Frequency Coordination
Keep channels, frequencies and rooms together on the Dispatch board, alongside station records, repeater directories and tactical map pins. Run as the Dispatch net host or connect as a Station.
Offline-first radio operations
Your radio.
A wider horizon.
Bring your Portable HRI-compatible Yaesu radio and local operations together. Coordinate frequencies, exchange messages, photos and files, and run local services from one offline-first console.
In development. The initial free download is not yet available.
Backcountry DispatchSystem overview / 01
Portable HRI Yaesu radio
USB
Your local console
Runs locally
Works with offline data
Full data rate file transfers
Inside the software
A home base for
your radio operations.
Coordinate a net, leave a message, move a file, or connect from your phone. These capabilities describe the current development software; the initial public download is still being prepared.
Messages, photos and files
Exchange GM text, photos and native files over radio. File transfers use full data rate mode, making data transfer a first-class part of the station.
Local Services
Bring bulletin boards, stored messages, station information and radio-accessible services together. Local boards, topics, replies and attachments work without a radio connection; radio sharing is optional.
Repeater
Choose a simplex parrot repeater that records and replays a transmission, or a two-radio full-duplex repeater that receives on one radio while transmitting on the other. Configure frequencies and offsets for your setup.
Leave a message. Catch them back in range.
Store-and-forward mail lets you queue a text message for another callsign. With RF delivery enabled, the gateway attempts delivery after it hears that station again—so both operators don’t have to be available at the same time.
Separately, configure text-message triggers to send preconfigured auto replies. Automatic replies and queued-mail delivery remain under your control; reception depends on the radio link.
Connect with the X button.
A compatible standalone radio can connect to the local gateway using its X button. Leave text messages using the radio’s messaging functions, or leave voice messages through supported local services—without a computer or phone at the remote end.
The gateway computer and its USB-connected radio still need to be running. Available services vary by radio and operating mode.
Your phone, on the local network.
The Android-first mobile app pairs with the gateway over local Wi-Fi for messaging and voice push-to-talk (PTT) on supported, configured setups. The phone controls the gateway; the USB-connected radio remains the on-air link.
Voice PTT requires an enabled, ready gateway and radio session. A public mobile app download is not yet available.
Battleship and chess, over the radio.
Challenge another Backcountry Dispatch station to Battleship or chess. Invitations, moves and game messages travel over the radio as text, with each player using a gateway and its console.
Before you head out
Find your setup.
The current packaging process targets the platforms below. These are package targets, not a claim that public installers or platform certification are available today.
Desktop / x64
Windows
Setup executable and portable ZIP containing the application.
.exe / portable .zipDesktop / x64
Linux
Debian and Ubuntu package for amd64 systems.
.deb / amd64Small computer / ARM
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi OS packages for 64-bit ARM and 32-bit ARMv7 systems.
.deb / arm64 · armhfWhat you’ll need
- A computer running one of the package-target systems, with a browser for the local console.
- For on-air operation: a Portable HRI-compatible Yaesu radio, a compatible USB cable, and the appropriate radio mode and serial access.
- For full-duplex repeating: two compatible radios and suitable RF isolation. Choose frequencies and offsets within your radios’ capabilities and the rules for your station.
- On Linux, USB serial access may require additional permissions. The package does not change group membership automatically.
Exact OS versions and minimum memory/storage requirements have not yet been published. Check the final release notes for the features and radio modes included in that build. No macOS installer is currently packaged.
Getting started
From download
to local console.
Once an approved public build is available, this is the packaged application’s setup flow. No source-code build is required for a packaged release.
Choose the right package
Use the installer for your operating system and architecture, or the Windows portable ZIP. Review the release notes, supplied license, and SHA-256 checksums before installation.
Install, then launch
On Windows, use the installed shortcut, or extract the portable ZIP and launch
backcountry-dispatch.exe. On Linux or Raspberry Pi, install the matching.debwith your package manager, then use the desktop launcher or runbackcountry-dispatch.Make it your station
The first launch opens the local dashboard when ready. Connect the compatible USB cable, select the appropriate Portable HRI mode, and configure your callsign and radio settings before on-air use. You can explore the dashboard and local data without a connected radio.
The trail ahead
An initial free download.
Not quite at the trailhead.
Backcountry Dispatch is still in development. A public installer has not been published, and there is no download available from this site yet.
Public download unavailable
Public release checks and a public download destination are still pending. A verified installer link will be added here when available.
Review planned platformsAbout
The person
behind Dispatch.
I’m the person behind Backcountry Dispatch. My callsign is KJ7UDQ.
You can find me on Instagram:
@jaredringenberg.labsA few useful bearings
Good to know.
Does this connect to the WIRES-X network?
No. Backcountry Dispatch does not connect to Yaesu’s WIRES-X network.
Do I need a radio to use the console?
No radio is needed for the dashboard and local/offline data. Radio actions require a compatible radio, the appropriate operating mode, and an available serial session. Internet-provided information and online map content are separate from offline data.
Can I use my phone?
Yes. The separate Android-first companion app connects to a paired gateway over your local network for messaging and, on supported configured setups, voice PTT. The computer and USB-connected radio remain the gateway. No public mobile app download is being offered here yet.
Is this an official Yaesu product?
Backcountry Dispatch is an independent project, not an official Yaesu product. References to Yaesu, C4FM, and WIRES-X describe radio compatibility and the project’s network boundary, not vendor endorsement.