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MAKE VIDEO CALLS WITH NO INTERNET OVER YOUR OWN LONG-RANGE MESH

Make FaceTime and Signal calls with no internet uplink, over a self-healing long-range mesh network built from Raspberry Pi boards and HaLow radios.

by Data Slayer (Parallel)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

AutomationOpen-hardware

Built withRaspberry Pi

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a weekend-plus
license
MIT
repo
repo ACTIVE749 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

Haven is for someone who wants a self-healing IP mesh network that can share one internet uplink, run local services, and route traffic between nodes kilometres apart. The README quotes 1-10+ km node to node, thanks to sub-1 GHz HaLow (802.11ah) radios. The project is built on proven mesh routing (BATMAN-adv) and OpenWrt-based firmware, so if you already know OpenWrt or mesh networking, setup will make sense. The setup scripts do most of the software work; the real decision is hardware. Haven 1 (Raspberry Pi 4 or CM4 with the Morse Micro MM601X SPI HAT) is the recommended, field-proven platform. Haven 2 (Raspberry Pi 5 with the MM8108 USB radio) gives you a flexible USB bus for sidecars, but the README marks it experimental and not yet recommended for production. The README names every radio and adapter; the full build (radios, power, mounting) is covered in the Haven Guide on buildwithparallel.com. The thing most likely to go wrong: flashing the wrong firmware for your platform. Haven 1 uses OpenMANET, Haven 2 needs a separate Pi 5 OpenWrt/Morse image, and the README explicitly says not to flash the Pi 4 image onto a Pi 5 node. The payoff is a working mesh that can also carry encrypted Reticulum messaging, ATAK situational awareness and ADS-B aircraft tracking, all optional. This is a weekend-plus build for someone who has worked with embedded Linux before.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Two separate firmware images depending on your Pi: OpenMANET for Pi 4/CM4 (Haven 1), Pi 5 OpenWrt/Morse image for Pi 5 (Haven 2). The Pi 5 build is experimental.
  • —Free 3D printable case on Printables (CC0 public domain, designed by MOROSX). The README names every required radio and USB adapter, without supplier links.
  • —Setup scripts in the repo configure nodes once firmware is flashed. The repository holds the scripts and integration code, not the firmware images themselves.
  • —Licensed MIT. Commercial use is fine.
  • —Actively maintained, last commit October 2026.

Parts to buy

5 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • RT5370 USB WiFi adapterFind
  • MicroSD cardFind
  • Power supplyFind
  • USB hub (recommended for Pi 5)Find
  • Optional LoRa MCU or RTL-SDR for sidecarsFind

Can I build this?

PrintOptional enclosure on Printables, public domain (CC0), designed by MOROSX. The repository does not include the STLs — they are hosted separately.
BuyRaspberry Pi 4/CM4 with Morse Micro MM601X (Haven 1) or Raspberry Pi 5 with MM8108 (Haven 2), RT5370 USB WiFi adapter, microSD card, power supply, USB hub (recommended for Pi 5), optional LoRa MCU or RTL-SDR for sidecars. The README names the parts but does not link shops.
ToolsA router for the gate node, a laptop or phone to SSH into nodes, Raspberry Pi Imager to flash firmware, and a decent understanding of terminal commands and OpenWrt configuration.
SkillsIntermediate embedded Linux. You need to be comfortable flashing firmware images, SSH, running shell scripts, and editing OpenWrt config via LuCI. If you have never touched OpenWrt, start with their docs first.
TimeA full weekend for a two-node mesh with basic setup. Add another day if you want Reticulum, ATAK, or ADS-B integration. Troubleshooting radio config or USB peripherals can push it longer.
Cost$$$: several Raspberry Pi boards and Morse Micro HaLow radios, one set per node, plus antennas and power.
SafetyNo mains voltage or lithium handling beyond standard Pi power supply and optional battery packs. The radios operate in sub-1 GHz ISM bands; check your local regulations for permitted frequencies and power limits. No physical hazards.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

