Building a communication grid with LoRaType

Nearly all of modern society is built around various infrastructures, be it electricity, water and sewage, transportation, or even communications. However, these vast networks are not immune to failure, and at least as far as communication is concerned, there will be plenty of scope for any radio to communicate when internet or telephone service fails. It turns out that some LoRa devices are also great for local communication, and this system known as LoraType seeks to create off-the-grid text-based communication networks wherever they might be needed.

The project is based on the ESP32 platform with an integrated E22 LoRa module to allow it to operate in its UHF bands. It also includes a USB-based battery charger for its small battery, an e-paper display module for displaying text messages without consuming too much power, and a keyboard layout for typing messages quickly. The device's firmware allows it to be automated to a large extent; it will automatically search for other devices on the local mesh network and the user can immediately start communicating with other devices on that network as soon as they connect.

There are a few other benefits to using a device like this. Since it does not require any existing communications infrastructure to operate, it can be used anywhere there are no other easy options, such as in the desert, during civil unrest where common infrastructure has been shut down, or simply for local groups that do not have access to cellular networks or the Internet. LoRa is a powerful tool for these use cases, and it's even possible to network larger base stations to extend the range of devices like these.