The future of 1990. A pager network for after pagers.
Kōwhai Ridge Network
Kōwhai Ridge Network (KRN) is an experimental hardware and software paging system built around modern radios, inspired by a distinctly early-1990s idea of the future.
KRN is part pager and part conference badge. Something to carry, hack on, and make your own.
From Sled 1 to Herald
Sled 1 is the current development hardware, designed from the breadboard prototype. A single PCB that can act as either a Field Station or Herald, loaded with the role-specific firmware.
Herald is KRN's receive-only reference pager. The firmware runs on Sled 1 now, and the field testing will guide and changes needed for the eventual "final" PCB.
A pager, on purpose
KRN preserves several deliberate limitations of conventional personal paging networks: messages are short, transmission is one-way, reception is predictable, and the receiver has one job. The components are modern; the resulting temptation to add everything else is being resisted (* for now).