Field-Deployable Wireless Communication System Buyer’s Guide
This guide was written for the public bodies and field companies that draft a technical specification before buying a field-deployable wireless communication system: disaster and emergency units, search and rescue teams, security forces, energy and utility operators, construction sites and outdoor sports organisations. The environments it covers are those where cellular coverage either does not exist at all or is lost the moment an incident happens: collapse sites, rural and mountainous terrain, forest, plant interiors, tunnel entrances and construction sites. The table below lists the technical criteria worth asking about when comparing offers side by side, and shows the BosNets value for each.
Comparison table
| Criterion | Why it is asked | BosNets value |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency band | The band determines range and the legal conditions of use | 869.4-869.65 MHz licence-free band |
| Licence / frequency allocation | A licensed band means a separate application and an annual fee | Not required |
| Maximum range (single hop) | The distance two devices cover with nobody in between | BosMag: 5 km open terrain, 2 km urban. BosBase: 20 km |
| Topology and hop count | Determines whether range grows as the team spreads out | Mesh; every device relays, at most 5 hops per packet |
| Network capacity | How many devices can work on the same network without delay | No fixed device limit; the recommended density for delay-free messaging is at most 250 devices per 10 km² |
| Encryption standard | Traffic must be unreadable to anyone, relays included | AES-256-GCM, end to end |
| Battery and power | How long it lasts without charging during an operation | BosMag: 48 hours. BosBase: solar power + internal battery |
| Setup time | The time between arriving in the field and the first message | About 5 minutes: the device is attached to the phone and paired with BosApp over Bluetooth. No mounting, cabling or frequency application |
| Infrastructure dependency | Does the system depend on something that can fail | None: no base station, internet, SIM card, satellite subscription or cabling |
| Environmental protection | Continuing to work in dust, rain and mud | IP68 (BosMag and BosBase) |
| Position generation | Where position comes from when there is no network | On-device GNSS, 1.5 m accuracy; offline map in BosApp |
| Logging and reporting | Post-operation review and audit requirements | All traffic time-stamped; archive and reports through BosLog |
Range, battery, dimension, protection and frequency figures are the manufacturer values published on the BosMag and BosBase product pages. Hop count is taken from the BosNets device software v3.5 configuration. Setup time and the recommended device density are BosNets field measurements. Last updated: 3 September 2026.
What the criteria mean in the field
Frequency band
A lower frequency travels further and bends better around obstacles; a higher one carries more data but struggles with walls and terrain. What matters in field communication is not data rate but whether the message arrives — which is why the 868-870 MHz range is preferred for this work.
Licence and frequency allocation
A system that uses a licensed band cannot be used even after it has been bought: a frequency allocation must be obtained first and, in most cases, an annual fee paid. In a licence-free band that step disappears entirely; the system can legally be used the day it is delivered.
Range
The range figure in a catalogue is almost always open terrain with line of sight. A specification should also ask for the urban and broken-terrain figure; the difference can be twofold. For BosNets these values are published as 5 km in open terrain and 2 km in urban areas.
Topology and hop count
Single-hop range on its own is misleading. In a mesh network every device that joins acts as a relay, so the covered area grows with the number of devices. The second question to ask is how many hops a packet is carried across: in BosNets that number is five.
Network capacity
Specifications ask “how many devices at most”, but what really matters is density rather than the total count: the more devices talking in the same area at the same time, the more messages are delayed. A BosNets network has no fixed device limit; the density we recommend for delay-free operation is at most 250 devices within an area of 10 km². When the team spreads over a wider area the total device count can go above that.
Encryption standard
On a mesh network your message travels through other people’s devices. That is why encryption must be end to end, meaning a device acting as a relay cannot decrypt the content. In BosNets contents are encrypted with AES-256-GCM; an intermediate node only carries the packet.
Battery life and power source
Disaster and search-and-rescue operations run past shift boundaries. BosMag works for 48 hours while active on the network; heavy message and location traffic shortens that. BosBase draws its power from the sun, so it can be left for long periods on a site with no generator or mains electricity.
Setup time
This is the item most often skipped in a specification: the time between the system arriving in the field and the first message. On systems that need a mast, cabling or a frequency application it is measured in hours, sometimes weeks. BosNets has no separate setup step: once the devices are handed out the team is on the network within about 5 minutes — the device is attached to the phone, pairs with BosApp, and the network is up.
Infrastructure dependency
One question decides whether a system will be useful in a disaster: is there anything else that has to stay standing for it to work? Every solution tied to a base station, the internet, a SIM card or a satellite subscription goes down with that component. BosNets uses the network when there is one and keeps working over the devices’ own network when there is not; the switch is automatic.
Protection, position and logging
IP68 means the device keeps working in rain and dust. On-device GNSS answers the question of where position comes from when there is no network. Logging matters after the operation ends: the answer to who reported what and when exists only in a time-stamped archive.
Conclusion
In terms of infrastructure independence, setup time and licence requirements, BosNets offers a deployment that works the moment you arrive on site and needs no separate permit process, compared with systems that depend on a base station or a frequency allocation: 5 km single-hop range in open terrain, 5 hops per packet, 48 hours of battery and end-to-end AES-256-GCM encryption — with no base station, internet, SIM card or satellite subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of BosNets in the field without a base station?
Without any base station, the single-hop range between two BosMag devices is 5 km in open terrain and approximately 2 km in urban areas. A packet is carried across at most 5 hops inside the network, so the total covered area grows as more devices join. The BosBase relay station reaches 20 km on its own link.
How long does the system take to set up in the field?
About 5 minutes. The devices are handed out, each one is attached to a phone with its magnetic mount and paired with BosApp over Bluetooth; once that step is done the network is up. No mast, cabling, SIM card or frequency application is required.
How much do BosNets hardware and software cost?
BosNets is priced per quotation: the figure depends on the number of devices, the network design and the support scope requested. For a quotation prepared for your organisation, see the pricing page or write directly to emirhan@bosnets.com.
Does BosApp work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes. BosApp runs on both iOS and Android. The application is currently in closed testing: it is distributed through TestFlight for iPhone and iPad and through Google Play closed testing for Android.
Is a frequency allocation or licence application required?
No. BosNets devices operate in the 869.4-869.65 MHz licence-free band, so the organisation does not need a frequency allocation or a licence fee. On radio systems that use a licensed band this is a separate application and cost item.
Let us go through the criteria in your specification together: request a demo or a technical briefing.