Frequently Asked Questions

What AI model does Raw Signal use?

Raw Signal uses Mistral Small 3.2, a 24-billion-parameter large language model developed by Mistral AI. It was selected after testing multiple local AI models because it offered a strong balance of practical knowledge, offline performance, and direct answers.

Why use a French AI model instead of a U.S. model?

We chose Mistral Small 3.2 because it gave Raw Signal the best balance of useful knowledge, local/offline performance, and direct answers. Many U.S.-based models we tested leaned more heavily toward refusal behavior, litigation-driven safety policies, and cloud-provider rules that can change over time. Raw Signal needed a model that could run privately on-device and answer practical reference questions without depending on a remote company’s shifting gatekeeping.

Does it require Wi-Fi or internet?

No. Raw Signal operates completely offline. There is no Wi-Fi, no cellular connection, no cloud AI service, and no internet required to ask questions and receive answers.

How fast does it respond?

Raw Signal responds in 7–8 seconds. That processing happens locally on the device — your question is not being sent to a remote cloud server.

What can I ask it?

You can ask practical reference questions across preparedness, first aid basics, food preservation, water, shelter, history, science, recipes, farming, home repair, scripture, education, and everyday problem-solving. Raw Signal is designed for stable general knowledge — the kind of information that remains useful even when the internet is unavailable.

What is the knowledge cutoff?

The model's knowledge cutoff is around October 2023. Raw Signal is not intended for breaking news, live internet lookups, stock prices, weather alerts, or current-event updates. It is built as a private offline reference tool.

Why not use a bigger model like ChatGPT or Claude?

Frontier cloud models are believed to be vastly larger and require data-center-class hardware. Raw Signal uses a model large enough to be useful while still practical to run locally in a compact offline device.

What hardware does it use?

Raw Signal is designed around AMD APU-style hardware — a CPU with integrated graphics capability — rather than a large power-hungry external GPU. That makes it better suited for compact, practical, offline use.

Does it speak back?

Yes. Raw Signal is voice-first. It uses speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and voice detection so you can ask questions out loud and receive spoken answers without needing a keyboard, monitor, or cloud service.

Does Raw Signal remember what I ask?

Only briefly. Raw Signal keeps limited encrypted local conversation context so follow-up questions work naturally, then old history is cleared instead of building a permanent cloud profile.

What's the difference between the models (Beacon, Ember, Horizon, Shadow)?

Color only. All four models — Beacon (white), Ember (red), Horizon (blue), and Shadow (black) — are identical in hardware, performance, and capability. Choose the one that fits your style.

When does it ship?

All pre-orders ship on June 5, 2026. Order now to secure your unit at the current price.

What powers it?

Raw Signal runs on a standard power outlet. It can also work with a compatible portable battery pack (battery pack not included), making it viable in off-grid and emergency scenarios.

Can the AI be updated?

No — and that's by design. Raw Signal ships with a locked reference model and comprehensive general knowledge. It does not update automatically, change remotely, or depend on cloud services. You're not buying a connected subscription — you're buying a permanent, private knowledge tool.

Is Raw Signal encrypted?

Yes. The device is encrypted. Your questions stay on the hardware and are not sent to cloud AI providers.

Is it censored?

Raw Signal was built to provide direct access to knowledge without cloud-based gatekeeping. It is designed to answer practical questions locally instead of relying on a remote provider that can filter, redirect, log, or change responses over time.

Why not use a heavily “uncensored” modified model?

Some modified models reduce refusals by removing model layers, but that can also reduce accuracy and increase confident-sounding wrong answers. Raw Signal prioritizes useful, direct, reliable answers for practical situations.

What's the return policy?

We offer a 30-day return window from the date of delivery for units in unused, original condition. Contact us at support@rawsignal.ai to initiate a return.

Do you ship internationally?

Not at this time. Raw Signal ships to US addresses only. We are evaluating international availability for future releases.

What warranty comes with it?

Every Raw Signal unit includes a 90-day limited hardware warranty covering manufacturing defects. Normal wear and physical damage are not covered.