TAK In a Box - Portable ATAK / FreeTAK / FTS / PTT Server Solution (TAK-RBP1)

Check out the latest iteration of the TAK-RBP1 at guerrilladynamics.com with inlet glands for ethernet and USB charging. I am now taking orders!
Short demonstration video of my build of a portable TAK server named the TAK-RBP1.
Check out the specifications at guerrilladynamics.com to build your own or order one yourself.
The purpose of the TAK-RBP1 is to offer a rapidly deployable TAK server with near zero end-user setup.
All connections are routed though the zerotier VPN service, making the server available across the world provided it has an internet connection, whether it's connected to a wifi network, tethered to your phones 4g, 4g usb modem or ethernet uplink.
TAK in a box!
Using COTS equipment we have developed a self contained TAK in a box. The weatherproof box consists of a TAK-BP1 server, portable router and a 10,000 Mah portable battery bank. The Pelican case has been modified to support 1x ethernet uplink and 1x USB charging port.
Works for roughly 24 hours of operation while being constantly powered on. (YMMV) Heat dissipation is not an issue with this build.
Includes all cabling necessary for operation and ready to deploy out the box. Zerotier is pre installed with your server ID written down physically on the packaging.
TAK-BP1 comes loaded with the latest version of FTS running inside of docker. Simplify your TAK load out and eliminate the hassle of setup and command line issues.
Notes: Please take note of the color choices before purchasing. We can use any Pelican 1060 case. For now we are only officialky offering black, clear and half n half. For custom colors please leave it as a note at checkout.
Ethernet uplink cable is not included. (gland is installed)
USB a to usb a charging cable not included. (gland is INSTALLED)

[@olivierlanguedoc]

Cant wait to get mine.

[@guerrilladynamics]

I appreciate you being our first order! Your build will have better cable management by the way.

[@The_Agent]

You might consider TailScale vs. ZeroTier, a bit more control without the need for the 3rd party server unless you did your own ZT server. Love the kit. Another thought might be adding Lora for the text messaging side since you'll get a far greater battery life. Meshtastic is also a phenomenal piece of software for Lora

[@guerrilladynamics]

Yup meshtastic support is built in out of the box. We offer wireguard/tailscale too but that does require port forwarding which you can't really do over 4g.

[@bryanteger]

@@guerrilladynamics Tailscale defeats CGNAT on cellular networks. It also allows you to port forward, change DNS and use other devices as exit nodes. I have a pi that is cellular connected with a six fab LTE hat over tail scale. Also, I just use rasp AP instead of adding a dedicated router, just have to make sure, all of your docker routing is correct. That pi is an ATAK server, Kiwix Server, Calibre Ebook server, Plex server, runs portainer, Prometheus and grafana. Completely reachable over cellular.

[@doncoker]

Great concept

[@guerrilladynamics]

Thank you!

[@n8mail76]

You only have 40 subs but you showed up in my feed

[@guerrilladynamics]

Algorithms not too bad today

[@n8mail76]

@@guerrilladynamics I'll subscribe

[@jeffbrownstain]

Quickest sub I've ever hit

[@honeybadgeractual5734]

If you can sling some always on mic on the software, but use a Bluetooth mic with voice detection and noise canceling, like a throat mic and ear bud, etc. You could eliminate the need for the screen to be on. This would limit your use profile to having the right hardware for each user, but maybe every user doesn't need active mic, maybe squad lead does, and you can use it to comms across squads, and for squad lead to comms to squad members. Be great if it has the abilities of say a vent server, which may be a good idea to run alongside ATAK, as it allows channel allocation, and cross channel communication. Meaning you can say something across the team, or to the squad depending on if you're using the app actively or if you're just speaking in channel.

[@guerrilladynamics]

Yes you can set all of that in the mumla client settings. I prefer to use only open source software or at least as much as possible. Mumla can set voice activity on and just have a hard mute button in your headset. Good ideas.

[@goldendoodleondeck]

Hi Matt, We just received the TAK-RBP2 today and the build is everything we were expecting and more. Thanks for getting this great product out to us. For order #1013, I did get the Server Info, wi-fi password or setup guide with Order #1013. Could you please email those items and the root credentials?

[@olekjr6505]

Hey, ya got a tutorial how to build and set it all up software wise? Cheers

[@andrew8895]

Maybe consider using a single external RJ45 gland. avoid the extra hole and give you lots of options. including external DC power via ext. battery unit (inline or modular swap) and or run it on PoE injector or switch.

