message, just close to someone on the network so you can connect, the message will be relayed hoping through the network

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

#362

Post by pizzafeelsright »

johnisgood wrote: post #332
pizzafeelsright wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How? Irreversible is bad because mistakes happen. I lost ~$1,000 in a bad transfer because of a typo. Publicly verifiable -- not good because I don't want the public knowing what I buy. Pseudonymous is the worst of both. Is it or is it not me? them? I am thinking digital cash using pub keys on a network run from space on something like starlink sats.

Advice: next time pay attention before sending, all wallets ask for confirmation prior to sending, for what is it worth. Always double check, or triple check.

and then what?

I just got sent real estate documents because the sender used my uncommon firstNameLastName@ gmail, but because they had a typo of the last name it landed in my inbox.

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

#364

Post by subscribed »

driverdan wrote: post #268
sardine5 wrote: post #68

A bit different, as it's mainly for voice - but I made an app 'Murmur : Bluetooth Group Calls' - that lets you hold group voice calls and message via a mesh of Bluetooth LE connections. It's available on Android and iOS. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/murmur-bluetooth-group-calls/i... Doesn't really get any downloads, so not sure there's much demand for this - but I use it with some shokz bone conducting headphones fo…

I'd guess you're not getting downloads because you're not marketing it to people who want it. You mention a few use cases at the end of the short description and that's it. For example, this completes with motorcycle communicators such as Sena. That dedicated hardware can be over $400. If your app is as easy to use as a Sena device and you market it to bikers looking for a cheaper alternative you'll get users.

LOL, no. You can't even hear a ok quality music further than 20 metres away. Class 2 devices (smartphones) have maximum theoretical range of 30 metres with 2.4mW (4dBm).

Sena or Cardo work in 2.4 Ghz (ISM) range as well, but as a class 1 devices, which with 100mW (20 dBm), they can allow for maximum range in excess of 1 mile.

I'd use Walkie - talkies (PMR 446 MHz, about half of a mile of the range in the town) before resorting to the smartphone bluetooth. Likely only feasible on the parking.

Smartphone bluetooth is fine for two bicycles but it does NOT compete with a purpose-built hardware, especially not with the top makers like Cardo or Sena, LOL.

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

#365

Post by subscribed »

cpeth wrote: post #283
sardine5 wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually have this kind of working on a branch - really don't fancy hosting any infrastructure myself though - so I was intending it to be a Windows service or docker container you have to setup and pair with. Once you've done that - the endpoint is included in any group you create, and treated as an extra node in the graph. If available and lower latency than other routes, it'll be used. Was trying to keep things…

This sounds perfect for my use case. I'm a mountain biker who doesn't mind setting up hosting infra. It's fairly common when mountain biking to unintentionally get separated by line-of-sight or more than 75M even among very similarly skilled riders. Even on straight easy trails, just the dust cloud generated by the rider ahead can cause you to back off significant distance if it's dusty. I've used these[0] in the pas…

App will be held down by the hardware. Smartphones are not meant to transmit with the necessary power, and you also don't get direct access to the radio, so you can't run custom protocols like Sena/Cardo, but you must transmit over the actual bluetooth or actual WiFi.

They're not really a competition.

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

#366

Post by Ey7NFZ3P0nzAe »

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…

I believe that's called sneakernet. See reticulum for that.

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

#367

Post by subscribed »

kaiken1987 wrote: post #272
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)?

Cardo uses a similar tech for a dynamic mesh network, using Bluetooth I think, in their helmet comms. So if you are out on motorcycles or ATVs you can still talk without needing a cellular network. It makes things a lot more stable and not use any data. In these scenarios you'd struggle to talk face to face wearing helmets without some sort of comm. So if you can remove the need to buy a specialized comm device to do…

You can't. Smartphones are Class 2 devices (weak), and you must use radio the way firmware let's you.

Purpose-built hardware is Class 1 (much stronger, 100 mW/20dBm vs 2.4mW/4dBm), and they can use sophisticated protocols to keep the connection stable. And that's Bluetooth.

If they're not playing Bluetooth but go general ISM, they can emit whole 1W on 2.4GHz or 915 MHz.

They're not really alike.

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

#368

Post by apetresc »

__MatrixMan__ wrote: post #55
apetresc wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legit curious what the use case would be, that would justify Apple adding it in. Like, when do you need to text someone who's within Bluetooth range but somehow has no WiFi or cell reception?

When you're at a protest and the government shuts off the internet in response to the protest. It's happening right now in Togo, has been for ten days ( https://pulse.internetsociety.org/en/shutdowns/ ).

I dunno, that still sounds like a perfect use case for a third-party app like the one this post is about. I'm not sure government crackdowns are a core enough experience that it needs a first-party app from Apple.

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

#369

Post by subscribed »

dfc wrote: post #196
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 would love to use it to talk to my girlfriend when we go bike riding. I was shocked by the price tag for all the motorcycle helmet comms systems.

If you're looking at the premium segment then yeah, when you're going out with your several mates and need to be able to hear every one of them.

For one rider to one rider you can get a very decent set well under $100 (Lexin b4fm, FredConn, even Thokwok is well reviewed).

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

#370

Post by subscribed »

toast0 wrote: post #233
jappgar wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For this use case, old fashioned radio is a lot more reliable.

Quite likely, but then you need to carry that radio. And probably still carry a phone in case you split up and want to communicate.

You raised reliability issue, you've got a solution, now you're moving a goalpost and raising a convenience argument.

Decide which one is it.

PS Motorola talkabout T62 or T42 - small, light, reliable. Retevis h777: sturdy, reliable. You can just drop them in the bag.

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