Mesh radio basics
Small radios that pass text messages to each other, hop by hop, with no tower, no internet and no monthly plan.
What it is
A mesh radio is a small, battery-powered LoRa radio. LoRa is a long-range, low-data-rate way of sending radio signals. When you send a message, nearby radios on the same network hear it and pass it on, so it can travel farther than any single radio reaches.
What it can do
- Short text messages between people in a household, group or neighborhood.
- Share locations, if you choose to.
- Keep working when cell towers and internet are down, as long as the radios have power.
What it cannot do
- Voice calls, photos or web browsing. The data rate is far too low.
- Reach 911, unless someone on the mesh relays your message.
- Promise a range. Range depends on height, terrain and the radios around you. We do not publish range figures we have not measured.
Two networks that do not talk to each other
Meshtastic and MeshCore are separate systems. Many radios can run either one, one at a time, but a radio on one cannot message a radio on the other. Your whole group picks one. If a mesh already runs near you, join that one. How they differ.
The roles radios play
| Role | What it does | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Companion radio | Pairs with a phone over Bluetooth. The phone is the screen and keyboard. | Radios |
| Standalone radio | Has its own screen and keyboard. No phone needed. | T-Deck Plus |
| Repeater or router | Sits up high and passes messages along. Often solar powered. | Repeaters |
| Room server (MeshCore) | Keeps message history and delivers it to people who connect later. | MeshCore vs Meshtastic |
Three things that decide whether it works
- Same network and settings on every radio, including the US region.
- Height and a clear path. A radio by an upstairs window beats one on a kitchen table. Line-of-sight calculator.
- Charged batteries. A dead radio in a drawer does nothing. Node battery calculator.
Where to start
MeshCore and Meshtastic are separate firmware and network systems. Check the exact hardware model, firmware, regional radio setting and local coverage before buying. These low-data-rate systems do not replace emergency services or broadband.