meshtastic4hams

Presentation on Meshtastic geared toward amateur radio operators

What is Meshtastic?

An open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on affordable, low-power devices.

• Open source
  • Code is freely available
• Off grid, decentralized
  • Doesn't depend on the internet, a central server, registry, etc.
  • Can be stood up in the middle of nowhere with no connection to an existing network.
• Mesh network
  • Wikipedia: A mesh network is a network topology in which the nodes connect directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to as many other nodes as possible and cooperate with one another to efficiently route data to and from clients.
  • Maybe a stretch, but basically the focus is that most nodes contribute to extending the network and it can function without much planning.
• Affordable devices
  • Devices range from $20 ~ $100.
  • Many options for 3D printed cases and DIY builds.
  • Also options for hardware that is ready out-of-the-box.

What else?

That's a good one-liner, but what does it not answer?

• Text-based communications - APRS-like
  • Direct & group messaging.
  • Position and telemetry reporting
  • Bots and some others
  • NOT voice, video, or browsing the web.
  • Different than APRS in that nodes by default repeat traffic like a digi
• Mostly unlicensed ISM bands - 900MHz in US
• LoRa - "long range"
  • CSS - Chirp Spread Spectrum
    • SS, but not really wide-banded.
  • Similar to FT8 in working below noise floor.
  • Focus on distance over speed

Why Meshtastic?

• Keep in touch
• Comm plan for emergencies
• Fun

Where?

• Neighborhood
• Outdoor activities
• Metro or larger area

How? - Get Device

• Show various hardware options - photos
• Discuss phone app and how app/node relationship works.
  • Phone app doesn't require internet or Wi-Fi
• Node options
  • nRF52840 Battery / solar
  • ESP32 - Wi-Fi
  • PA / LNA options

How? - Device Setup

• Buy/build node
  • https://meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices/
• Flash firmware
  • Chrome - https://flasher.meshtastic.org/
  • Check USB serial drivers on ESP32 devices
  • ESP32 web client must be specifically selected
• Tips
  • No power without antenna
  • Use defaults first, customize later
  • Set long and short names. Leave channels alone at first
  • Set region and enable transmit
  • Don't use licensed mode
  • Terminology can be confusing. "Channel", etc.
  • Network and Bluetooth can't be enabled together
• Remote management
  • Consider how to maintain remote nodes
  • Setting management over RF using admin keys
  • Firmware upgrade options

Links / contact

• meshtastic.org
• https://lrme.sh
• Discord / Facebook
• Email

Other

• LoRa-APRS and other similar things