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--- guides:meshtastic [2025/06/10 18:07] – wgp
+++ guides:meshtastic [2025/06/10 21:28] (current) – wgp
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 ====== Meshtastic: Decentralized Wireless Off-Grid Mesh Networking ======
-<figure fig_label>
-{{guides:dscf8216_sw.jpg |Meshtastic Node}}
-<caption>Heltec LoRa 32 V3, an ESP32 based Meshtastic node in 3D-printed enclosure, connected to an Android smartphone running the Meshtastic app</caption>
-</figure>
 Meshtastic (created by Kevin Hester in February 2020, originally conceived as an outdoor communication solution, later led by Ben Meadors) is a protocol and firmware that runs on LoRa (Long Range) enabled devices that allows users to send messages and share information. It has seen a bump in popularity over the last couple of years due to the barrier of entry (software and hardware) being lowered and the usability being enhanced.
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 LoRa is a proprietary spread spectrum modulation technique based on Chirp Spread Spectrum technology developed by Cycleo and acquired by Semtech Corporation that uses frequency modulated pulses sweeping across bandwidth, with data encoded by cyclically shifting chirps. Meshtastic firmware transforms these LoRa radio modules into intelligent mesh networking devices capable of multi-hop message relay and automatic network discovery.
+<figure fig_label>
+{{guides:dscf8216.jpg |Meshtastic Node}}
+<caption>Heltec LoRa 32 V3, an ESP32 based Meshtastic node in 3D-printed enclosure, connected to an Android smartphone running the Meshtastic app</caption>
+</figure>
 Entry-level devices range from €17-30 with functionality varying by hardware. Popular options include the Heltec LoRa 32 V3 (€17-20) with ESP32-S3 processor and the LILYGO T-Beam V1.2 (€20-25) featuring built-in GPS capabilities. These basic devices require smartphone or computer pairing for message composition and network management.
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 Meshtastic typically achieves a 2-10km range, with maximum performance under ideal conditions (line of sight and elevation are essential) reaching up to 331km (current record using RAK4631 with 55cm antenna in Very Long Slow mode on 868MHz). Meshtastic also supports MQTT which enables bridging between distant mesh networks over the internet.
 Mesh networking concepts (like most else) have evolutionary roots in DARPA's ARPANET research from the 1960s, later evolving through MIT's roofnet project and ZigBee protocols, ultimately setting the technological foundation for modern LoRa-based implementations like Meshtastic.
 Globally, approximately 40,000 active nodes currently operate with over 10,000 visible on public tracking maps. In Berlin specifically, 200-300 visible nodes operate continuously, with many additional "ghost nodes" remaining hidden from public view. Use cases vary widely from privacy protection, protest coordination, and off-grid emergency solutions to pure hobbyist exploration and experimentation.
+ --- //[[|chris]] 2025/06/10 18:57//