🤔THEORETICAL USES

PHONE HAS POWER, BUT WITHOUT INTERNET (no mesh radios)

This is going to be the most common use for ATAK (it is for me atleast). You are going to need offline maps of the location you will be in. I try to get the topographical and satellite maps, and if it is a city, also the google road map so I can see business names.

Your GPS on your phone will still work, and you will be able to see your location and mark things on the map for your own use.

If you are operating with other people, you can use grid coordinates for call outs and routes, but I would relabel them with some kind of cypher (for example, adding 3 to the number) that you agree upon before going out. You can also take the time to write on the map in each grid to name them, and call out numpad locations (ex: numpad 6 in grid yellow) depending on how large your area is that you are operating in.

Another option is to pre mark locations and POIs and call out directions and distances from known marks.

ATAK IS A POWER HOG. be aware of this, and close out of it when you do not need it. but be aware that it will take more time to find your location when you turn it back on. carry spare batteries, and make sure you have a cache of constantly charging batteries, either solar or generator powered.

FULL INTERNET ACCESS

This is the ideal scenario, where you are able to access your ATAK server, and communicate with the boys all over the world on the server.

This can be used in SAR if you have cell service, LARPing, patrolling bad areas in a a neighborhood crime stopping initiative etc etc etc

opsec is not important in these scenarios, as you are the good guy, and there is no adversary, or if there is, they are incapable of accessing your information without a physical captured phone (if this happens, make a new server and mourn the loss of your homie)

NO INTERNET, AND MESH RADIO USE WITHOUT ATAK FORWARDER

Because ATAK forwarder is unreliable with current android versions, a good fallback is to use meshtastic seperately, as there is a map integrated into the app. You can use the app for text chat as well as seeing where your friends are as long as they are in range of the radios. you can send coordinates of marks to have friends update ATAK on their end, and also cross reference the meshtastic map to your ATAK maps to keep track of your friends.

New versions of meshtastic are super reliable, and the radios have decent range and can hop ten times last i checked.