goTenna Mesh first thoughts and initial review
While it does not match the range, flexibility, and capabilities of amateur radio, it can be a good redundancy and a secure alternative for non-radio users
Off-grid communications capability is one reason why some get into the amateur radio service. There is a saying that “when all else fails, there’s amataeur radio.” While I don’t necessarily agree that emergency communications or emcomm should be the sole purpose of getting into amateur radio, there’s no question that the ability to communicate off-the-grid is one such benefit of having such knowledge, capability, and equipment.
Radio communication and prepping go hand-in-hand, since communication is a necessity in survival situations — at least being able to share knowledge and for coordination.
That being said, not everyone is adept at radio communications. I have written before how many preppers and “preppers” keep a stash of radios, but may not necessarily know how to effectively use them.
Meanwhile, smartphones are now ubiquitous — it’s now the lowest common denominator in communications gear. The main disadvantage is, of course, the dependence on infrastructure. Your cellular phones will not work with cell service. Sure, there are some off-grid mesh apps like FireChat, but these are very short-range, being dependent on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
About goTenna
goTenna was founded in 2012 and incorporated in 2013 as an offshoot of Hurricane Katrina, which knocked out 25 percent of cell towers in the East Coast in the US — thus affecting communications capability in the aftermath of the hurricane. Initially launched as a Kickstarter campaign, the first iteration of goTenna utilized MURS and gave users point-to-point messaging capability while tethered to a smartphone via an app.
Use of MURS meant line-of-sight capabilities only, but being off-the-grid, it enabled users to communicate peer-to-peer via text messaging even without cellular service.
goTenna Mesh is the second iteration, which added mesh networking capability, meaning messages can “hop” across goTenna Mesh devices, such that each can act either as a node or as a relay. Ideally, having enough density in an area gives users wider reach and coverage even when their intended message recipient is not within direct line-of-sight.
goTenna Mesh switched from the 2-watt MURS to using ISM, however, which limited its power to around 1 watt (although other reviews say it is just 100 milliwatts) in the 900 MHz band. The mesh or relay capability is said to make up for this.
Apart from peer-to-peer text messaging, goTenna also supports group messaging and a “shout” feature that enables users to send messages to anyone within range. There’s also an emergency beacon function, although there is no guaranteed connectivity or relay to emergency services like 911.
There is also goTenna Pro, which is meant for tactical communications and is utilized by military, law enforcement, and emergency services providers for communication and location-aware collaboration during off-grid scenarios.
A subscription-based goTenna Plus service provides additional support like downloadable topographical maps, as well as SMS relays, providing the ability to text users on the cellular network for as long as there is a single goTenna Mesh user connected with cellular service. The service also provided group messaging delivery confirmation, as well as location-tethering (which sends your location to friends at a certain interval).
goTenna also has SDK support, which enables third-party developers and integrators to build services into the off-grid mesh.
For purposes of this review, we acquired the consumer-grade goTenna Mesh. The set sells for $179 per pair, although there also goTenna Mesh devices sold on the used market for around half the price.
How it works
As previously mentioned, goTennas provide peer-to-peer connectivity, thus enabling users to communicate with each other outside of cellular coverage. Each device is essentially a two-way radio that transceives data. You can tether your smartphone through Bluetooth LE and the goTenna Mesh app.
Being line-of-sight devices, goTenna Mesh works best in open spaces, which makes it ideal for camping and hiking. This also means that range is severely limited in congested areas like in cities or wooded terrain.
The app provides the following capabilities:
- One-to-one messaging
- Group messaging
- “Shout” or one-to-anyone messaging
- Emergency beacons
- Location sharing
The app itself lets you download an offline map of your intended location, which lets users keep track of each other’s location (via the smartphone’s GPS). Locations may be automatically shared or shared upon approval.
The “shout” feature can be good for discovery.
Contacts are paired either using registered phone numbers (must be in a supported country for SMS verification) or through randomly-generated numberic IDs.
How it performs
I have done tests on what I can describe as a suburban location with hilly terrain. So far, my maximum range was around 500 meters. This has been hampered by some hilly terrain and houses in between — given line-of-sight limitations, a hill blocking your way will prevent point-to-point communication (but having a relay node in between can address this challenge).
I have not tested it in open spaces, although ideally you get a radio horizon of around 6 Km with a device held at head level. I only have two devices, but with additional devices, you can extend your range through mesh networking. This can be both done through relay stations and through other connected nodes.
A relay station is an un-paired device specifically intended to add “hop” capability to messages. A node that is paired to a user’s smartphone will still relay messages across the mesh, although a dedicated relay mode is supposedly better at doing this.
There is a crowdsourced imeshyou network map, which enables users to identify areas with a good density of relay stations and nodes. This is user-edited, however, and there is no assurance that each of the nodes is currently online.
There is sparse coverage in my area, which severely limits usage in the city. There are talks of prepper groups adding more nodes for off-grid mesh networking, although the cost of the devices ($179 for a pair), may be a bit prohibitive for a volunteer network.
