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what is goTenna?
goTenna is a small, rugged device designed to make “No Service” no problem. Just pair your smartphone with a goTenna and communicate off-grid with those near you who also have goTenna, anywhere on the planet, regardless of access to cell reception, wi-fi or even satellites. goTenna allows you to send and receive texts and share GPS locations on beautiful offline maps, without ever relying on central connectivity. Depend on it in all kinds of situations: when hiking in remote areas, traveling, attending music or sporting events or during an emergency. Plus, because goTenna is end-to-end encrypted, it’s not just for when you’re off-grid, but when you want to be.
History:
goTenna was founded by siblings Daniela and Jorge Perdomo in November 2012 after Hurricane Sandy knocked out 25 percent of cell towers, and caused outages for 25 percent of Internet services, across 10 states on the East Coast.[2][3] The company’s stated goal is to build “people-powered peer-to-peer communication systems…reducing our reliance on cell towers and wifi routers, and providing anyone the ability to create a network on their terms.”[4]
How to pair goTenna with smart phone?
Pair your smartphone to your goTenna device wirelessly, using Bluetooth Low-Energy (BTLE). Your goTenna needs to be within 20ish feet of your phone, so that the two can communicate with each other. Use our free app to type out a text message or share a location. Your smartphone will send the message to your goTenna, which will then shoot it out, via long-range radio waves (151-154 MHz), to the intended goTenna(s). At the other end, the exact same thing happens, in reverse: the recipient goTenna sends your message over BTLE to the smartphone app its paired with. All of this happens in a matter of milliseconds.
Why we can’t chat with people who don’t have gotenna?
The reason you can't chat with people who don't have goTenna is due to the physics of radio waves. You need a properly designed RF receiver to interpret a goTenna signal. We would love to have our signals get to devices that aren't goTenna-enabled, but phones are designed to work with towers — exactly what we are working around — and regular radios aren't able to operate at the level of our super-smart networking protocols (plus, are analog radios, while we are a cognitive digital radio).
goTenna leverages the GPS on your phone, which works all the time even if you don't have service. goTenna then contextualizes that "blue dot" on detailed offline vector maps and allows you to share it with others who have goTenna.
Features of goTenna:
* Send & receive messages for free
* Share locations on detailed offline maps (also for free!)
* Instantaneous transmission within range
* 1-to-1 & group messaging
* Delivery confirmation & message retry (1-to-1 chats only)
* "Shout" broadcasts to anyone within range
* End-to-end encryption (384-bit elliptic curve)
* Compatible and interoperable with iOS & Android devices
* Upgradeable via firmware & software updates
The circuit of gotenna:
* Antenna
* 2-watt radio
* Flash memory good for 100's of messages
* Rechargeable Lithium-polymer battery
* Micro-USB connector
* Bluetooth-LE data interface
* Status indicator lights
* Nylon attachment strap
* Water-resistant
* Dust-tight
* Size: Roughly 5.8 in x 1 in x 0.5 in or 147.3 mm x 25.4 mm x 12.7 mm. When the device extends, its length increases by 2.2 in or 55.8 mm
* Weight: About 1.8 oz or 52 g
goTenna is made of:
The casing is made of high-grade, durable metal, nylon, and silicone — all industrially designed to be water-resistant and dust-tight. Inside, there's a circuit board, radio chips, a custom antenna, and a lithium-polymer battery which can be recharged with any micro-USB cable.
Creation of goTenna account:
At account creation, you can either set up your goTenna ID (GID) to be your phone number — recommended, as it will then integrate with your contact list and make it easy for other people you know to find you on goTenna — or a randomly generated string we create for you (this allows you to create an account even when you don’t have cell network connectivity).
Range of goTenna:
The range of Gotenna’s signals will vary a lot depending on the terrain you’re in, how high up you are, and whether there are trees, buildings, mountains, or other obstructions in the way. It could reach up to 50 miles under ideal conditions, though at street level in the middle of Manhattan it’s more likely to be a mile or less. If your phone runs out of battery the device will continue to receive and store messages for you.
How to send message through goTenna app:
Step 1: Click the blue Chat icon in the lower-right corner of your conversation or location screens
Step 2: Select "1-to-1 Chat"
Step 3: Choose your contact or type in the ID number they used during account creation. Note: This is likely to be their phone number — and if they're in your contact list, you'll see that clearly — but it can also be a GID, or goTenna ID, a randomized string they need to share with you
Step 4: Type your message
Step 5: Hit "Send"
To know whether the other goTenna is turned on:
If you want to know whether or not another user’s goTenna is turned on and within range, open a 1-to-1 chat with that user. Tap on the contact’s name at the top of the chat screen to send out a ping. If the user is in range, you’ll see a green checkmark indicating that person’s goTenna is on and within range.
You can also type out a 1-to-1 message and if the recipient’s goTenna is turned on and within range, a green checkmark will confirm your message got through.
No matter which method you choose, a red failure icon will alert you that the message did not get through which means that person’s goTenna is off and/or out of range. Try, try again later! :-).
Is goTenna paired to more phones at a time?
A goTenna can only be paired to one phone at a time. That being said, you can communicate with as many other goTennas as are within range of you, and you can also select "Forget This Device" within the app and pair your goTenna to another smartphone.
Range of goTenna:
The range of Gotenna’s signals will vary a lot depending on the terrain you’re in, how high up you are, and whether there are trees, buildings, mountains, or other obstructions in the way. A handy-dandy range calculator on the company’s website suggests that it could reach up to 50 miles under ideal conditions, though at street level in the middle of Manhattan it’s more likely to be a mile or less. If your phone runs out of battery the device will continue to receive and store messages for you.
Advantages:
Cost effective
Small in size
Transmission range increases with height
Low weight and portable
Long battery life
Easy to charge
Works with smartphones like androids and ios
Water and dust proof
It enables group chat
Disadvantages:
It doesn’t send voice signals
High radiation
Data cannot be send through long distances
goTenna need to be within 7 metres of phone