DesComm

Off-grid communications

Talk without towers.

DesComm builds the RNode: a pocket-sized communicator that pairs with an Android phone or a Linux computer over Bluetooth. Message other RNode users with zero cell service. No towers. No subscriptions. No accounts.

Get an RNode See how it works
  • 0 cell towers required
  • 0 monthly fees ever
  • 1 device, pocket-sized
cell signal · none link active
An RNode being used outdoors, deep in the woods
goes where your signal doesn't

How it works

Ready in three steps

If you can pair Bluetooth headphones, you can set up field comms. No accounts to create, nothing to configure.

  1. 01

    Get an RNode

    A pocket-sized communicator for your kit. No SIM card, no subscription, no account to create.

  2. 02

    Pair over Bluetooth

    Connect it to an Android phone or a Linux computer like any other Bluetooth device. That's the whole setup. (iPhone and Apple products aren't supported at this time.)

  3. 03

    Message without cell service

    Your messages travel from RNode to RNode until they reach your people, even when every tower around you is dark.

In the field

Made to live outside

No desk, no outlet, no bars of signal required. If you can get there, your comms can too.

Using an RNode on a forested trail
Deep in the treeline, still in touch.
An RNode set up at a backcountry camp
Base camp check-ins, no shouting distance needed.
An RNode clipped to a pack on a day hike
Two miles past the last bar of signal.

Why DesComm

Ready when nothing else is

The RNode was built for emergencies from day one. No towers to depend on, no bills to keep it alive, nobody in the middle of your conversation.

  • Built for emergencies

    Storms, outages, wildfires: when the grid goes down, comms is the first thing you lose. The RNode was designed for exactly that moment, not adapted to it.

  • No towers required

    RNodes talk to each other, device to device. No cell tower, no Wi-Fi hotspot, nothing to stand up between you and the people you're trying to reach.

  • No subscriptions, ever

    Buy it once and it's yours. No monthly plan, no account, no contract, nothing to keep paying for, nothing to cancel.

  • Fits in your kit

    Pocket-sized, goes in the go-bag. No mast to raise, no vehicle to power it, no all-day setup, pair it and you're talking.

  • Private by design

    No middleman servers, no phone numbers, no account to leak in a breach. Your messages pass between your devices and the people you trust.

  • Works where phones don't

    Deep woods, back acreage, the far side of the ridge: anywhere cell coverage is more rumor than reality.

The hardware

What's inside the RNode

One compact device, everything included. No SIM, no account, no recurring cost.

The RNode held in hand outdoors
The RNode, ready to pair.
  • Board Heltec V4
  • Dimensions 2" W × 3" H × 1" D
  • Battery 3000 mAh
  • Battery life ~14 hours
  • Antenna 3 dBm
  • Range per hop LoRa device placed 30 ft up in the air
  • Case 3D-printed
  • Display Screen
  • Charging USB-C
  • Solar 1-pin input on the Heltec V4
  • Compatibility Android phones, Linux computers: no iPhone or Apple products at this time
  • Stack Reticulum, preloaded
$90

What's included: the RNode, its 3D-printed case, a 3 dBm antenna, and a 3000 mAh battery. One-time purchase, no subscription, no SIM, no account.

Ordering

What to expect

No online checkout: you write to us, and we get it to you.

  • What you get for $90

    The RNode, its 3D-printed case, a 3 dBm antenna, and a 3000 mAh battery. One-time purchase, no subscription, no SIM, no account.

  • Shipping

    USPS, 4 to 5 days, to the US and Mexico. $13.

  • Availability

    Contact us for current lead times. No order is too small.

  • Warranty

    30-day returns, 1-year warranty.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What do I get for $90?

Everything you need to start: the RNode, its 3D-printed case, a 3 dBm antenna, and a 3000 mAh battery. It's a one-time purchase, no subscription, no SIM, no account.

What devices can I pair it with?

Android phones and Linux computers. iPhone and other Apple products aren't supported at this time.

How far do my messages reach?

Depends on the height, but usually: dense city: 1 to 2 km. Sparse/open areas: 4 to 5 km. Open space: 10+ km from one node to another. This connection allows you to send text messages and voice.

Where do you ship, and how fast?

USPS to the US and Mexico, 4 to 5 days. $13.

When will I get my RNode?

Contact us for current lead times. Min. order: 1 unit.

What if something's wrong when it arrives?

30-day returns and a 1-year warranty. Just write to us and we'll sort it out.

“Be your own network. Build it yourself. Stay up when the grid is down.”

The DesComm team

Get started

Put one in your go-bag

Get an RNode, pair it with your phone, and know that when everything else goes quiet, you won't be.

Get your RNode

Questions? Write to us any time, happy to talk through your setup.