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

(github.com)
770 points ananddtyagi | 3 comments | 07 Jul 25 00:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.662s | 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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1. driverdan ◴[07 Jul 25 17:42 UTC] No.44492799[source]▶
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.

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2. subscribed ◴[08 Jul 25 13:44 UTC] No.44499912[source]▶
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.

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3. davidhyde ◴[08 Jul 25 23:28 UTC] No.44504944[source]▶
Bluetooth LE which most smartphones support today is quite a bit different from Bluetooth classic. It typically runs at 1 or 2 Mbps and can trade bandwidth for error correction to get some impressive range. For example, this guy got 1.6 miles at 8dbm transmission power. https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/pos...

The audio codec on ble is more modern too.

> “You can't even hear a ok quality music further than 20 metres away” That smells like the SBC codec running on Bluetooth classic to me. Very different tech.