Large crowds can swamp cell tower capacity. Natural disasters and other groups can disrupt cell coverage at a rally.
Rally organizers need to plan for all contingencies. They need a way to communicate securely that can work independent of cell service, if needed. GoTenna is the answer.
Walkie-talkies work on radio waves. They are affordable and have been used for decades, but carrying both a phone and a walkie-talkie isn't practical. GoTennas offer the best of both worlds.They enable cell phones to be used as normal or be switched to work by radio when cell coverage isn't available or may not be secure.Gotennas are small and pair with a cellphone via BlueTooth. Users can securely text and share their location with team members equipped with GoTenna-enabled phones. The devices have a range of up to four miles, but aren't meant for voice calls or to send large files.
Benefits
GPS Location mapping - Download free offline maps that can be used without cell coverage.
Secure Encryption - Chats are end-to-end encrypted. There is no central data-store.
Emergency Beacon - ‘Push for help’ mode with programmable emergency message.
Privacy protection - Locations stay private. Cellphone locations can be identified by triangulation against cell towers. GoTenna devices use radio signals making it much harder to locate them.
Affordable - GoTennas cost $179 for a pair and can be ordered directly from the manufacturer.
Let us know of other good organizing solutions and we'll be glad to spread the word.
Co-Founder, DemLabs
Please share this bulletin. Democracy Labs is a SF-based, hub for ongoing technology and creative innovation for progressives campaigns and advocacy groups. Donate here to support our work.