Two Android apps for off-grid messaging

NTsocial + MeshLink BLE · Wi-Fi · Meshtastic LoRa

Keep messaging when there is no network.

NTsocial and NTsocial MeshLink are two separate Android apps. Each works on its own. Run them together and nearby phones relay messages over Bluetooth, while Meshtastic radios carry text further over LoRa. No account, no central server.

  • Offline-first
  • No account
  • Bluetooth mesh + LoRa
NTsocial app icon
Social mesh · Android NTsocial

Messaging, channels, maps, media, and push-to-talk between nearby phones.

 NTsocial MeshLink app icon
Radio mesh · Android NTsocial MeshLink

Controls up to four Meshtastic radios and bridges NTsocial text onto LoRa.
See both apps

One app or both

Two apps, on their own or together

NTsocial handles messaging between nearby phones. MeshLink drives Meshtastic radios. Use either on its own, or install both to link a phone mesh with a LoRa radio mesh.

NTsocial app icon

Android · Social mesh

NTsocial

A messaging app that runs offline. Nearby Android phones find each other over Bluetooth, pass messages along, and fill in the history a device missed. No account and no central server are involved.

Works on its own over Bluetooth. MeshLink is optional, and only needed for Meshtastic / LoRa routes.

  • Messaging: Public posts, topic channels, private messages, and nested replies. Phones store and forward for each other, and supported devices reach further over long-range BLE.
  • Wi-Fi for larger transfers: Compatible phones sync exact history and attachments faster over direct Wi-Fi, and two peers can open a private link for large files. Bluetooth stays on for discovery, live messages, and fallback.
  • Field tools: Offline maps, GPX and terrain data, live location and ATaK objects, image and voice messages, and half-duplex push-to-talk.
  • LoRa reach: Route chosen channels through MeshLink so text travels across Meshtastic nodes. Images, voice, and PTT stay on the phone transports and are not pushed onto LoRa.
Get NTsocial on Google Play Read the guide

Wi-Fi Aware, Wi-Fi Direct, and Coded PHY depend on the device and Android version.

NTsocial MeshLink app icon

Android · Radio mesh

NTsocial MeshLink

A standalone Meshtastic app. Connect to radios over Bluetooth, send channel or direct text, view nodes, and manage channel, LoRa, security, and device settings. It runs with or without NTsocial installed.

Works on its own as a Meshtastic controller. Pair it with NTsocial when you want NTsocial channels to reach LoRa.

  • Up to four radios: Keep a list of up to four Meshtastic BLE radios and follow their channels, status, and unread activity in one view or per radio.
  • Full radio control: Connect over Bluetooth, browse nodes, send channel and direct text, and manage radio, channel, LoRa, module, and security settings.
  • NTsocial gateway: A local, app-authenticated bridge carries bound NTsocial text and supported state through the Meshtastic LoRa mesh.
  • Open source: GPL-licensed, with on-device QR scanning and no analytics collected in the Android app.
Get MeshLink on Google Play View the source

Android 8.0 or later and a compatible Meshtastic radio are needed for LoRa. Set your permitted region before transmitting.

How messages travel

Three transports, each for what it does best

Each transport handles the job it suits. Nearby traffic stays on Bluetooth, large files use Wi-Fi, and long-range text uses radio, so large media is never forced through the low-bandwidth radio path.

  1. 01 · BLE

    Always on

    Phones discover each other, exchange live messages and media, relay for others, and repair missing history. It needs no internet and no mobile service.

    Nearby mesh
  2. 02 · WI-FI

    On-demand speed

    Compatible phones use direct Wi-Fi to sync history and attachments faster, plus large-file sessions that both sides approve. It speeds things up; it is not the everyday message path.

    Direct transfer
  3. 03 · MESHLINK / LORA

    Long range over radio

    MeshLink controls compatible Meshtastic radios and can extend chosen NTsocial channel text across the LoRa mesh.

    Radio mesh

Images, voice, PTT, and private file data do not travel over the NTsocial LoRa path. A command accepted on the phone does not guarantee radio airtime or delivery at the far end.

Recent on Android

What’s new

Recent releases add range and speed on top of the Bluetooth baseline, and keep each optional path separate and explicit.

WI-FI

Private Wi-Fi file links

Two phones can approve a direct Wi-Fi session for large files, with resumable progress and an integrity check at the end. No internet or file server is involved.

