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The moment your group spreads out on a trail or a multi-car drive - or just gets far enough from town - phones stop being useful for anything but photos. Nelos keeps hikers and road-trip groups in touch without a cell signal.
Carriers build towers for roads and towns, not backcountry
Cell networks are built to cover where people live and drive, not ridgelines, canyons, and forest. Once a trail climbs, curves, or drops into a valley, signal thins out fast - often within the first mile. A group that splits up to hike at different paces loses the easiest way to check in with each other right when it matters most.
A radio network that travels with your group
Each hiker carries their phone plus a small compatible LoRa device, connected over Bluetooth. Messages and locations pass between those devices directly - no cell tower, no carrier plan required.
Group messaging
Check in with the group and coordinate, wherever the trail goes.
Position on an offline map
See everyone's last known position on a map you downloaded before the trailhead.
Need Help
One tap sends a Need Help alert with your exact location to the rest of the group.
Day hike or multi-day trek
Works the same way whether you're out for an afternoon or camped along the route for a week.
Switchbacks split the group
Faster hikers pull ahead on a set of switchbacks while the rest of the group takes a slower pace with a tired kid or a sore knee. Instead of guessing how far back the others are, the front group can see everyone's last position on the map and send a quick message to agree on a lunch spot - all without a single bar of signal.
A convoy spreads out on a long drive
Group hiking isn't the only way a group spreads out - a multi-car road trip through rural coverage gaps does the same thing. One car pulls ahead through a canyon with no signal, and the group behind has no way to check in. With Nelos, everyone's last position still shows on the map, and a quick message keeps the convoy from losing each other at the next turn or fuel stop.
What actually affects how far it reaches
LoRa radio range depends on terrain, elevation, tree cover, and line of sight - not just distance on a map. Dense forest or a deep valley will shorten range; open ridgelines extend it. For a larger group or a fixed basecamp, a compatible repeater left running at a high point can relay messages between hikers who couldn't otherwise reach each other. We don't promise a specific range - it depends on your setup and the ground you're covering. For a fuller walkthrough of the options, including radios and satellite devices, see our guide on communicating while hiking without cell service. For a real example, see our field report on installing a mountainside repeater.
A compatible device for each hiker
Anyone who wants to message the group or appear on the map needs a phone with Nelos and a compatible LoRa device paired over Bluetooth. See the devices guide for handhelds built for exactly this.
Nelos is a communication tool for your own group, not a replacement for a satellite emergency device or professional rescue service. On remote or high-risk routes, keep carrying the safety equipment you normally would.
Related guides
Heading somewhere without signal? Take your whole group with you.
Nelos keeps your group messaging and visible on a shared map with no cell service or Internet. Pick a supported device and set up in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How far can Nelos communicate on a trail?
Range depends entirely on your devices and the terrain - antennas, elevation, tree cover, and line of sight all matter. In dense forest that may be under a kilometer between hikers; with open ridgelines or a repeater, coverage can extend much farther. We don't guarantee a specific range.
Does every hiker need their own device?
Anyone who wants to send messages or appear on the shared map needs a phone with Nelos and a compatible LoRa device. Simply installing the app on a phone with no LoRa device paired won't let that person send or receive over the mesh.
Is Nelos a replacement for a satellite emergency device?
No. Nelos is a communication tool for your own hiking group, not a substitute for a satellite messenger, emergency beacon, or professional rescue service. On remote or high-risk routes, continue to carry appropriate safety equipment.
Can a repeater extend coverage for a larger group?
Yes. A compatible repeater left running at a high point, such as a ridge or basecamp, can relay messages and locations between hikers who couldn't otherwise reach each other directly.