Mesh Networks - Revision history

Jschrempp: /* Radio Things */

2026-09-10T02:26:58Z

Radio Things

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:26, 9 September 2026
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	What about all those LoRa parameters? [https://unsigned.io/understanding-lora-parameters/ This is a great review] of all the parameters.		What about all those LoRa parameters? [https://unsigned.io/understanding-lora-parameters/ This is a great review] of all the parameters.

			=== Hardware ===
			Meshtastic and Meshcore run on the exact same hardware. It's easy to flash new software and change from one to the other.

			==== Outdoor Nodes ====

			Solar powered nodes in strategic placements can really improve and extend the mesh. Many people have built solar powered nodes to put up in trees or on mountain tops.

			Some people have used the Harbor Breeze Solar Light to power a node. It's definitely the cheapest way to get into a solar node. You can make better ones but in CA where is is sunny all the time it's just fine. If you were in Washington it might not be sunny enough for this solution. [https://meshtastic.org/docs/community/enclosures/rak/harbor-breeze-solar-hack/ Harbor Breeze how to]

			Here is a nice [https://groups.io/g/NEMARC/topic/meshtastic_tree_node/106358736 solar build step by step] and the [http://www.nemarc.org/mesh.html#treenodepartslist parts list].

			This is an Instructable [https://www.instructables.com/Meshtastic-Solar-Buoy/ for a waterproof solar node].

			This is a [https://www.seeedstudio.com/SenseCAP-Solar-Node-P1-for-Meshtastic-LoRa-p-6425.html pre built outdoor node 150mw] from Seeed Studio

			And a nice, [https://store.rakwireless.com/products/wishmesh-meshtastic-solar-repeater-mini tight package] from Rak.

			Or [https://www.seeedstudio.com/Wio-SX1262-with-XIAO-ESP32S3-p-5982.html cheapest node] we've seen.

			A node [https://youtu.be/P2R9ad5PctY?si=xrEUC4DBMo35xGlb with a larger solar panel].

Jschrempp at 00:18, 6 September 2026

2026-09-06T00:18:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 5 September 2026
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	There are two open source mesh networks we have experience with: Meshtastic and MeshCore. They both use LoRa technology. LoRa radio technology is low power (1 watt or less) and long range (miles) and line-of-sight. It is also very slow - text messages, not images; certainly not voice. ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHWepP1ZWTk An explanation of LoRa technology.])		There are two open source mesh networks we have experience with: Meshtastic and MeshCore. They both use LoRa technology. LoRa radio technology is low power (1 watt or less) and long range (miles) and line-of-sight. It is also very slow - text messages, not images; certainly not voice. ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHWepP1ZWTk An explanation of LoRa technology.])

	Both meshes run on the same inexpensive hardware. Both run without any reliance on the internet. The difference is in architecture.		Both meshes run on the same inexpensive hardware. Both run without any reliance on the internet. The difference is in architecture. Philadelphia mesh users have [https://phillymesh.net/2026/09/02/fcc-regulations/ a very interesting and readable summary about these meshes and FCC regulations].

	'''[[Meshtastic]]''' is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.		'''[[Meshtastic]]''' is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.

Jschrempp: /* Radio Things */

2026-06-30T17:53:29Z

Radio Things

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 30 June 2026
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	If you are in a noisy area, then a well tuned RF filter can boost your signal reception dramatically. They are pricey.		If you are in a noisy area, then a well tuned RF filter can boost your signal reception dramatically. They are pricey.

			What about all those LoRa parameters? [https://unsigned.io/understanding-lora-parameters/ This is a great review] of all the parameters.

Jschrempp: /* Radio Things */

2026-06-14T02:59:44Z

Radio Things

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:59, 13 June 2026
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	* a nice 6dBi antenna with two short cables and an adapter to connect them		* a nice 6dBi antenna with two short cables and an adapter to connect them
	If you figure this out, let us know!		If you figure this out, let us know!

