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Dev tools · March 20, 2026

Red Grid Link – peer-to-peer team tracking over Bluetooth, no servers

I go on a lot of backcountry trips where I barely get cell service. If my group splits, nobody knows knows where anyone is until you regroup at camp or at your destination. You can buy Garmin radios or try to set up an ATAK, but ATAK is Android-only and assumes you have a TAK Server running somewhere to make use of all of the functionality. Cool tools themselves, but expensive to set up correctly. I just wanted two iPhones to share their location directly over Bluetooth when cell coverage was lacking. Red Grid Link does that. Start a session, and anyone nearby running the app shows up on…

Red Grid Link – peer-to-peer team tracking over Bluetooth, no servers launched on March 20, 2026 with 54 votes, #709 of 23,380 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches.

Visit github.com ↗Alternativestop 3% of March 2026

In plain words

Red Grid Link is an iPhone app that lets backcountry groups share their locations directly over Bluetooth without cell service or servers. Users start a session and see nearby team members on an offline map. When someone moves out of range, their location marker fades gradually as a "ghost." The app uses a custom sync layer to maintain reliable location sharing despite frequent Bluetooth connection drops, making it useful for hiking, camping, and remote expeditions where traditional communication tools are unavailable or impractical.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

Lightweight ATAK alternative: encrypted Bluetooth team tracking + offline MGRS maps. Track your team without cell service. No servers, no accounts. Built for SAR, hunting, and backcountry teams.

Offline MGRS navigation + BLE proximity team sync for 2-8 people. No cell service needed. V1.0 through V4.0 roadmap in README. - RedGridTactical/RedGridLink

In the maker’s words, at launch

I go on a lot of backcountry trips where I barely get cell service. If my group splits, nobody knows knows where anyone is until you regroup at camp or at your destination. You can buy Garmin radios or try to set up an ATAK, but ATAK is Android-only and assumes you have a TAK Server running somewhere to make use of…

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