goTenna - A very Interesting NEW Product, for SECURE Comms......

Just ran across this little Goodie, being advertised on the Internet.... (goTenna | No service, no problem.

It is a BlueTooth/VHF CrossBand Repeater that is self-contained, and apparently self-Powered with an internal LiIon Battery. From what I have read, (I have contacted these folks, for more information, and will publish what they say, when it comes.) it connects to your Smart Device via BlueTooth, and then uses the License Free MURS Radio Frequencies, (152-154 Mhz) to connect to other LIKE Units, within about 3-4 Miles. I have not CONFIRMED that it passes IP Protocols, but that seems likely, as they say you can send Messages, Text, Pictures, and Encrypted Data, between Units. If so, these would make Excellent SECURE Comms Units, for Monkeys to use in local AoO Comms. with an Encrypted Voice over IP App on each end, Even encrypted Voice could possibly be used. In a STHF, or Natural Disaster Senerio, Like Minded Groups could form Ad-Hoc Networks, with Encrypted Comms, very easily.

Just a NOTE, here: They say, in the blurb, that they are in the process of getting the Units FCC Type Approval, and hope to be able to market them, in the USA, by this fall.

 

Specs say 2 watts RF Output, to a Fixed Antenna.... So very likely MURS type Digital Transmitter on the VHF Portion....

 

They are waiting for FCC Type Acceptance to come thru, before they can officially sell it in this country..... They say, Fall 2014......

 

Thanks. I've read about those a few weeks ago.
I thought these were phone to phone via bluetooth. are you saying that they would be able to communicate pc to pc? What communications software?

 

@melbo I have chatted with their Support Folks, about the product, and these use Standard IP Protocols.... Basically they are a BlueTooth to VHF Repeater that operate using Half-duplex Packetized Comms on the VHF Side, and standard BlueTooth Protocols on the BlueTooth side.
ANY IP Device that has BlueTooth Connectivity can be Paired with this device and then is able to send and Receiver IP Packets with a Connected Device on the VHF side. If you have a Messaging Program on your BlueTooth Device, like Skype, Google IM, Yahoo IM, or whatever, you can text. I figure Voice may or may NOT work, as the VHF Link is Half-Duplex. However, File Transfer, or any other standard IP Protocols should run, albeit at less than DSL Speeds, due to limited Bandwidth, of the VHF Channels. Any
encryption would be done on the BlueTooth device, before the packet goes out to the Unit, and then is deCrypted on the other end by the receiving Bluetooth Device, as per normal IP protocols. I will be getting a pair, just as soon as they get FCC Type Acceptance approved, and will be playing with them, to see their actual usefulness.

 

But IM requires a relay server between the chatters, no? XMPP IM requires a backend like ejabberd to 'relay' the chats to the users.
So it would have to be strictly p2p communications which might be limited in application.

The only thing I've ever seen done point to point was screen sharing (chatting in a txt editor) via VNC which might be a possibility.

 

Think i found it by searching for bluetooth chat since this is basically just extending the range of the bluetooth by way of VHF.
Might work?
ValhallaChat.com - What is Valhalla Chat?

 

I am sure that once this is up and running, there will be a lot f Apps written, to accommodate this new hardware. File, Screen, Text, IM, and maybe Voice, with and without Encryption Modules added... This is really a whole New Ballgame, in Private Comms. That is why I am so interested in it.

 

I did ask the Support Guys, if there would be a "Follow On" Product, for the 2 Meter Ham Band, with maybe a External Antenna Port. I got a LONG Pause, then a "No Comment"..... So who knows, but I bet it would Sell like Crazy......

 

Well, No... the Bandwidth of the legal Emissions, hasn't changed, for the MURS Service, so it all must fit in a standard Voice Channel. (5 Khz) Thru-put will be about 56K Baud, Maximum, so not likely used for surfing the Web, and certainly not for Video.... Mostly text Messaging, and File Sharing of small Files, with possibly some Audio... Remember it is Half Duplex.....

 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: BEARTOOTH ADDS VHF AND UHF VOICE AND DATA COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY TO SMARTPHONES


You have all heard of Bluetooth and some of you may be familiar with goTenna. Now add a new communications device called Beartooth that adds VHF and UHF voice and data communications capability to smartphones. We get more from George Thomas W5JDX:


--


According to its experimental license grant WH2XLW, the Beartooth can operate anywhere in the 137 to 174 MHz and 400 to 470 MHz bands with an Effective Radiated power of two watts. According to Comsearch's FCC emission designation decoder the license appears to cover amplitude modulation and phase modulation transmitting voice, data and telegraphy for automatic reception.


The Beartooth unit is described as a software-defined radio receiver and transmitter that interfaces with supported devices and includes a battery to double smartphone battery life. Uses include personal communications, industrial communications services, and public safety.


Since the device is an SDR with a wide frequency range, it not only supports the same type of personal communications provided by the the recently introduced goTenna, but also adds the ability to communicate with any analog radios operating on Family Radio Service, General Mobile Radio Service or Multi-Use Radio Service spectrum. The device is also said to be usable on the amateur 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands.

This seems to be a leap forward, in Private Communications for the TechnoNerd Crowd. 2 Watts on VHF should give a much better Range than any FRS/GMRS Radio System, and similar to the GoAntenna System. (GoAntenna uses MURS Frequencies) 2 Watts on UHF will defiantly match the GMRS Radio coverages.

 

This works without any Network, like the SECURE Phones.... It works even in REMOTE Areas, where there is no Network, to connect to.... That makes this Gadget, unique....