[@guerrilladynamics]

Check out the latest iteration of it at guerrilladynamics.com we have a rj45 in and usb a in for power.

[@TheWingnut58]

Nice set of "bells and whistles".....but, in a SHTF situation it'll likely be relatively expensive dead weight since cell service and the internet won't likely be dependable.

[@TheSamsungik]

Hello, this server support connection with gotenna pro over bluetooth or maybe other way?

[@bobselisker3395]

Can you look into a solar power option kit for plug and play

[@austinmabry8462]

What about adding a Lora module for Meshtastic?

[@canoma2]

Great idea ! How are updates to FTS or other system components handled - do you have to drop down to CLI and know how to update/handle errors/recover etc. ?

[@guerrilladynamics]

Updates can be done with the fts web ui or drop down to shell over ssh and run a one line docker command. In future iterations I can develop a web interface that wraps basic shell commands like zerotier info, docker pull, etc. Good call.

[@gangstalker47]

4:00 Booting in launch? What's the best means to go about this? Should I get a phone/tablet and scrub the thing? Does this software replace the current OS?

[@valekreed4935]

Does the banana pie have a solar option like the raspberry pie I wonder?

[@josephtweedie9164]

Would you be able to set it up with adsb receivers plugged into the unused USB slots for a direct ADS-B feed to the server?

[@guerrilladynamics]

Of course we can

[@surefire.r6425]

Do you need to be on any cellular or other network? Or can all the operators simply connect to the WAP and share data on ATAK?

[@getgotak]

WAP works fine!

[@johnfarmer2674]

That’s would be sick if traffic was routed through a starlink satellite over satellite internet

[@ki6uve]

Are these still available?

[@ezioauditoredafirenze4925]

I’m looking for somthing almost like this but I want to run atak on a full lan set up

[@guerrilladynamics]

This is exactly what we offer at guerrilladynamics.com check it out.

[@nargames]

How did you get ATAK to work on ARM hardware? Can you link to what you used? Did you put android on Pi or what did you do?

[@guerrilladynamics]

We sell ARM boxes loaded out with ATAK at guerrilladynamics.com. We are using our own docker image of an FTS build.

[@povilasstaniulis9484]

FTS is written in Python which is architecture agnostic. TAK server is written in Java which is also CPU agnostic.

[@truck6280]

Im new to this, what is the range? What are the capabilities? Can i talk to people on the server on the other side of the US?

[@getgotak]

If it's connected to the internet yes otherwise you will need a MANET

[@johnpaul6161]

What about when 4g or cellular or web is not available?

[@guerrilladynamics]

Wlan and mesh nodes

[@tophattommy2]

Well, I just ordered one for our local volunteer SAR team. I hope this works and that I didn't buy a paperweight. Is anyone here using this on SAR team?

[@getoutside2854]

How has this worked over the last 2 years? Have you been able to conduct SAR operations with the unit?

[@tophattommy2]

@@getoutside2854 We actually had to recommend a different app as there were too many problems with ATAK. We ended up moving into CalTopo (Formerly, SARTopo). I still love the app and use it for personal matters but that is decreasing over time as Ggl Earth is performing with more stability.

[@guerrilladynamics]

Check out the latest iteration of the TAK-RBP1 at guerrilladynamics.com with inlet glands for ethernet and USB charging capabilities. Field ready.

[@nissan72Z]

Are you planning on a version you can keep charged with solar. I'm looking to setup a network

[@guerrilladynamics]

@@nissan72Z probably not for a while you can easily swap the battery bank with a solar battery bank or just get a solar usb charger from anker and plug it in

[@nissan72Z]

@@guerrilladynamics OK thanks so much and thank you for the quick response!

[@guerrilladynamics]

@@nissan72Z my pleasure thanks for the interest. I always keep a solar charger in my bags

[@victorygarden556]

if everyone has to connect through 4g why do I need a mobile unit? could have a stationary server to connect to since you're doing so wirelessly, and plugged in so you could circumvent the battery life

[@guerrilladynamics]

They can connect over WLAN and LAN as well. The next logical progression would be Mesh network nodes. In the works.

