From 23 to 25 October 2026, at Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition in the Gazometro Ostiense, TrekTracker was officially presented: the app that lets you communicate even where your phone has no signal. It was developed by Marco and Luca Casaburi of MDT Software, and it runs on the SOS-Italia mesh network, designed for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The highlight came on Sunday 25 October on the Main Stage, where TrekTracker was introduced to the general public. Over the three days of the fair, hundreds of people visited the SOS-Italia stand: some already knew the network, some discovered it there out of curiosity, and some found their way to the stand by following messages on the mesh.
What TrekTracker is
TrekTracker is the app for Italy’s trails and long-distance routes, on foot and by bike, that stays connected even where there is no signal. It connects via Bluetooth to a small LoRa radio device and uses the internet when it is available and the mesh network when it is not: you just write, and the app picks the right path to get your message through.
The goal is to make a powerful but until now complicated technology simple. No more frequencies, channels, keys and parameters to configure by hand: install the app, connect the device and off you go.
Why it matters for people in the mountains and on the trails
Anyone who goes trekking, mountain biking or walking a long-distance route knows it well: right where the scenery is most beautiful, the phone stops working. In the mountains, in valleys, in woods and on ridges, coverage is often missing exactly when it is needed most, and those on the trail are left without contact with their group and with whoever is waiting for them at home.
This is where a mesh network makes the difference. The radio nodes of the SOS-Italia network relay messages from one device to another over many kilometres, with no need for phone masts. For outdoor lovers this means:
- not losing the group: during a hike or a mountain bike ride, those ahead and those behind can message each other “wait for us at the junction” or “we’re at the hut” even with no signal;
- reassuring those waiting: a short “I’m fine” or “I’ll be there in an hour” can leave from the radio and reach home via the internet, thanks to someone acting as a bridge;
- knowing where the network is: the node map helps you understand, before setting off, where there will be radio coverage along the route;
- calling for help in case of an accident: a sprained ankle, a sudden thunderstorm, a lost trail. With multi-level SOS, the request has more ways to reach someone.
It does not replace common sense, proper hike preparation or 112, but it adds one more option exactly where today there is none. That is why we wanted to tell its story here, alongside our trails and our routes.
What it can do
- 100% compatible with Meshtastic: it is built on the core of Meshtastic, TrekTracker users can keep communicating with Meshtastic users, and groups are compatible with Meshtastic channels.
- Groups as simple as a chat: you can see all participants, there is delivery confirmation in groups too, administrators can manage members, and you get notifications when people join and leave.
- Internet and radio together: a group can keep exchanging messages via the internet as well; all it takes is one participant with both a connection and a radio node to act as a bridge between the two networks.
- Node map: to see where the SOS-Italia network nodes are and who is nearby.
SOS at the heart of everything
TrekTracker was created to make it easier to ask for help when it really matters. The SOS request goes out on several levels at the same time:
- if there is phone coverage, a call to 112 is placed and an SMS with your location is sent to your emergency contacts;
- an SOS request is sent over the SOS-Italia mesh network, even in areas with no phone signal but with radio coverage;
- if there is internet, an alert reaches your groups, including members who use the app without a radio;
- messages, updates and SOS also reach those without a radio node, if a group member acts as a bridge to the internet.
Free, like the network
TrekTracker is free and requires no subscription, just like the SOS-Italia network: a technology designed for everyone and a community that works together. The app is coming first to Android and then to iOS; all the news is on trektracker.it.
A growing project
At Maker Faire, amid questions, field tests and new ideas, it became clear that SOS-Italia is not just a network of nodes but a network of people. Also at the stand was Bruno, the network’s artificial intelligence agent, who answered questions from those who put him to the test over the mesh.
TrekTracker is now also a Turismo.RicercAttiva project: here we will share how to use it on trails and long-distance routes, our field tests and upcoming news.
- TrekTracker app: trektracker.it
- Development: MDT Software – mdtsoftware.it
- Mesh network: SOS-Italia