Blackout Comms Firmware
Blackout Comms uses the chatters protocol, which combines advanced mesh techniques, layered security, and a decentralized architecture that allows you to send messages and share location - even in complete absence of any grid or infrastructure.
Message Delivery
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Direct messages & broadcasts
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DMs to in-range devices are sent and confirmed instantly, while out-of-range /powered off deliveries are routed via mesh
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Signed delivery confirmations for DMs, cluster-accepted confirmation for broadcasts
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Payloads are always encrypted and signed
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Unpredictable frequency hopping for higher security and jam-resistance, DMs “striped” across multiple frequencies
Mesh Capabilities
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Decentralized “mesh cache” securely stores and delivers packets until expired
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DMs can be held/delivered by the cluster for up to 24 hours, broadcasts up to 2 hours
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Asymmetric encryption ensures nodes/devices assisting in deliver cannot decrypt DMs
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Cluster-wide connectivity, device presence, and location updates regularly as knowledge propagates throughout the cluster 24/7
Adaptive Device Awareness
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Auto-propagating knowledge of devices and capabilities as they’re added to the cluster
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Chain of trust allows devices to automatically trust & recognize new devices
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Cluster-wide connectivity sharing enables smart path planning, even for devices that have never been within direct LoRa range
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Last known and/or current locations and headings for all devices (with sharing enabled) are securely propagated cluster-wide
Live "Neighbors" View
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View all trusted devices currently within LoRa range
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Touch GPS icon to see relative location of nearby devices (if location sharing enabled)
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RSSI helps you position nodes and antennas
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Messages to neighbors are likely to be instantly sent and confirmed as meshing is likely unnecessary
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Touch the antenna on the home screen (not the neighbors screen) to view live pings
Location Sharing
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All locations are encrypted during transmission and at rest
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Live location data is shared directly to in-range devices, via mesh to out-of-range devices
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If a device is powered off or out-of-range, the last known location is shown
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Although no compass is integrated, a line will show your heading while moving
Remote Commands / Sensors
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Remotely view query any enabled device for its in-range neighbors, battery level, uptime
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Remotely enable/disable GPS, DST, and adjust time zone for any enabled device
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Proximity nodes accept commands related to enabling/disabling motion notification, querying last motion, and more
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Experimental relay nodes enable remotely opening and closing circuits (switching on/off)
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Remotely wipe/factory reset any device (only root can do this)
Highly Configurable
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Adjustable device and security settings
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Cluster configuration options (when you create a new cluster) include name, center frequency and hopping settings
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New devices automatically adjust to the cluster’s settings once they are onboarded by the root
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You assign each communicator a name when you initialize it. That name/alias sticks with the device
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Nodes are automatically assigned a random name.