			[https://stuff.cisien.com/antenna-gain-visualization.html Antenna visualization tool] shows how beam width works.

	If you are in a noisy area, then a well tuned RF filter can boost your signal reception dramatically. They are pricey.		If you are in a noisy area, then a well tuned RF filter can boost your signal reception dramatically. They are pricey.

Jschrempp at 18:21, 15 May 2026

2026-05-15T18:21:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:21, 15 May 2026
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	MeshCore repeaters are dedicated devices so they tend to stay in one place. This makes the MC mesh more stable topologically. A reply to a message that goes from router x to y to z can use the return path of z to y to x. There is no need to flood every message. This keeps utilization lower.		MeshCore repeaters are dedicated devices so they tend to stay in one place. This makes the MC mesh more stable topologically. A reply to a message that goes from router x to y to z can use the return path of z to y to x. There is no need to flood every message. This keeps utilization lower.

			=== Radio Things ===

			[https://bayme.sh/docs/getting-started/recommended-hardware/ Bay Mesh] has some good hardware recommendations.

			Height above ground will dramatically improve your experience. The higher the better. If you drive to the top of a hill your signal will propagate much further. Like A LOT further. In one experiment we got good reception 1/4 mile down the block in an urban setting; the same devices with one on a hill worked at 3 miles! Nothing beats a high placement with clear line of sight.

			Line of sight planning tools

			* The official [https://site.meshtastic.org/ Site Planner] shows how far your radio will reach
			* [https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/rf-line-of-sight/ Move two pins and see what's between them]
			* Pick a location [https://heywhatsthat.com/ and see the horizon view]
			* Give it your location [https://www.peakfinder.com/ and see the peaks]

			The cable between your node and the antenna makes a difference. Sometimes you might want the antenna a ways away from your node. Then cable loss can be a big factor and depend on the type of cable. KMR 240 would be fine under 5-10 feet. KMR400 or KRM600 is better and also allows you to go 10-30 feet. It’s usually easier to just put the radio on the pole close to the antenna with a long power or network cable.

			Adapters also introduce signal loss. Try to avoid them.

			Some antennas have a built in right-angle joint. It seems convenient but in testing several of these we found that while straight they had a SWR of almost 1:1, when in right-angle position the SWR was 3:1 - yikes!

			If you have a node that can run high power, like the Station G2, then you can up the RF output to compensate for antenna configuration. What if you have a small unit like a Heltec V3? You might wonder which is better:
			* a well tuned 2.5dBi whip antenna with a short cable
			* a nice 6dBi antenna with two short cables and an adapter to connect them
			If you figure this out, let us know!

			If you are in a noisy area, then a well tuned RF filter can boost your signal reception dramatically. They are pricey.

Jschrempp at 18:18, 15 May 2026

2026-05-15T18:18:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:18, 15 May 2026
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	There are two open source mesh networks we have experience with: Meshtastic and MeshCore. They both use LoRa technology. LoRa radio technology is low power (1 watt or less) and long range (miles) and line-of-sight. It is also very slow - text messages, not images; certainly not voice.		There are two open source mesh networks we have experience with: Meshtastic and MeshCore. They both use LoRa technology. LoRa radio technology is low power (1 watt or less) and long range (miles) and line-of-sight. It is also very slow - text messages, not images; certainly not voice. ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHWepP1ZWTk An explanation of LoRa technology.])

	Both meshes run on the same inexpensive hardware. Both run without any reliance on the internet. The difference is in architecture.		Both meshes run on the same inexpensive hardware. Both run without any reliance on the internet. The difference is in architecture.

	[[Meshtastic]] is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.		'''[[Meshtastic]]''' is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.

