Overview
Helius is an end-to-end encrypted messenger that runs on a long-range LoRa radio mesh — send text, voice, photos and live location with no internet, no cell service, and no SIM. Every device relays for the others, so the network grows and reaches further as more people join.
Why a mesh?
When the grid goes down — a natural disaster, a remote hike, a packed festival, or simply no coverage — your phone is suddenly useless. Helius sidesteps the problem entirely: messages hop device to device over kilometers of LoRa range until they reach their destination.
- Kilometers per hop. A single LoRa link reaches far past Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
- Multi-hop relay. Out of direct range? Frames flood across the mesh.
- Encrypted by default. AES-256 seals every payload; relays forward ciphertext they can never read.
What you can send
| Payload | Notes |
|---|---|
| Text | Short messages with delivery acknowledgements. |
| Voice | Compressed voice clips over the GFSK media burst. |
| Photos | Images, sealed and forward-error-corrected. |
| Location | Live position, signal and last-heard time on a map. |
How a message travels
- Your phone hands the message to a paired Helius device over Bluetooth or USB.
- The device encrypts it and transmits a LoRa frame.
- Neighboring nodes relay the frame until it reaches the recipient’s device.
- The recipient’s phone decrypts and displays it — no servers involved.
The only plaintext ever on air is the routing header relays need to forward a frame. The contents stay sealed end to end.
Next steps
- Quick start — flash a device and send your first message.
- Hardware — pick a board that fits how you’ll use it.
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