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BTECH Relay ATAK Plugin Quick Start Guide

GoTAK LLC USA
Updated

BTECH Relay ATAK Plugin: Quick Start Guide

The BTECH Relay Plugin seamlessly bridges your BTECH radio network over bluetooth with any TAK environment, providing unified location tracking, two-way chat, and PTT voice for your entire team.

Key Capabilities at a Glance

  • Virtual Radio Network (VRN): Bridges your BTECH radios in range on across TAK Servers, LAN and MANET, allowing anyone on your team to see radio locations as virtual contacts.
  • CoT Broadcast: Relays CoT (Cursor on Target) data, such as markers and routes from off-grid ATAK EUDs connected via radio to the VRN.
  • Two-Way Chat Bridge: Enables seamless text communication between radio users and TAK users via GeoChat.
  • Network Radio Discovery: A licensed EUD can discover all BTECH radio in the plugin view with metadata on the TAK Server, LAN or other connected network and rebroadcast them to other TAK environments, even without a direct connection to any radios.
  • PTT Integration: A dedicated Push-to-Talk (PTT) button that sends audio from your EUD to your radio instantly.

 

TL;DR

A. Setup Radio Relay Mode

  1. Install the modified radio app and ATAK plugin and activate it with a license key.
  2. In the radio app set your radio to auto transmit PLI and set your desired frequency.
  3. Tap the messages icon and select the transmit mode for text in the radio app.
  4. Enable the accessibility service in the BTECH Relay plugin settings window.
  5. Go back to ATAK and see all the discovered radios and relay chat and CoT.

B. Setup Network Only Mode

  1. Install the ATAK Plugin onto your ATAK EUD and activate it via the license key.
  2. Open the settings menu and toggle on "Discover Network Radios" and "Network Only Mode"
  3. Go back to ATAK and see all the discovered radios and relay chat and CoT.

 

Configure the radio to auto poll location:

  • Turn on the radio
  • Press the green button to go into the menu

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  • Go to General Settings

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  • Open up Digital Mode

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  • Check Enable, set your Share location interval to your desired time and make sure format is BSS
  • Set Digital Channel to the channel you want to broadcast the signal over

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1. Requirements

Before you begin, please ensure you have the following:

  • ATAK: A current version of ATAK installed on your device.
  • Android EUD: A modern android smartphone or tablet.
  • Compatible Radios: One of the following radio models:
    • BTECH UV-PRO
    • VGC VR-N76
    • BTECH GMRS-PRO (no auto PLI updates)
  • Modified BTECH App: This plugin requires a special version of the BTECH programmer app, which will be provided to you after purchasing a license. You must uninstall your current version and install this version for the relay features to work.

2. First-Time Setup: Activation

The first time you open the plugin, you'll be prompted to activate it.

  • If you have a license key, enter it and press Activate.
  • If you need a license, press the Buy License button to open a link in your browser.

The plugin's features will be available immediately after successful activation.

3. Licensing Explained: What a Single License Does

The BTECH Relay license is tied to your Android device (EUD), not your radio. Here's what you can do with one or more licenses:

  • The Gateway Role (1 License): A single licensed device connected to a BTECH radio acts as a powerful gateway. It listens for all other compatible BTECH radios nearby and broadcasts their locations to your TAK network. This means everyone on your network can see the radio positions as virtual map markers, even if they don't have the plugin or a license.

  • Network Mode (License Required per User): If you want to use the plugin in "Network Only" mode to see connected radio metadata and use the two-way chat bridge, your device also needs its own license. Without a license, you can still see the Virtual Contact in the ATAK Contacts menu, they will not populate in the plugin view and outgoing chat will not work.

In short:

  • 1 license can put the local radio network on the map for everyone in your TAK environment.
  • Each user who wants to interact (two-way chat, two-way CoT) with the radio network from their device (as a gateway or a client) needs their own license.

 

3.1 Enable Accessibility Service

The Accessibility Service is critical for sending messages from ATAK to the BTECH app.

  1. Open the BTECH Relay plugin within ATAK (usually found in the plugin dropdown or toolbar).
  2. Tap the Settings icon (a gear symbol).
  3. Tap the button labeled “Enable Accessibility Service”” (or a similar name). This will take you to Android’s Accessibility settings.
  4. In the list of downloaded services or apps, find “BTECH Relay Service” and enable it.
  5. Grant any permissions requested by the service.
  • Without this service, the “MSG” button and sending data via the Radial Menu will not work, but locations will still populate.

4. Main Interface Overview

  • VRN Table: All discovered radios in the VRN (Virtual Radio Network) will be listed here.
  • Main Switch: The large switch at the top turns the relay on or off. When ON, the plugin is actively polling for radio data.
  • Message Box: Type messages to the radio network from here.
  • MSG Button: Sends the typed message. Its function changes based on your mode (see below).
  • PTT Button: A push-to-talk button that works when you are connected to the radio.
  • Settings (Gear Icon): Access all plugin settings here.

5. Modes of Operation

The plugin has two primary modes, which you can select in the settings menu:

A) Local Radio Mode (Default)

  • What it is: This mode bridges communication between your connected BTECH radio and your TAK network. It's for users who are physically connected to a radio.
  • How it works: "Network Only Mode" in settings is OFF.
  • Sending Messages: Hitting MSG sends your message directly to the BTECH radio network.
  • Receiving Messages: Messages from the radio network will appear in your GeoChat, prefixed with the sender's callsign.

B) Network Only Mode (No radio needed)

  • What it is: This mode allows you to communicate with the radio network through your TAK server, without needing a radio connected to your device. You can see radio locations and exchange messages with them.
  • How it works: "Network Only Mode" in settings is ON.
  • Sending Messages: Hitting MSG sends your message to other TAK users on the network (GeoChat).

6. Two-Way Chat Explained

This plugin creates a seamless two-way chat bridge.

  • Radio to TAK: Any message from a BTECH radio is automatically relayed to your GeoChat for all TAK users to see.

  • TAK to Radio: To send a message from a TAK user (including yourself in Network Only Mode) to the radio network, simply start your GeoChat message with the word [Bridge].

    Example: [Bridge] All units, RV at the main gate.

    The plugin will automatically strip the [Bridge] keyword and send the rest of the message to the BTECH radio network.

7. Key Settings (Gear Icon)

  • Network Only Mode: Toggles between the two modes described above. Note: Turning this ON will disable the other bridge settings.
  • Radio Bridge: (Local Mode Only) When ON, relays location data from BTECH radios to the TAK network.
  • Chat Bridge: (Local Mode Only) When ON, relays text messages from BTECH radios to your GeoChat.
  • Radial Menu: (Local Mode Only) Adds BTECH-specific options to the radial menu on the map.

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