Lets create the PineCom

[zer0sig]

There are a lot of interesting points here.

I guess if I wanted a pinecom (and I likely will once it's ready to buy), I really like the LoRa idea - it is low bandwidth, but the length of communication and the time it takes is really up to the user, whether they work out some kind of shorthand (as is often done via radio anyway) or having an expected timetable for various status messages. If it's not super expensive, I'd really like to try this.

I'd also like the more powerful 802.11ac/BT5 adapter - it would be easy to keep the radio powered down for longer battery life.

No cellular radio - I am thinking that will help keep the costs down somewhat, and the LoRa/wifi/BT enhanced features will make up for that in terms of usability.

Agree that good testing of the sound and GPS would be great, because some of us would like to have this as a GPS, some as an MP3 player. GPS would be helpful for sending discreet location information over LoRa.

A keyboard would be nice, but something like a keyboard case would work - honestly, if we're using LoRa and end up being somewhat limited as far as practical message length, it might not make a difference, but for a "communicator" it would be helpful to make it capable of typing out messages similarly to a blackberry or palm device.