Radar (chat)

Radar is a privacy-focused Android app for situational awareness, that lets people message, find each other and stay informed when mobile networks or the internet are unavailable. It combines offline local chat, nearby-device discovery, live maps and an emergency preparedness toolkit in one app.

THE PROBLEM

Almost every messaging and location app assumes you have a signal. Networks fail in disasters, at festivals, on hikes, on ships, underground and in remote areas. Even when they work, WhatsApp, Telegram and Life360 route everything through central servers and tie you to a phone number or account. Staying connected, informed and private usually takes several apps, and none of them help when the network is gone.

WHAT RADAR DOES

• Messages nearby people over Bluetooth, WiFi and mesh networking, with no mobile data needed
• Falls back to a Internet direct Peer-to-Peer and Web relay when peers are out of range
• Shows nearby devices on a radar-style display and shares location with people around you
• Maps aircraft, boats, drones, webcams, traffic and rich local points of interest
• Delivers earthquake, flood, wildfire and national alert feeds
• Includes SOS and prepper tools for emergencies and outdoor adventures

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE

Radar combines local-first communication, situational awareness and privacy in one app. No phone number or email is needed to chat, and messages are end-to-end encrypted. Peers are found by proximity, so you can talk to people physically around you. The network is optional: Radar picks the best available transport (Bluetooth, WiFi, mesh or internet) automatically, and can federate with the open Matrix network. It is free to install.

Find out more at https://www.radar-chat.app