What is Meshtastic® ?
Meshtastic® is a project that enables you to use inexpensive LoRa radios as a long range off-grid communication platform in areas without existing or reliable communications infrastructure.
“Meshtastic®” uses LoRa (CSS) to communicate.
LoRa (Long Range)
Lora is a wireless modulation technique derived from Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) technology. It encodes information on radio waves using chirp pulses – similar to the way dolphins and bats communicate! LoRa modulated transmission is robust against disturbances and can be received across great distances.
How it works!
Meshtastic utilizes LoRa, a long-range radio protocol, which is widely accessible in most regions without the need for additional licenses or certifications, unlike HAM radio operations. These radios are designed to rebroadcast messages they receive, forming a mesh network. This setup ensures that every group member, including those at the furthest distance, can receive messages. Additionally, Meshtastic radios can be paired with a single phone, allowing friends and family to send messages directly to your specific radio. It’s important to note that each device is capable of supporting a connection from only one user at a time.
Lora is ideal for applications that transmit small chunks of data with low bit rates. Data can be transmitted at a longer range compared to technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth or ZigBee. These features make LoRa well suited for sensors and actuators that operate in low power mode.
Lora can be operated on the license free Sub-Gigahertz bands, for example, 915 MHz, 868 MHz, and 433 MHz. It can also operate on 2.4 GHz to achieve higher data rates compared to sub-gigahertz bands, at the cost of range. These frequencies fall into ISM Bands that are reserved internationally for industrial, scientific, and medical purposes.
Comparing LoRa to Cellular, Wifi and Bluetooth ranges.
The Meshtastic® application runs on a cell phone or computer and uses bluetooth, but does not require cell service to work with the Meshtastic® transceiving device!
Example of a Meshtastic® “Mesh” Network.
Below are some examples of Meshtastic® devices.