[@russm195]

Curious also why you would need this considering it needs to be connected to the internet somehow. Not really practical for off-grid type missions unless I am missing something

[@victorygarden556]

@@russm195 what he's getting at is you can use mobile WLAN/LAN, so where I wouldn't be able to make a physical connection formerly and do the other stuff I now could. This would probably help if you really need to make LAN connections to other pieces of equipment while on the go.

[@victorygarden556]

@@russm195 Just realized this is entirely for LoRa mesh networks if I'm not mistaken

[@guerrilladynamics]

@@russm195 Squad leader and team members can connect over WiFi in the local operating area as there is a built in wireless router with its own access point. If you want to bridge in long distance off grid comms simply grab a Ubiquiti Rocket m5 and a battery bank and connect to other squads over wifi mesh. HAM operators can use AREDN. You can also use the uplink port on any other tcp/ip layer.

[@m4rkm4rk13]

wheres your site? how come none of you dudes have a contact email or page

[@thomaskerpen840]

What’s the price for that?

[@ramoshuhusseiny4447]

Could you blend your gear on a lora mesh net

[@guerrilladynamics]

You can do Lora based meshtastic hardware to communicate location and text. No need for server at that point.

[@1000MileVision]

@@guerrilladynamics that is desirable if you could do point to point voice for real time team comm

[@guerrilladynamics]

@@1000MileVision it's possible over AREDN and standard AirOS mesh on Ubiquiti gear.

[@stripped]

Durandal says hi

[@marinepoof]

but if its on wifi why not just use the wifi for you phone???

[@guerrilladynamics]

Rephrase 🙏

[@getgotak]

The server provides tons of more functionality

[@Theplaided1s]

Its my tak in a box

[@mikemcdonald5147]

man this is awesome we can now send all our information to the enemy LOL as long as we have internet LOL

[@guerrilladynamics]

Ever heard of encryption? 😉

[@mikemcdonald5147]

@@guerrilladynamics ever heard of RDF and. Electronics Signatures?

[@guerrilladynamics]

@@mikemcdonald5147 yeah I've studied it for 15 years. Go lookup Lora mesh for 'private comms'. There's no such thing as private comms but if you're going up against the people with the capability to bypass encryption and tap into the internet backbone you got bigger problems than figuring out where your buddy is on a map on a phone.

[@mikemcdonald5147]

@@guerrilladynamics not worried about govt entities as much as i am common hams. I know a 12 yr old girl whos an extra who can df with the best of them. She out did some army signals guys from augusta and ran rings around 5th mob airforce guys from robins afb. LOL

[@guerrilladynamics]

@@mikemcdonald5147 ham radio operators can't crack zerotier encryption dude what are you smoking?

[@Tsmack-cf6kj]

anybody order and use this FTS

[@guerrilladynamics]

We have 10+ orders of standalone units and our new TAK-RPB2 tak in a box solution.

[@konstantinkompaniec9374]

Fuck.... sounds coool, but it's looooks difficult.... 😣

[@153SCORN]

Just with the tinny bit of knowledge that I have and no idea what you doing....I'm going to take a big swing and say...There is no way to forward ports on a 4G sim because it has no public IP. I'm guessing the only place you have tested your device is on a WIFI system. If you run your server on a 4G sim it will not work...am I right or wrong? Not to say that there is no way to use this device in the "wild". but not as you are show casing it.

[@PacketFPV]

You don’t need to port forward when using the ZeroTier vpn that he has built into this device. The way ZeroTier works is it treats everything like it’s on a big layer 2 network switch, that’s the beauty of using ZT. Every device on the zt network has a private ip address that you use to connect together stuff. If your really fancy you make sure you have static ips configured in zt network control interface and then setup dns names for the devices with their private ips as A records in your dns host.

[@getgotak]

​@@PacketFPVexactly this

[@PacketFPV]

@@getgotak I'm starting to think maybe it's time I start making tutorials and putting out info like this for the common use. I run a data center in my day to day life so this stuff just sorta comes second nature, plus I love solving tech problems. I can think of 100 ways from sunday to make this stuff work, that was just the way that I set mine up when I was first testing it.

[@rsq529]

Don't be fooled guys, I have worked with this company and it is a no go. No help bad customer service, the product does not work for me. Waste of money, could be fraudulent.

[@Insectoidoverlords]

Boy you weren't kidding.

[@rsq529]

@@Insectoidoverlords yeah mine is in the closet I just gave up. A year later and there are better options.