Anyone up for building a list of Cheap compatible devices to keep with a stationary node or as a spare to hand to a friend in an emergency?
I’m about to go shopping for prepaid phones but Android/Bluetooth version numbers mean very little to me.
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Blu phones, or Moto E
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The iPhone 4s can run GoTenna and they usually go for about $50 on eBay. The downside to using old iPhones, though, is that an iTunes account is necessary to get the app running.
My work has several of them that I was hoping to repurpose for this task (even going as far as using Apple Configurator to preload the app), but unless I sign into the phone, the app won’t run. Something to keep in mind if you’re deploying phone/mesh kits to random people.
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It may sound silly, but are there any inexpensive Android equipped ereaders which would be capable of being used?
Root, add the software, connect, and go. With the idea of a low power system, an ereader seems like a good idea. For me this wouldn’t even be a spare device, but perhaps the primary device to use, as there wouldn’t be need for a fancy OLED ultra high-def powerhouse of a device for simple relay of SMS type messages, and maps.
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I’ve heard Amazon App Store is coming soon which opens up cheap Fire tablets but straight android is probably more future proof 
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Agreed, but I still think an e-ink screen ereader would be a good option. The Fire tablets are dirt cheap these days (last year we bought a bunch of them as Christmas gifts, and backup tablets while they were going for thirty bucks) but from a battery life standpoint, an e-ink ereader would make sense.
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I looked for eink and the only ones that run android are really expensive sadly. If anyone has links would be great to check out.
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This Android phone has a 3 day/5020 mAh battery, ‘Endurance Mode’ setting for $125.
I have not used/tested this phone yet, hence not really sure about performance.
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The more I think about it, the less important a long battery or a battery saving feature like e-ink is important, because Gotenna itself only has a 24hr battery (with minimal use), so you’ll need a way to charge it daily from solar/battery backup, may as well charge a phone at the same time. Since many of these are phones that early adopters will pair to stationary nodes or hand out as “mesh kits” to friends/family etc, cost is probably the most important factor?
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@scotchlover Thanks, I’d never heard of BLU. That’ll be on my list for my next phone.
@EmergentechRDI I too like the idea of eink but WAY outta my price range.
@Rahul_Subramany 18+Wh in my pocket?! Has anyone here seen one of these?
That’s where I’m sitting right now.
I picked up a ZTE Majesty for $25 but I haven’t had a chance to play with it yet. It feels like a toy but at that price the 3yo might end up with it. I’ll report back when I can.
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So apparently, signing into the iPhone is only necessary when the app is pushed using Configurator. I just loaded it straight from iTunes without any sign-in on the phone and it ran. I bet that the app is still tied to my iTunes account in the background, but that shouldn’t be an issue as the phones will stay off the internet.
The Thor E looks interesting. Definitely a lot thinner than my S3 with its 3-day battery. With USB OTG support, the phone could possibly supply a charge to the GoTenna Mesh if needed.
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Wow, $20 at Best Buy right now. Looking forward to your review of how it works. Some devices put bluetooth to sleep so pairing and leaving it plugged in and on for a couple days would be helpful. Thanks!
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The Alcatel OneTouch Icon Pop (A564C) works with the GoTenna Mesh. It is a $20 offering in the trakfone line.
5" display, 4 GB internal, with 2 GB available to the user
RAM: 1 GB, Android 4.4.2 KitKat, 1.2 Ghz quadcore Snapdragon 200. GPS
I think it will work with the GoTenna without the tracfone activated. I think I will get another one just to try that.
Most of us probably have an old phone or two (or maybe even a tablet) laying around somewhere. Why not put it to work? I myself have an old, deactivated iPhone 5 that I often use for either range testing OR as a spare to let people use with a Gotenna.
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I have the goTenna app running on a non-rooted 8" Kindle Fire. I did have to “side-load” the Google Play store, but once that was done, the goTenna app worked just like it does on my phone.
One thing I like about the cheap phones is that most allow you to switch batteries easily. I buy extra batteries for my devices that can take them. When you are camping it’s great. I have even powered cheap phones off 3 AA batteries just to see if it would work.
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I see a few recommendations. Can anyone say they done some testing with said device? I.e. will blue tooth stay connected, does anyone have the device plugged in and running for a week or longer? I get a bit nervous with cheap devices being plugged in all the time. (As I plan to do with several of my stationary nodes to make them ping-able).
Does anyone know if this will work with the gotenna Mesh app?
I’m an iPhone guy so I don’t know much about the Android side of things.
Looks like it has bluetooth 4.0 and built in GPS. This would be a compatible device. Does anyone else use this device already?
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I had good luck with a Kindle Fire HD 8, not the cheapest, but works well.
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