	[[MeshCore]] has three kinds of nodes: companion, repeater, room-server. All three will run on the same hardware platforms. A companion node is one you carry with you - a leaf node. Companion nodes do NOT repeat messages. A repeater node, well, repeats messages. That's all it does. A MeshCore mesh requires repeaters to be in positions where they can communicate with other repeaters to spread out messages they receive from companions. MeshCore's room-server has a special task - it hosts an access controlled chat room. Companions can log-in to a room-server and leave messages for others to read.		'''[[MeshCore]]''' has three kinds of nodes: companion, repeater, room-server. All three will run on the same hardware platforms. A companion node is one you carry with you - a leaf node. Companion nodes do NOT repeat messages. A repeater node, well, repeats messages. That's all it does. A MeshCore mesh requires repeaters to be in positions where they can communicate with other repeaters to spread out messages they receive from companions. MeshCore's room-server has a special task - it hosts an access controlled chat room. Companions can log-in to a room-server and leave messages for others to read.

	The same hardware devices support Meshtastic and MeshCore.		The same hardware devices support Meshtastic and MeshCore.

Jschrempp at 15:17, 31 March 2026

2026-03-31T15:17:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:17, 31 March 2026
Line 5:		Line 5:
	[[Meshtastic]] is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.		[[Meshtastic]] is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.

	[[MeshCore]] has three kinds of nodes: companion, repeater, room-server. A companion node is one you carry with you - a leaf node. Companion nodes do NOT repeat messages. A repeater node, well, repeats messages. That's all it does. A MeshCore mesh requires repeaters to be in positions where they can communicate with other repeaters to spread out messages they receive from companions. MeshCore's room-server has a special task - it hosts an access controlled chat room. Companions can log-in to a room-server and leave messages for others to read.		[[MeshCore]] has three kinds of nodes: companion, repeater, room-server. All three will run on the same hardware platforms. A companion node is one you carry with you - a leaf node. Companion nodes do NOT repeat messages. A repeater node, well, repeats messages. That's all it does. A MeshCore mesh requires repeaters to be in positions where they can communicate with other repeaters to spread out messages they receive from companions. MeshCore's room-server has a special task - it hosts an access controlled chat room. Companions can log-in to a room-server and leave messages for others to read.

			The same hardware devices support Meshtastic and MeshCore.

			Because Meshtastic devices are both client and repeater, people often carry them around and the mesh is constantly reforming. This is great when you are out in the wilds. When you are in a dense urban area all the messages advertising nodes can clog the mesh.

			MeshCore repeaters are dedicated devices so they tend to stay in one place. This makes the MC mesh more stable topologically. A reply to a message that goes from router x to y to z can use the return path of z to y to x. There is no need to flood every message. This keeps utilization lower.

Jschrempp at 02:32, 20 March 2026

2026-03-20T02:32:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:32, 19 March 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	* [[Meshtastic]] network		There are two open source mesh networks we have experience with: Meshtastic and MeshCore. They both use LoRa technology. LoRa radio technology is low power (1 watt or less) and long range (miles) and line-of-sight. It is also very slow - text messages, not images; certainly not voice.
	* [[MeshCore]] ~~network~~
			Both meshes run on the same inexpensive hardware. Both run without any reliance on the internet. The difference is in architecture.

			[[Meshtastic]] is the older network. Meshtastic used "controlled flooding" protocol. Every client in a Meshtastic network can retransmit messages it receives from other nodes. This makes the network immediately resilient. 100 people hiking in the woods can use Meshtastic nodes to keep in touch. It is a fire-and-forget network; if your node is not connected when a message comes by, you miss it.

			[[MeshCore]] has three kinds of nodes: companion, repeater, room-server. A companion node is one you carry with you - a leaf node. Companion nodes do NOT repeat messages. A repeater node, well, repeats messages. That's all it does. A MeshCore mesh requires repeaters to be in positions where they can communicate with other repeaters to spread out messages they receive from companions. MeshCore's room-server has a special task - it hosts an access controlled chat room. Companions can log-in to a room-server and leave messages for others to read.

Jschrempp: Created page with "* Meshtastic network * MeshCore network"

2026-03-20T02:20:22Z

Created page with "* Meshtastic network * MeshCore network"

New page

* [[Meshtastic]] network
* [[MeshCore]] network