GridDown Secure Messenger: Using an SX1262 LoRa Radio as a Drone Scanner and Secure Messenger

Back in March, we posted about GridDown, an open-source Android tablet-based situational awareness system designed to operate without an internet connection, which uses sensors such as an RTL-SDR, a SARSAT receiver and an ESP32-S3/SX1262 LoRa radio.

Recently, GridDown developer Cameron wrote in again and shared with us that the LoRa firmware for GridDown has now been released as an open-source project called "GridDown Secure Messenger" (main website).

The project uses a LILYGO T-Deck CYPHER-M8K (an ESP32-S3 with SX1262, 2.8" display, keyboard, and GPS) to implement secure, encrypted off-grid text messaging, and it also doubles as a 900 MHz drone scanner, with the ability to decode drone Remote ID.

Cameron has also provided two YouTube shorts [1] [2], showing the firmware in action.

Example Renders of the GridDown Secure Messenger Running on a LILYGO T-Deck CYPHER-M8K.
Example Renders of the GridDown Secure Messenger Running on a LILYGO T-Deck CYPHER-M8K.

AI Disclaimer: The renders appear to have been AI-generated.

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Related posts:

  1. GridDown: An Offline-First Situational Awareness Platform with RTL-SDR, SARSAT, Meshtastic
  2. Tech Minds: Testing Meshtastic Compatible Lilygo LoRa Devices
  3. KISS_LoRa_TAK – Integrating ESP32 LoRa with TAK
  4. ESP32 Bit Pirate Updates: New LoRa and Meshtastic Analysis Features
  5. TechMinds: Testing Off-Grid LoRa Radio Mesh Text Messaging with Meshtastic
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1 Comment
eavesdropper
#274968

In a grid down scenario these Lora devices are useless unless your within spitting distance, they rely to heavily on line of sight, especially given the low power and others having repeaters.

Someone needs to make a secure 256 bit encrypted comma software like Vara/Varac that can be piped through ANY modern transceiver via built in soundcard/com ports so it can be used on HF SSB/VHF/UHF.

This would be a holy grail of off grid comms

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