✅ Updated YouTube Description (with link integrated smoothly) For about $50, we built a fully encrypted off-grid mesh network that lets us text our war band with no SIM cards, no towers, no Wi-Fi, and no internet—and it works. In this video, I’ll show you how this $50 mesh node connects to a phone over Bluetooth, how we’re getting 3–6 miles of range in mountain terrain, and how we plan to mount a solar-powered repeater in a Douglas fir that could run for years. The first time we sent a message knowing no company or agency could read it—it was euphoric. ? Cost: ~$50 per node ? Range: 3–6 miles (line of sight) ? Repeater: Solar-powered, mounted in a tree ? Works with: Old phones & burner phones (no SIM required) ? Encryption: End-to-end, PIN lockable ⚙️ Use cases: Off-grid homesteads, family readiness, emergency comms, war band coordination, blackouts If you're just getting into radios, off-grid comms, or want to build your own resilient network, check out: ? https://radiomadeeasy.com — a solid resource for understanding radios and emergency communication from the ground up. ?In this video: How the $50 node works Range testing in real terrain Solar tree repeater plan The “privacy euphoria” moment Burner phone + no SIM setup Why encryption matters even if you’re not hiding How to build a community mesh that can’t be shut down easily