What works with no signal
A phone that needs the internet to tell you how to live without the internet is a joke. Here is the actual matrix — Free vs Premium, before and after the download.
The short version
Free includes a ~100-article starter pack and the basic instruments (SOS, Morse, compass, timer) on the device the moment you install. You do not wait for a pack file to read those. Premium downloads the rest of the library (~28 MB) and any map regions while you still have a connection. After that, reading, tools, Comms, Map, and Ask run with zero bars.
You need a network again for library updates, new map packs, the optional AI model download, store purchase or restore, and ads on Free. None of those are how you treat a wound at 2 a.m.
Capability matrix
| Capability | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
Starter library (~100 articles) Ships on-device. No download required to read the starter set. | Works offline | Works offline |
Full library (4,900+ articles) ~28 MB pack. Download once on Wi-Fi, then read with no signal. | Needs network or locked | Works after download |
SOS torch, Morse encoder, compass, timer Basic instruments stay free. Hardware tools need the phone, not the web. | Works offline | Works offline |
Knot trainer, rationing, extra instruments In the app kit. Web demos: Morse, knots, rationing only. | Limited, then Premium | Works offline |
Ask the Manual 5 free messages. Premium unlimited. Optional on-device model download. | Limited, then Premium | Works after download |
Comms (BLE mesh chat) 5 free chat sends; SOS still works. Needs another nearby Last Manual user. | Limited, then Premium | Works offline |
Map packs, GPS, routing, waypoints Free can open the Map UI (locked). Packs download while online. | Needs network or locked | Works after download |
PDF field-sheet export 2 lifetime distinct articles on Free. Unlimited on Premium. Generated on-device. | Limited, then Premium | Works offline |
Library search, bookmarks, checklists Local only. Uninstalling the app removes on-device notes. | Works offline | Works offline |
Store purchase / restore / ads Needs Google Play when you buy, restore, or see ads. Not a field dependency. | Needs network or locked | Needs network or locked |
What this site cannot do
A browser tab is not offline-first. These pages need a connection to load. The Morse translator, knot guide, and rationing calculator run in the tab you already opened — they are not a substitute for the app when the tower is gone. Compass, torch SOS, optical Morse, lux meter, and BLE mesh need phone hardware. That is why they live on a tools hub instead of fake web demos.
Then get it on the phone
You’re reading this with a signal. The situation it describes is one where you won’t have one.