In contrast, $179 can already get you a good branded handheld radio, like the Yaesu FT-70DR, Yaesu FT-60R, Yaesu VX-6R, Icom IC-T70A, etc., which I reviwed prior (you can check out my tech reviews here).
Compare this with a snippet of a New York City map below — the density provides for better range through node “hops.”
Other observations
Battery life and charging. goTenna mesh promises 24 hours of operation. So far, I have tried leaving my device on standby mode, and it does exceed that specification. Battery life will be much shorter during actual use, of course.
The goTenna mesh charges from zero to full in about three hours using micro-USB 2.0. This option gives it flexibility — you can charge using a powerbank, through a wall wart, in the car, using a portable solar charger, or virtually anywhere with USB capability.
Antenna performance. The first version of goTenna had a retractable antenna, and given that it used VHF MURS, it was a necessity. goTenna Mesh uses an internal antenna — the shorter wavelength of 869 or 900 MHz (here is the spec sheet) will require a shorter antenna after all. However, goTenna advises to keep the device in open air for better range, meaning to keep it aways from your body, hung or strapped outside a bag, etc.
On that note, being on the ISM band may provide better legal compatibility across different countries/ITU regions, but I have yet to confirm this.
Rugged build. The lack of a retractable antenna makes it more durable than the original goTenna. The device is not IP-X rated, although goTenna claims it does have some water resistance: “[I]t’s definitely weatherproof and water-resistant. We’ve designed it to survive rainy excursions and to stand a good chance of survival if briefly dropped in water, but it’s definitely not designed to be submerged.”
Extended range. goTenna Mesh can be augmented for system integration through its SDK kit. There’s a system integrator, for example, GIMAT MESH, which provides higher-power nodes. A source told me that they were able to cover 500 hectares with “several dozen goTenna Mesh in semi urban terrain.”
For higher-power GIMAT nodes, there is a cost of around $2,500, although this significantly extends the range of the mesh devices.
Connectivity with smartphones. For me, this is the biggest advantage of goTenna Mesh. It is also its biggest liability.
Smartphones are ubiquitous and practically dummy-proof. Pairing is fairly straightforward which enables a users to get on the network straightaway. Unlike amateur radio, it does not require a license. Unlike license-free radio services, it does not require users to be familair with push-to-talk communication. One just sends and receives messages like with any other messenger service.
The disadvantage, though, is the dependence on the smartphone. goTenna Mesh only acts as the conduit, and you will still need your smartphone to communicate. You willl still need to download the goTenna app in the first place, meaning you need to set it up before such an emergency or off-grid situation arises. You are also at the mercy of your smartphone’s battery life.
In my expericence, the tethering between goTenna Mesh and my smartphone was unreliable. They kept on disconnecting even when within Bluetooth range. I’m not sure if it’s an app issue, a firmware issue, or some other factor. The goTenna Mesh does have store-and-forward capabilities, though, meaning it will forward any private messages received that are addressed to the paired device once you re-establish your pairing.
Encrpytion and privacy. Private messages are encrypted, meaning they cannot be deciphered even when they go through hops through the mesh. This can be ideal for situations requiring security. In contrast, services like amateur radio cannot use encryption or coded messages. “Shout” messages are open text, however.
The verdict
As a licensed radio amateur, I’m fairly confident of my capabilities in communicating in off-grid scenarios. Having another licensed ham in the family is a big plus, since we are able to practice communicating via simplex and via repeaters on a regular basis.
I have been encouraging friends to at least have license-free devices for peer-to-peer use during emergency scenarios. The recent Hurricane Ida for instance cut off communications for millions of people in hard-hit places. Off-grid capability can help coordinate rescue and relief efforts, and it can give familes peace of mind by being able to keep in touch and possibly reunify in the even of separation.
goTenna has its limitations, especially with its low power and the need to be tethered to a smartphone. It does have use cases in recreational use, such as camping and hiking or even offroading. In normal non-emergency situations, it can be an interesting and even fun way to keep in touch (for example discover other off-grid users in the mesh). During emergencies, there is potential for ad hoc use, although this assumes you already have the goTenna application installed and running on your phone.
Range is severely limited by line-of-sight (as with any VHF and UHF device). Mesh capabilities aim to address this challenge, however. The goTenna Mesh is best used in situations that provide line-of-sight capability in non-congested locations, such as rural areas or even suburbs. In cities, it’s best to have relay nodes in high locations such as high-rise buildings.
What’s best is that goTenna Mesh is encrypted for private messages, and that it’s dummy proof, for as long as you are able to effectively pair it with a smartphone.
I can perhaps consider APRS to be a good amateur radio equivalent, although there needs to be digipeater infrastructure — or even ad hoc digipeaters — for packets and messages to “hop.” Also, messages are sent in plaintext due to the nature of amateur radio regulations, so while there is potential for emcomm, it will not have security of encryption and privacy. APRS does come with a learning curve, though — even seasoned radio amateurs will need time to learn how things work and how to use, appropriate, or even build, devices for APRS.
As with any gear, manage your expectations with goTenna Mesh, and it can work to your advantage.
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