The original goTenna consists of a small radio antenna that connects to a user's smartphone via Bluetooth and an accompanying app for Android and iOS. The app allows users to send private text messages, public broadcast text messages and GPS data to other users. The distance over which this can be done varies, but when New Atlas put two of the devices through their paces in the Rockies earlier this year, we found we were able to stay in touch from over 2 mi (3.2 km) apart.

Those first-gen goTenna devices are such that communications are sent directly from one device to another, but this means that they must be within range of each other. The goTenna Mesh is able to relay communications via other goTenna Mesh devices, thereby increasing the potential range and allowing communications to be delivered between devices even if they are not within range of each other.

goTenna says the Mesh uses "military-grade mesh networking" to double or triple the range of the original device from around 1 mi (1.6 km) in built-up places to around 3 mi (4.8 km) in open terrain, with the network getting stronger with more users. The device automatically selects clear public radio frequencies over which to send communications. Despite this, and the fact that the devices of other users are used as as relay nodes, the firm says communications remain secure by way of end-to-end encryption.