Enhanced Messaging

Enhanced Messaging is for chatting directly with another Radio Messenger operator over the air. It feels like a modern messaging app and adds features that plain APRS messages can’t carry.

The app uses Enhanced Messaging automatically when your radio is tuned to a non-APRS frequency. See Dual messaging modes.

Enhanced Messaging is based on the ʻElele open protocol so that any other application can adopt it.

What you need

Enhanced Messaging stays on the air, with no internet fallback. To exchange messages, both stations need to be:

• On the same frequency.
• Running Radio Messenger, with the radio on.

What it adds

• Longer messages than APRS, with full Unicode — emoji and accented characters arrive intact.
• Verified identity, so others can confirm a message really came from you. See Trust & signing.
• Reactions on any message.
• Files & photos, with the recipient’s consent.
• Delivery confirmations and read receipts.
• Automatic retries when a message isn’t acknowledged.

Read receipts

Turn on Settings → Send Read Receipts to let others know when you’ve opened their message.

Delivery confirmations are sent separately and aren’t affected by this setting.

Retries

If a message isn’t acknowledged, the app retries it automatically. You can also retry manually from a failed message. It’s re-sent with a fresh signature so the other station can still verify it.