×4

Up to four Meshtastic radios

MeshLink registers up to four BLE radios and combines their activity in one view, while keeping each radio’s routes separate.

SYNC

Faster history repair

Direct Wi-Fi speeds up history and attachment sync between compatible phones. Bluetooth stays available, so the local mesh never depends on it.

FIELD

Field coordination

Offline maps, GPX, terrain, ATaK locations and objects, voice clips, images, and PTT give a team a shared picture nearby.

Release Notes

A record of the main NTsocial releases.

Current Android Capabilities

The current Android build combines the Bluetooth mesh baseline with direct Wi-Fi transfers, private large-file sessions, and multi-radio MeshLink / Meshtastic support.

Current highlights

  • Private Wi-Fi file links: Selected peers can approve a resumable direct session for large files with final integrity checks; file bytes never fall back to BLE or LoRa.
  • Multi-radio MeshLink routes: Explicit endpoint-scoped bindings let NTsocial target the intended radio from up to four Meshtastic BLE endpoints registered in MeshLink.
  • Faster history repair: Compatible direct-Wi-Fi paths accelerate eligible exact-history and attachment synchronization while BLE stays available as the baseline.
  • Purpose-built media paths: Images, voice clips, and PTT stay on nearby phone transports; the NTsocial LoRa route focuses on bound text and supported state.
  • BLE remains foundational: Discovery, live messaging, relays, synchronization fallback, and supported long-range Coded PHY continue to work without internet or carrier service.

NTsocial 1.3.0 Release Notes

NTsocial 1.3.0 introduces native Long Range connectivity, PTT voice calls, and the Mesh Pet feature. It also delivers a modernized private chat UI and critical fixes for profile synchronization and image quality.

Highlights

  • Native Long Range & 2M PHY: Implemented Native Long Range (Coded PHY S=8) with Extended Advertising and aggressive utilization of LE 2M PHY for enhanced throughput.
  • Voice & PTT: Added support for Audio Messaging and Bluetooth Push-to-Talk (PTT) voice calls.
  • Mesh Pet: A new built-in companion feature where your pet grows based on your contribution to mesh relaying.
  • Visual & Image Improvements: Redesigned Private Chat UI with a modern bubble layout. Optimized image compression logic to ensure screenshots and small images remain clear.
  • Stability & Fixes: Resolved empty Author Card issues for remote peers, fixed persistent map state (location/zoom), and eliminated redundant data encoding overhead.

NTsocial 1.2.0 Release Notes

NTsocial 1.2.0 expands ATaK capabilities, improves channel handling, fixes private image messaging, and upgrades map tooling for field coordination.

Highlights

  • ATaK foundation: Implemented ATaK basics for real-time geographic sharing of teams and resources.
  • Channel name handling: Added compatibility and distinction for Channels with identical names.
  • Private image fix: Resolved an issue where images could not be sent in private messages.
  • Map imports: The map interface now supports .style files, DEM hillshading, and GPX track imports.
  • Contours and objects: Added map contour lines; ATaK channels can show real-time positions for all members and support map objects for managing resources, dangers, and targets.

NTsocial 1.1.0 Release Notes

NTsocial 1.1.0 builds on the 1.0.0 release. Beyond fixing major issues in image handling, message sync, and navigation, it introduces encrypted channels, offline maps, and ATaK-style mission channels to keep field operations stable and reliable.

Fixes and improvements

  • Post image orientation: Attached images now follow the original rotation metadata from Google Photos, preventing sideways or upside-down displays.
  • Image garbling fix: Resolved an issue where some devices displayed raw base64 strings or gibberish instead of the image; all supported images now decode and render correctly.
  • Message sync efficiency: Fixed a flaw in the sync routine, greatly improving performance in multi-node meshes with fewer duplicate sends and less delay.
  • Launch screen button placement: On certain screen ratios the main button could be pushed off-screen; layout and safe-area spacing have been adjusted.
  • Bottom navigation tweaks: Removed the center “DM” button whose behavior was confusing. To start a DM, tap a person in the People view; the center slot now holds a new “Map” button.
  • Chinese channel names: Fixed a severe bug where non-encrypted channels with Chinese names could show mixed messages from other channels due to decoding errors.

