Give it power.
Connect the power supply, or use the rechargeable battery edition. The Raspberry Pi starts the local library and its Wi-Fi network.
How it works
A few taps.
A whole library.
Prepper Buddy creates a local Wi-Fi network. Your phone or computer uses that network to read what’s saved on the device.
Retouched photo of the Battery Edition prototype.
Join “Prepper Buddy.”
Open Wi-Fi settings on your phone, tablet or computer. Choose the device’s network. If your phone says there is no internet, choose to stay connected.
The current setup starts with open Wi-Fi. An optional network password can be set inside the library.
Visit 10.42.0.1.
Type this local address into your browser’s address bar. Search, open a guide or read a saved reference. Keep the device powered on and stay on its Wi-Fi.
See the library
in action.
Our interactive demo lets you try searches and read field guides. On the device, the full manuals, maps and video files open from local storage.
Open the working demoBefore you connect.
Does it need an internet connection?
The device’s saved library works without internet or a cellular plan. Power it on, join its local Wi-Fi and use your browser. This public website and its demo are separate from that local library.
Will it work with my phone or laptop?
Use a device with Wi-Fi and a modern browser. Join “Prepper Buddy,” stay connected when your phone says the network has no internet, then open 10.42.0.1. There is no app-store installation.
What do the two editions include?
Both planned editions use a Raspberry Pi 4B with 4 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, with the same library. The $499 edition adds a rechargeable battery. Final case, battery specifications and package details will be published before orders open.
Is there a monthly subscription?
The planned device prices are one-time purchases: $399 or $499 with the battery. Ordering is not open yet. Shipping, tax and purchase terms will be shown before checkout becomes available.
Can I add my own documents?
The current build provides an 8 GB shared-document upload quota on the Pi. Shared files are readable by people connected to it. Personal Vault stores password-protected, encrypted documents in your own browser; keep backups of important files.
Does it provide live maps or emergency alerts?
No. The maps and references are saved snapshots. They do not show current closures, weather, evacuation orders or live navigation. The library includes full English Wikipedia text and a separate Simple English edition with pictures.
Is the assistant like a cloud chatbot?
The library uses local search and saved-source answers. Answer quality is still being refined. It is not sold as unrestricted ChatGPT running on a small computer. You can open the original saved material directly.
Can I buy one today?
Not yet. This is a coming-soon launch page. The notification form does not reserve a unit or charge a payment. We’ll publish availability and delivery details when ordering opens.