Mesh Home

Mesh wikiA sharing repository for documents, solutions, news and applicationsFor questions contact bill@hpa.edu, sysadmin
Meshtastic: a mesh communication solution using unlicensed radio bands to share text messages with users via bluetooth to phones and computers
Mapping pages:
Meshsense global link map at affirmatech
Meshmap node map 
Meshmap menu
Meshview Hawaii Mesh
Caltopo coverage map
Meshtastic Australia intro page-excellent
Meshtastic next level
Antenna evaluations
40meter.net
Software defined radios
Apps
Documents folder (updated 3.15.26)
Latest notes-updates
meshbot texting service
Things I wish I knew when choosing before setting up
Unit administration notes
Solar unit notes
Python notes: meshtastic command line (CLI)
meshtasticd: running meshtastic on a Pi 
Meshsense: install on linux or others
Node Directory: Hawaii
FAQ: frequently asked questions, suggestions
Useful articles and links
Node notes: clients
Antenna notes
High-power notes
Bleeding edge: command line and beyond
Programming notes
Meshsense notes
Propagation notes
Ethernet and network linked units
Station G2 notes
Why would I use this mesh netowork:
Hikers or back country out of direct range to cellular or internet
Emergency workers where infrastructure is damaged, overloaded or non-existent 
Remote neighborhoods cutoff from outside communication
Casual users or events (e.g. marathons, conventions)
Background:
Meshtastic is a free, unlicensed messaging solution that is text only, linked to phones or computers by bluetooth, with options to connect by wifi or usb connection.
Meshtastic uses low power radios in a mesh configuration, meaning to communicate with another unit, one only needs to connect to any other unit in the mesh.
Since it links to your phone or computer using bluetooth, so there is no internet needed.
To link to units beyond the mesh links, a messaging server (MQTT) on the internet can be linked to any mesh, either using your phone connection (cellular to internet) or other broadband internet connection (e.g. satellite or land internet).
The radios use a frequency originally used by cordless phones (900 mHz) but with very low power, in a digital mode, using very small bandwidth-all meaning the range can be many miles for very small, very low power units.
The wavelength of these units (900 mHz) is "bendy" meaning you may not have line of sight to another in the mesh, but still make a link, much more flexible than normal UHF or SHF radio.
Meshtastic units use a free, unlicensed technology called LoRaWan, or LoRa for short, meaning long range, which has been used in the past for data like sensors on a wide area network (LoRaWan).
Meshtastic units are relatively inexpensive, as they are simply modified firmware running on existing small IoT devices, most for around $30
Some kits include battery, screen and a case for around the same price
Most small units have a battery life of 4-12 hours, with some units solar powered for remote "repeater" uses.
Meshtastic units are programmed using bluetooth to a phone app (meshtastic app) or using a wired usb connection using chrome and the meshtastic web app from meshtastic.org
To upgrade meshtastic units, a wired usb connection is easiest and necessary in most cases, using chrome and the web flasher app from meshtastic.org
Meshsense is an app from affirmatech.com that runs on computers to map out mesh networks, including those linked by the messaging server
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