Straight answer
Does a walkie-talkie app work without internet?
Not KeyUp, and not most push-to-talk apps. Here is the honest answer, and what to use when there is no signal.
The short answer
No. KeyUp sends your voice over the internet, so every phone, watch or computer needs Wi-Fi or mobile data. That is also why it has no range limit: you can talk across a building or across the country. Where there is no coverage at all, a two-way radio is the right tool.
How it works.
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Why apps need data
Your voice goes to a server and out to everyone in the room. Phones can’t reach each other directly over long distances.
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How much data
Voice uses little data, and no voice is sent while nobody is talking.
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Weak signal
On a poor network KeyUp lowers the audio quality to stay connected, and reconnects by itself if the connection drops.
How to -
Mixed coverage
If part of your crew works where only radios reach, Radio Bridge (beta) can put a radio in a KeyUp room from a spot that has internet.
How to
The honest limits.
- Apps that work offline usually use Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth and only reach a few hundred feet. KeyUp doesn’t do that.
- KeyUp is not an emergency or safety device. Keep a radio or a phone for emergencies where coverage is poor.
Questions.
Does it work on Wi-Fi only, with no SIM?
Yes. Any Wi-Fi with internet works, including Wi-Fi only watches and tablets.
What happens if I lose signal mid-talk?
Your talk stops, the button says Reconnect to talk, and KeyUp reconnects by itself when the signal is back.
Free during the beta.
Join the beta for Android phones and Wear OS watches, or try a shift in your browser first.