
4 Takeaways from an interoperability TAK demonstration presented at the TAK 2023 Conference
In August of this year, industry, defense, and public safety officials from the United States met at the annual Team Awareness Kit (TAK) offsite held in Raleigh, North Carolina. This incredibly technical and comprehensive event encompassed over 30 sessions, including keynote speakers, program briefings, panels, and technical tracks. These sessions

Tracking specialized freefall units: goTenna and ATAK connect military freefall operators during infiltration
With hundreds of pounds strapped to their backs, one hundred mile winds tossing them around mid-air, and the thick blanket of night impeding their view, military freefall operators have less than a minute to act. In those few seconds, any decision they make could result in the success or failure

The view from the front lines – keeping Ukraine’s defensive forces connected
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. In the almost two years of fighting that followed the invasion, there have been more than 500,000 casualties, and more than 6 million Ukrainians have been uprooted from their lives and forced to live as refugees. As Russia amassed troops on Ukraine’s borders

DSEI panel explores why innovative startups struggle with military acquisitions
Earlier this month, military decision-makers from the United States and Europe met in the U.K. for the biennial Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event. This prominent and influential exhibition and conference brings the global military community together with leading technology solution providers to discuss modern military needs and emerging

Connecting emergency response organizations in an intensifying hurricane season
Late last month, Hurricane Idalia ripped through the Gulf Coast of Florida, causing more than an estimated $4B in damages and impacting remote locations of the state where both rescue operations and disaster recovery operations can take longer to execute. This hurricane also tore across an area of Florida –

Can mobile mesh networks like goTenna’s be hacked?
In an era of increasing reliance on interconnected critical infrastructure systems, safeguarding power grids, gas pipelines, and transportation networks has never been more vital. These systems are often vulnerable to malware and other malicious hacking methods. Most recently, Dutch researchers from cybersecurity firm Midnight Blue have identified vulnerabilities in the

Elevating Connectivity: Taking Communications to the Skies with Airborne Technologies
The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the power and recent utilization uptick of drones on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces have used small commercial drones to deter invasion attempts by the Russians. These off-the-shelf drones provide Ukrainian troops with vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The U.S. military has taken

The FEND Act and the role of interoperable comms in counter-fentanyl operations
In every law enforcement operation, situational awareness and communication are critical to achieving a safe outcome for officers and other parties involved. This was a sentiment shared by Charlie Guddemi, the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency’s (HSEMA) Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), in a recent editorial he

10 spots to set up a mesh network device in advance of a heat wave
According to the World Meteorological Organization, July 2023 was confirmed to be the hottest on record for any month ever recorded. In the face of escalating heat wave records in 2023 and subsequent challenges they pose, emergency personnel, as well as firefighters, have been pushed to their limits. Heat waves

goTenna and Urban Sky shatter coverage records at Tough Stump Tech Rodeo
In June of this year, the goTenna team had the privilege to participate in another Tough Stump Tech Rodeo, an off-grid communications field test hosted by Tough Stump Technologies. This yearly collaborative event provides an opportunity for technology vendors and equipment manufacturers to showcase their products and also work together