Meshchat has been the go-to chat client for most users of AREDN networks. But because AREDN is a communications network software, and the core team has been reluctant to move into apps, support of Meshchat has been hit-and miss.
So the AREDN team has decided to step up to the plate with an AREDN-supported chat client, called Raven. It has a nice set of features:
- Realtime text messaging.
- Runs on any AREDN-supported hardware that's running current AREDN software (but see recommendations in the wiki).
- Can communicate with other Raven clients via AREDN.
- Can communicate between AREDN meshes via Supernodes
- Supports talking on a Meshtastic network (requires additional hardware)
- Supports talking on a Meshcore network (required additional hardware, and integration is very involved. Documentation will eventually be provided).
- Supports multiple channels per node.
- Supports sharing images.
- Supports sharing Winlink forms.
- Not compatible with MeshChat (it is not possible - sorry)
Information on prerequisites, installing and configuring Raven can be found at https://github.com/kn6plv/Raven/wiki
Notes
This is Alpha code. While it seems to work fine in limited testing, YMMV...
The Raven package will auto-update once per day if needed, at least while under development.
If you've encountered what may be an issue, open an Incident on the Raven GitHub Instance: https://github.com/kn6plv/Raven/issues
Enjoy!
Orv W6BI
For the AREDN Core Team
I wonder 'to whom' the 'you' is to which the author is speaking. ;-)
The files are likely the raven-0*.[apk,ipk] ones on that linked page.
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It appears that Raven runs on AREDN devices and can write to flash memory.
Flash memory has limited 'write cycles'.
An AREDN device running Raven might exhaust its flash write capability, thus
rendering the device un-upgradable and un-re-configurable.
I prefer something with magnetic or replaceable cheap solid state storage.
Because it can write to flash memory, I will not install Raven on an AREDN device.
3s, Chuck
Me either. I'm sure GitHub is great for those that use it regularly, but for seldom users, it's a pain in a ass. I could not find the install files...
Except it doesn't. That brings you to a RAW page (whatever the hell that is). As I said, for people who use GitHub regularly, I'm sure something there makes sense, but for people who don't, most of it might as well be written in gibberish.
That's where you download it.
Orv W6BI
I see two .apk files. One with an r#####.apk and raven-alpha.apk which is preferred?
Thanks,
Glenn
There has been conversation at Github about the package, you read at the "issues" tab on the top. Not much enthusiasm. I've had it installed and "working" for a while on one node. I have questioned the entire use case for this and hope I haven't offended by doing so. At this point nothing in the package does anything for me I can't do better and easier elsewhere.
Ed