Offline and low-signal use
What works with a weak connection or none at all: texting, Quick Help, print tools, and planning ahead.
What this does
LaneHelp assumes connections fail. This page maps each tool to how much signal it needs.
When to use it
Use it to prepare for field work, travel outside coverage, or helping people who have no reliable internet.
What you need
Nothing.
| You have | What works |
|---|---|
| No phone at all | Printed material: handouts, Quick Sheets, and printed Easy Routes. Print them while you have a connection. |
| A phone with SMS only | The full text service — search, shelter, housing, and resource lookups by text. See Using LaneHelp by text. |
| A weak or spotty connection | List pages like the directory and Quick Help, which are kept lightweight. Skip the map and use list views. |
| Normal internet | Everything. |
Quick Help: the lightweight page
Quick Help is a single fast-loading page of crisis lines, key phone numbers, and important addresses. It exists for moments when a big page will not load. If you remember one URL for bad-signal days, make it that one.
Preparing ahead
- Print the handouts you expect to need — they are designed to be photocopied.
- Build and print a Quick Sheet before going somewhere without signal.
- Print an Easy Route for a trip someone will make later. See Building a trip.
- Write down the text number: (541) 991-5263 — it works when nothing else does.
Common questions
Does LaneHelp work fully offline as an app?
No — honest answer. Live information like shelter status needs a connection. The offline strategy is SMS plus paper: text what you can, print what you will need.
Why do list pages load when the map will not?
The map downloads map imagery and layer data; lists are mostly text. Same information, lighter package.
Related guides
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