These feel like the future.
More and more people are looking for a means of communication that does not depend on the internet. These are mesh based messaging systems, so the more nodes the better. In urban areas there are more and more nodes springing up. In rural areas, nodes may be far apart.
They use 868MHz in Europe (I think), licence-free LoRa. Units - including solar powered external repeaters suitable for mounting on houses - are available on-line at low cost.
I have the feeling things will mature in the coming years. At the moment it feels like the early days of the internet.
In about 10 years' time I can see this getting there. It's not there yet.
It would appear there is far more experimentation (and licence free!) than with traditional amateur radio. In the future I can see ISM and other licence free systems replacing amateur radio.
