We design, build, and support emergency point-to-point communication systems that work without commercial infrastructure, keeping people connected when cellular networks and the power grid fail: during natural disasters, outages, and network congestion, or in places with no coverage. We also help newcomers get licensed and equipped for amateur (ham) radio.
Who it's for
- Mutual aid groups, community organizers, and neighborhood emergency-preparedness groups.
- Off-grid and rural residents with poor communications coverage.
- People new to radio who want a ham license.
- Experienced operators interested in field-tested technical work.
Services
Emergency communications consulting
One-off consulting on system design, builds, and site installations, with written instructions. Our recommendations reflect current developments in a fast-changing field.
Field exercises and training
Hands-on sessions covering APRS, digital modes, choosing the right radio mode, and LoRa mesh setup.
Ham radio licensing help
Study support and exam session guidance. A licensing cohort is open now.
Classes
An emergency communications class, and an HF antenna theory and building class.
Starter kits
Curated, pre-configured hardware for new operators. Available now. Contact us for details.
The technology
We work with amateur radio modes, including HF (the long-distance shortwave bands), APRS, and Yaesu C4FM, and with LoRa mesh platforms, including MeshCore and Meshtastic. We recommend radios and modes for each project based on ongoing field testing. LoRa mesh radios are small, low-power devices that pass short text messages from one device to the next, without cell towers or the internet.
What these radios can and can't do
Amateur (ham) radio requires a license, and amateur radio rules do not permit encrypted messages. LoRa mesh devices in the US operate on license-exempt frequencies under FCC Part 15, so you don't need a license to use them. Encryption on these devices protects what a message says, but not the fact that a radio is transmitting.
From the field
- Five homebrew antenna designs built and field-tested: inverted-V dipoles, quarter-wave verticals, end-fed half-wave (EFHW), off-center-fed dipoles, and magnetic loops.
- Solved broadband radio interference caused by electric-vehicle electronics, enabling high-performance mobile radio operation from an EV (floating-ground mounting and capacitive coupling), a problem with little to no prior documented solutions.
Recent classes and talks
- Class: Intro to HF antennas. Oakland, August 2026.
- Class: Intro to HF field use. Oakland, August 2026.
- Talk: "Beyond APRS: LoRa Mesh Radio and the Next Generation of Digital Experimentation." San Francisco Amateur Radio Club, August 2026.
Plan your communications
Tell us about your group or household, your area, and what you need to stay in touch.