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

(github.com)
778 points ananddtyagi | 5 comments | 07 Jul 25 00:05 UTC | HN request time: 1.031s | source
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sardine5 ◴[07 Jul 25 03:22 UTC] No.44486454[source]▶
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 for talking to my wife when we're cycling (also for wrangling our two small girls)

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roshin ◴[07 Jul 25 04:37 UTC] No.44486801[source]▶
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)?
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1. toast0 ◴[07 Jul 25 04:53 UTC] No.44486875[source]▶
I've still got dead zones near me. If I were cycling with someone, and we wanted to chat on headsets, there's at least a few places I might ride where we'd hit dead air. If we're on different networks, then we both need coverage to communicate with cellular.

Might be more reasonable to use higher bandwidth, lower latency codecs over bluetooth as well?

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2. jappgar ◴[07 Jul 25 11:36 UTC] No.44489219[source]▶
For this use case, old fashioned radio is a lot more reliable.
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3. toast0 ◴[07 Jul 25 14:52 UTC] No.44491001[source]▶
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.
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4. subscribed ◴[08 Jul 25 14:11 UTC] No.44500176{3}[source]▶
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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5. ◴[08 Jul 25 19:17 UTC] No.44503110{4}[source]▶