Meshtastic
Meshtastic
An open-source, off-grid, decentralized mesh network built on affordable LoRa radios.
What is Meshtastic
Meshtastic is a project that enables you to use inexpensive LoRa radios as a long range off-grid communication platform. By pairing with phones or running standalone, Meshtastic forms a mesh network that can span miles, routing messages through multiple hops to reach distant nodes.
Key Features
- No internet required - completely off-grid - Automatic mesh networking - Encrypted messages - Location sharing with GPS - Works with iOS, Android, and web apps - Battery life measured in days - Open source hardware and software
Hardware Options
Basic Nodes
- TTGO T-Beam (recommended - includes GPS) - Heltec LoRa 32 - RAK WisBlock
Frequencies
- US: 915 MHz - EU: 868 MHz - Check local regulations
Getting Started
- Flash firmware using web flasher
- Connect to device via Bluetooth
- Set your region
- Start messaging
Use Cases
- Hiking and outdoor groups - Emergency communication - Festival/event coordination - Neighborhood networks - Off-grid communities
Notes
Initial experiments ongoing. Range testing in forest conditions planned.