Overview

What Meshtastic is, how LoRa mesh works, and what you can do with it.

Meshtastic is an open-source, off-grid text network built on LoRa radios. Devices (“nodes”) relay small messages hop-by-hop, so a handful of nodes can cover surprising distances without cell or Wi-Fi.

What you can do

  • Send short texts and GPS waypoints without the internet
  • Coordinate hikes, events, emergency check-ins, or neighborhood comms
  • Experiment with radios, antennas, batteries, and mapping coverage

How it works (quick)

  1. Each node transmits small packets on a regional LoRa band (US-915 in our area).
  2. Nearby nodes repeat those packets, forming a mesh.
  3. Your phone connects to your node via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi using the Meshtastic app.
  4. Messages propagate across multiple hops until they reach the destination.

Hardware at a glance

  • Common boards: LilyGO T-Beam, Heltec V3, LILYGO T-Deck, etc.
  • Antenna: 915 MHz tuned antenna (US). Height and line-of-sight help a lot.
  • Power: USB power bank or LiPo; for fixed nodes, consider solar + charge controller.

Apps & interfaces

  • Mobile: Android / iOS apps for everyday use
  • Desktop/Web: Web client and CLI for power users
  • Integrations: Position beacons, MQTT bridges, and mapping tools

Channels & privacy basics

  • Nodes join a channel (shared key + settings).
  • Public/demo channels are good for onboarding and range testing.
  • For private groups, use unique keys and share them only with trusted members.

Range, terrain, and antennas

  • Range depends on elevation, antenna quality, interference, and line-of-sight.
  • Urban, ground-level tests may be ~1–3 mi; hill-to-hill or elevated nodes can go much farther.
  • Simple upgrades (better placement/height, tuned antennas) often beat raw transmit power.

Local etiquette

  • Keep messages short and relevant; avoid spamming.
  • Identify yourself when testing and note intended duration/power changes.
  • Be courteous with shared/public channels; move longer chats to private channels.

Next steps

  • Set up your first node: head to Getting Started
  • Join the community: hop into our Discord from the header for channel details and meetups
  • See coverage tools: check Map & Data for Explorer/Meshview links and mapping notes