this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2026
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I believe there are Bluetooth network protocols that mesh that would work for messaging and not require cell service. It would be smart to organize using something like that and just use any cell phone without cell service turned on. That still gives you the ability to call 911 in case of emergencies as well.
Cell service is always turned on on a phone, even with no SIM card and the phone in airplane mode, and for most phones, even when the phone is “off”. They still ping the local towers semi regularly; they just don’t ramp up transmission power ir try to establish a full connection.
Anyone got a list of Bluetooth devices without a cell antenna where the BT MAC is regularly scrambled?
Does it matter if that cell service isn't connected to a name?
It's connected to your name when you go home
Unless you stop at a coffee shop, upload content to a secure server, ditch the SIM and power off the device.
Now they also have you on camera
So, turn it off before you go home?
They still talk to the tower when turned off
No, because it will spend most of its time after leaving the store in your home.
First, don't buy it from a store. Second, turn that sucker off before you go home.
True, but if surveillance is your concern, they are monitoring Bluetooth devices too.
Does that matter? If it's a device that you bought used just for this? There is no name attached to that device at that point. Buy it used on Craigslist, use it for the event, throw it away. It can be any cheap, crappy phone.
You can use Briar, BitChat, or Bridgefy to communicate, without having internet connections. I've only tried Briar, which works with cell networks, wifi, also bluetooth.