What is Radio Mode?
Radio mode lets you use Flaresat's full mapping and communication features with no internet connection, no cell service, and no Wi-Fi, in places where normal communication infrastructure doesn't exist or has failed.
How it works​
Radio groups use Meshtastic or MeshCore, LoRa radio mesh networking firmware. Each person in your team connects a small radio device to their phone via Bluetooth. Those devices talk to each other over LoRa radio waves, forming a mesh network that can span miles.
When you drop a pin or send a message in a Radio group:
- Flaresat encodes the data into a compact binary format
- Sends it to your radio device over Bluetooth
- The device broadcasts it over LoRa radio
- Nearby devices in the mesh receive and relay it (mesh = automatic repeating)
- Teammates' radio devices receive the signal and pass it to their phones via Bluetooth
- Their Flaresat apps decode it and update the map
The result: everyone's maps and chat stay in sync with zero internet.
Range​
LoRa radio range depends heavily on terrain and obstructions:
| Environment | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Open field / flat terrain | 5–15 km (3–10 miles) |
| Rolling hills / light forest | 2–5 km |
| Dense forest / urban canyon | 0.5–2 km |
| Building to building (urban) | 100–500 m |
In a mesh, devices relay packets between nodes automatically, so total coverage can be much larger than the range between any two devices.
When to use Radio mode​
- Search and rescue operations in remote areas
- Hiking or backcountry expeditions
- Disaster response when infrastructure is down
- Events in areas with poor cell coverage
- Military or security operations requiring RF-only comms
- Any situation where you want communications that don't depend on third-party infrastructure
What you need​
- A LoRa radio device running Meshtastic or MeshCore firmware for each person in your team
- Bluetooth enabled on your phone
Compatible firmware​
Flaresat supports devices running one of two LoRa mesh firmware platforms:
- Meshtastic, the most widely used LoRa mesh firmware, large open-source community
- MeshCore, an alternative mesh firmware also fully supported by Flaresat
Both work identically with Flaresat, same features, same setup flow.
Hardware​
Any LoRa device with Bluetooth running Meshtastic or MeshCore firmware is compatible. A few popular options:
| Device | Notes |
|---|---|
| RAK WisMesh Tag | Compact EDC device, IP66, built-in GPS, 5–6 day battery, ships pre-flashed |
| Heltec V3 | Budget-friendly, widely available |
| LilyGO T-Beam | Built-in GPS and battery management |
| RAK WisBlock | Modular, good for custom builds |
Radio vs Online groups​
| Feature | Online Group | Radio Group |
|---|---|---|
| Internet required | Yes | No |
| Real-time sync | Yes | Yes (via mesh) |
| Map pins, routes, areas | Yes | Yes |
| Text chat | Yes | Yes |
| @mention map items in chat | Yes | Yes |
| Message delivery status | Pending / Failed | Pending / Sent / Failed |
| Voice notes | Yes | No |
| Weather overlays | Yes | No |
| Live location sharing | Yes | Yes (throttled) |
| Member roles (Admin/Member/Viewer) | Yes | No (all users equal) |
| Push notifications | Yes | No (local alerts only) |
| Cloud backup | N/A | Optional |
| Range | Unlimited (via internet) | Limited by radio range |