Two Android apps for online and offline communication

NTsocial + MeshLink Internet · BLE Mesh · Direct Wi-Fi · LoRa

Online, reach far. Offline, stay connected nearby.

NTsocial brings posts, channels, and private messages to the internet, with native Bluetooth mesh for nearby offline communication. NTsocial MeshLink connects to Meshtastic radios for LoRa text messaging and radio management. Use either app on its own, or pair them to extend NTsocial channel text over LoRa.

  • Internet messaging
  • Native offline mesh
  • Your connection choices
NTsocial app icon
Social platform · Android NTsocial

Public posts, channels, private messages, and images—online and nearby.

 NTsocial MeshLink app icon
Radio mesh · Android NTsocial MeshLink

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

Everyday connection, built to go further

Two apps, on their own or together

NTsocial connects people over the internet and nearby offline mesh. NTsocial MeshLink handles Meshtastic radio messaging and management. Each works independently; together, they connect selected NTsocial channel text to the LoRa mesh.

NTsocial app icon

Android · Internet and offline social networking

NTsocial

A social platform for public posts, channels, and private conversations. Cloudflare-powered internet messaging connects people across distance, while the native BLE mesh keeps nearby communication available without internet access.

Internet is on by default and can be turned off in Profile. Nearby BLE communication does not require MeshLink or a radio accessory.

  • Social, across distance: Share public posts and images, reply in joined channels, and send private messages over the internet. Global People helps you find online users.
  • Nearby, without internet: Bluetooth discovers and relays between participating devices. Compatible direct Wi-Fi speeds up history and attachment sync and supports approved nearby file transfers.
  • Field tools: Offline maps, GPX and terrain data, live location and ATaK objects, image and voice messages, and half-duplex push-to-talk.
  • Optional LoRa reach: Use MeshLink and compatible radios for eligible bound channel text and state. Images, voice, PTT, and file data do not travel over the NTsocial LoRa route.
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 Read the guide 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

Four routes, one social platform

Use the internet to reach people far away, Bluetooth to connect nearby, direct Wi-Fi to sync faster, and optional LoRa for radio text. Each route has its own role and requirements.

  1. 01 · INTERNET

    Connect across distance

    Cloudflare-powered messaging carries public posts, eligible joined-channel conversations, private messages, and images over the internet. Pending Cloud work resumes and retained messages catch up when connectivity returns.

    Internet messaging
  2. 02 · BLE

    Always on

    Nearby devices discover each other, exchange eligible messages, relay them, and fill gaps in history. BLE remains available when internet access fails, with no cellular service required.

    Nearby mesh
  3. 03 · WI-FI

    On-demand speed

    Compatible devices use direct Wi-Fi for faster history and attachment sync, or approved nearby file transfers. This nearby Wi-Fi link does not need an internet connection.

    Direct transfer
  4. 04 · MESHLINK / LORA

    Long range over radio

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

    Radio mesh

Offline delivery needs active compatible devices, Bluetooth permissions, and a reachable peer or relay path. Range and timing depend on device support, obstacles, participating nodes, and background limits. Features and speeds differ by route; LoRa does not carry images, voice, PTT, or files.

NTsocial 1.5.9

Your social world, now online too

Internet messaging, Global People, clearer images, and catch-up sync join NTsocial’s native offline mesh.

ONLINE

Internet social messaging

Post, reply, and message across distance. Internet is on by default; Profile lets you turn it off independently of nearby Wi-Fi sync.

PEOPLE

Global People

Find nearby BLE peers and internet users in one list. Filter by connection source, view public profiles, and start a private conversation.

IMAGES

Clearer shared images

Keep a lightweight preview for Bluetooth and receive a higher-quality image through an available supported path. Both appear within the same post.

SYNC

Pick up after reconnecting

Resume queued Cloud messages and catch up within the service’s retention period. Turning Internet back on does not bulk-upload posts created while that setting was off.

Release Notes

A record of the main NTsocial releases.

NTsocial 1.5.9 — Internet social networking, native offline mesh

NTsocial combines Cloudflare-powered internet messaging with native BLE mesh in one social platform. Share across distance and keep nearby communication available without internet access.

What’s new

  • Internet social messaging: Post, reply, and message across distance. Internet is on by default; Profile lets you turn it off independently of nearby Wi-Fi sync.
  • Global People: Find nearby BLE peers and internet users in one list. Filter by connection source, view public profiles, and start a private conversation.
  • Clearer shared images: Keep a lightweight preview for Bluetooth and receive a higher-quality image through an available supported path. Both appear within the same post.
  • Pick up after reconnecting: Resume queued Cloud messages and catch up within the service’s retention period. Turning Internet back on does not bulk-upload posts created while that setting was off.
  • Private-message protection: Internet private messages use automatic DM2 or a manually shared secret for end-to-end encryption. A changed pinned identity blocks sending instead of silently falling back to basic protection.

August 2026 — Nearby Wi-Fi and MeshLink

This earlier update expanded Bluetooth mesh with direct Wi-Fi transfers, private large-file sessions, and multi-radio MeshLink / Meshtastic support.

Highlights from that update

  • 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: Find nearby BLE and Internet users, filter by source, view public profiles, and start private conversations.
  • Profile: Edit your public profile and manage Internet, nearby Wi-Fi sync, and optional gateways.

Internet: On by default for Public, eligible joined channels, and private messages. Turn it off in Profile to stop this device’s Cloud activity; existing pending jobs wait until you turn it on again.

Offline communication: Native BLE discovers nearby peers and supports messaging, relays, attachments, and PTT over available local routes. Compatible direct Wi-Fi accelerates nearby sync.

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: Share captioned images with lightweight previews and higher-quality display versions. Voice clips and PTT use their supported nearby routes.

Personalization

  • Nickname: Choose a nickname so people can easily recognize you.
  • Avatar: The app generates a unique geometric avatar based on your Peer ID.
  • Public profile: Publish only information you want other users to see. Internet People can show your public text profile to online users beyond nearby BLE.
  • 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

  • Privacy: Public posts are public. Internet private messages require automatic or manual end-to-end encryption. People presence is temporary and does not verify someone’s real-world identity. Read the privacy policy for Cloud retention and deletion.
  • Permissions: NTsocial guides you through Bluetooth, nearby Wi-Fi, location where Android requires it, notifications, microphone/camera as used, and battery optimization exceptions.