FaceTime Without the Internet23:49

Data Slayer tests apps on two Haven nodes with no internet: Mumble voice chat and Signal calls work, WhatsApp and Zoom calls drop once the uplink is removed, and FaceTime works after the call is started with internet and the uplink is then cut. He then keeps a FaceTime call going between two moving cars, one Haven node with a magnetic antenna per car.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Pick your platform and understand the firmware split (Haven 1 (Pi 4/CM4 with MM601X SPI HAT) uses OpenMANET firmware. Haven 2 (Pi 5 with MM8108 USB) uses a separate Pi 5-specific OpenWrt/Morse image that is still experimental. Do not mix them.)
  2. 2.Source the Morse Micro radio that matches your Pi (MM601X SPI HAT for Pi 4/CM4 (recommended), MM8108 USB for Pi 5 (experimental). The README names the parts; the Haven Guide on buildwithparallel.com covers the full build.)
  3. 3.Flash the correct firmware image for your platform (Haven 1: download OpenMANET. Haven 2: build or download the Pi 5 OpenWrt/Morse image from the separate openwrt-morse-rpi5 repo. Use Raspberry Pi Imager. If the card looks like it still has old data after flashing, erase it first.)
  4. 4.Set up the gate node (Flash firmware, run the first-boot wizard, plug into your router, SSH in, run the gate setup script. This node shares internet to the mesh.)
  5. 5.Add point nodes (Flash the same firmware, plug into a laptop, paste the point setup script. Each point node extends the mesh.)
  6. 6.Change the default credentials immediately (Default root password is havengreen (gate) or havenblue (point). Default WiFi SSID is green or blue, password greengreen or blueblue. Change all of these in LuCI before field use.)
  7. 7.Optional: add Reticulum, ATAK, ADS-B, or LoRa sidecars (Each integration has its own setup script and guide in the integrations folder. Reticulum gives you encrypted messaging apps (Sideband, MeshChat) that work on Haven WiFi. ATAK adds situational awareness. ADS-B tracks aircraft via RTL-SDR.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Flashing the wrong firmware image for your Pi model. Haven 1 / Pi 4 uses OpenMANET, Haven 2 / Pi 5 needs the Pi 5 OpenWrt/Morse image. The README says not to flash the OpenMANET image onto a Pi 5 node.
  • Buying a radio that does not match your platform. Haven 1 pairs the Pi 4/CM4 with the MM601X SPI HAT; Haven 2 pairs the Pi 5 with the MM8108 USB radio.
  • Assuming the Pi 5 build is production-ready. The README marks Haven 2 as experimental and not yet recommended for production deployments. Stick with Pi 4/CM4 unless you are comfortable debugging alpha firmware.
  • Not changing the default WiFi and root passwords before taking the mesh into the field. The defaults are only for first boot.
  • Expecting supplier links in the README. It names the parts but does not link shops; the Haven Guide on buildwithparallel.com covers the full build.
  • Skipping the firmware step. All setup scripts assume each node has fresh firmware for its hardware and has been through the first-boot wizard, so follow the setup guide in order.

Can I actually run FaceTime with no internet?

Yes, with one catch: in the video the FaceTime call only connected after it was started while the mesh still had an internet uplink. Once the uplink was unplugged, the call kept running over the mesh. FaceTime finds the other phone on the local network, and the mesh provides that network. Signal voice and video worked the same way after an initial connection with internet. WhatsApp and Zoom calls dropped as soon as the internet was removed.

What is the real range between nodes?

The README says 1-10+ km node to node. That range comes from the HaLow radios operating in sub-1 GHz spectrum, which penetrates obstacles far better than 2.4 or 5 GHz. Actual range depends on antenna height, terrain, and whether you tune transmit power and channel width. The range optimization doc in the repository covers this.

Which platform should I build: Haven 1 or Haven 2?

Haven 1 (Pi 4/CM4 with MM601X) is the stable, recommended platform. Haven 2 (Pi 5 with MM8108) is experimental, has known issues, and the README says not to use it for production. Choose Pi 5 only if you need the USB flexibility for sidecars and are comfortable debugging alpha firmware.

Where do I get the firmware images?

The repository does not host the firmware. Haven 1 uses OpenMANET, which you download from openmanet.net. Haven 2 uses a custom OpenWrt/Morse image that you either build from the openwrt-morse-rpi5 repo or download from its v0.3.0-alpha release. The repository holds the setup scripts that run after you flash.

Do I need a 3D printer?

No. The enclosure is optional. The Printables page has the STLs if you want to print one, or you can send them to a print service. The nodes work without a case — you just lose weather protection and mounting.

Can I use this commercially?

Yes. The repository is MIT licensed, which permits commercial use. The enclosure is CC0 public domain, also unrestricted. Check your local radio regulations for sub-1 GHz operation — the legal side is frequency and power limits, not the software licence.

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The README claims 1-10+ km range between nodes, and the demo video kept a FaceTime call alive between two moving cars. What would you use a mesh like this for — disaster comms, a remote property, or something else?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

Practical notes from our verification: the repository holds setup scripts and integration code, not the firmware images. You download OpenMANET for Pi 4 or build/download the Pi 5 image from a separate repo, then run the scripts to configure nodes. The Pi 5 build is marked experimental and has its own notes page with known issues; the recommended platform is Pi 4/CM4 with the MM601X radio. The biggest trap is flashing the wrong firmware for your Pi model. The Printables enclosure is hosted separately (CC0 public domain, designed by MOROSX). In the video, WhatsApp and Zoom did not survive losing the internet; FaceTime and Signal did, but only after the call was first set up with internet. The Haven Guide on the Parallel site has build videos and a Discord link.

Data Slayer (Parallel)

Data Slayer runs the Parallel project, which publishes Haven as an open-source MANET toolkit. In the video he says he has spent the last few years helping people build open-source routers you can 3D print at home, and here he tests which everyday calling apps still work on a mesh with no internet.

GitHub Web

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  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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