internet
No radio? No problem
Chat over the internet. Good for friends, family, or anyone without a licence.
weechat-radio:$ ./about▌
Decentralised chat for Radio Operators.
As easy to use as any web messenger. Chat in the public room, or create your own and invite friends. You can even send email! No radio? You can join in from your laptop.
Windows, macOS and Linux · no sign-up · free and open source
weechat-radio:$ help modes
Optional Hybrid Messaging.
You’re out with a radio and no internet. Your friend is at home on their laptop in another country. Here’s what happens when you send them a message.
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You send it
It goes out over the radio. Your end never touches the internet.
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Someone nearby hears it
A station on the same frequency that’s also online picks it up.
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It goes online
They pass it on over the internet, and your message shows [gw].
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Your friend gets it
It pops up on their laptop, wherever they are.
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You know it arrived
A receipt comes back the same way, and your message turns [ok].
weechat-radio:$ /radio mode
Radio to radio, or via a hybrid connection.
Switch whenever you like. Your icon and your pin on the map change colour, so everyone can see how you’re connected.
internet-radio
Radio and internet together
You send over the air and pass nearby stations’ messages online. You’re the link between the two.
radio
Radio only
Your messages go out over the air and stay there, even if a station with internet hears you.
radio-plus
Radio, with a helping hand
Only a radio here, but a station with internet that hears you can pass your message on.
weechat-radio:$ help hops
Built-in mesh network features.
When a station hears your message, it keeps a copy and sends it on. By day on 40m, London is too far from Kyiv for a clean signal, but Frankfurt and Kraków each hear their neighbours clearly and pass it along. The receipt comes back the same way. One frequency, one chat room, chat with everyone without the internet.
A direct message can be passed on three times. Start it with ! and it goes a step further, or !! in an emergency for the furthest reach. More on hops.
weechat-radio:$ wcr setup
Use the radio you’ve already got.
Setup asks a few quick questions and installs everything it needs.
VR-N76 / UV-PRO
Pairs over Bluetooth. No cable needed.
Handheld + Digirig
Any handheld, plugged in with a Digirig or AIOC cable.
HF rig
It handles transmit and frequency for you.
VOX lead
If your radio transmits when it hears sound, an audio lead will do.
KISS TNC
Mobilinkd or similar works too.
No radio
Pick a guest name and start chatting. No licence needed.
Good places to start: 14.070 MHz on 20m or 144.950 MHz on 2m. You’ll need a licence to transmit. Step-by-step: guides.
weechat-radio:$ map
See who’s on air right now.
A real-time map of all users, with 24-hour playback.