New features

  • Offline maps: Added import and display support for offline map files. Style files and contour overlays are not yet supported; visual quality will keep improving.
  • Encrypted channels: Added a dedicated channel type that uses 256-bit symmetric encryption (AES-256-GCM) for both storage and transport, reducing risk if a device is lost or nodes are intercepted.
  • ATaK-style mission channels: Added encrypted channels for mountaineering and search-and-rescue teams. Members continuously share GPS coordinates, relayed across nodes to overcome single-link range limits and keep everyone’s position updated on the map.
  • Profile photo upload: Users can upload a personal headshot while keeping the colorful QR-like geometric avatar to identify devices and deter impersonation.
  • Image viewer and zoom: In addition to matching Google Photos orientation, tapping a post image opens a viewer with pinch-zoom and panning to inspect details.

Coming next

  • Map styles and contour lines: The next release will continue improving map rendering with style files and contour overlays to deliver essential topographic features for hiking.
  • Mission markers and hazard pins: ATaK-style channels will explore GIS markers so members can tag water sources, fire points, supply drops, and other resources or hazards; timestamps and coordinates will sync to all members and show on the map.
  • Radio mesh integration: Evaluating interoperability with open-source radio meshes like Meshtastic so NTsocial can serve as their client or companion tool.

NTsocial 1.0.0 Release Notes

NTsocial 1.0.0 is officially live. This first production release builds on the test builds with foundational feature upgrades, stronger security, and smoother everyday experiences.

Highlights

  • Image attachments: Posts now support a single image attachment. The client compresses uploads to sub-11 KB WebP files before sending; text is transmitted first to prioritize Bluetooth bandwidth, and the UI detects and loads the image once delivery finishes.
  • Local storage encryption: All messages—public, channel, and direct—are encrypted with AES-256-GCM before they are written to device storage. Keys are safeguarded by Android KeyStore, preserving privacy for message history at rest.
  • Granular notifications: A rebuilt notification service delivers dedicated controls for Public, Channels, and DMs. Each surface has its own toggle, and foreground awareness automatically mutes notifications for the conversation you are currently viewing.
  • Internationalization support: NTsocial now ships in English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. Pick your preferred language during onboarding or in the profile view.
  • New splash screen: A refreshed abstract illustration replaces the static entry screen, aligning the launch experience with the NTsocial brand.

User Guide

Key Features

Five core tabs:

  • Public: Browse the public wall to post updates and reply to community messages.
  • Channels: Explore, join, or create topic-based channels and connect with people who share your interests.
  • Map: Open offline maps, GPX tracks, and ATaK team locations and objects.
  • People: Discover nearby users and check their signal strength. Add friends or block unwanted contacts.
  • Profile: Configure your nickname, bio, and social links, then publish your profile for nearby people to view.

Offline communication: BLE is the required peer-to-peer baseline for discovery, messaging, synchronization, attachments, and PTT—no internet connection is required.

Nested replies: Every message thread supports unlimited reply depth to keep discussions organized.

On-demand Wi-Fi acceleration: Compatible peers can speed exact-history and attachment sync, while two selected users can approve a private, resumable direct-Wi-Fi session for large files. BLE remains the baseline for discovery, live messages, and fallback.

Unread and local cleanup: Jump through unread messages one by one. Long-press, then swipe a message halfway to remove the local copy; other devices are unaffected.

Images and voice: Send image posts with a required caption, retry failed sends or previews, share voice clips, and use BLE PTT.

Personalization

  • Nickname: Choose a nickname so people can easily recognize you.
  • Avatar: The app generates a unique geometric avatar based on your Peer ID.
  • Profile card: Build a card with your bio, website, and more in the Profile tab to share nearby.
  • Friends & block: Add friends from the People tab—even if they go offline, your settings remain. Block users you prefer not to interact with.
  • Long Range Mode: On supported phones, both peers can opt in to request bidirectional Bluetooth Coded PHY (S=8); standard discovery continues in parallel.
  • NTsocial MeshLink: Use the independent app to manage a catalog of up to four Meshtastic BLE radios, then explicitly bind each NTsocial text/state route to the intended radio endpoint.
  • High-speed transfer settings: Profile controls compatible Wi-Fi history sync and private file links. Hardware and Android support determine which direct-Wi-Fi mode is available.

Notes

  • Security boundaries: Public posts and PTT media are cleartext, while channel encryption is optional. Do not assume every surface or transport is end-to-end encrypted; choose an encrypted channel when appropriate and avoid sensitive data when the threat model is unclear.
  • Permissions: NTsocial guides you through Bluetooth, nearby Wi-Fi, location where Android requires it, notifications, microphone/camera as used, and battery optimization exceptions.