Meshtastic Project

Meshtastic Basics

What is Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is an open-source, off-grid, decentralized mesh network built to run on affordable, low-power devices. It utilizes LoRa (Long Range) radio protocol to create a network that can function without internet connectivity or cellular service. This makes it ideal for outdoor activities, emergency communications, and areas with limited infrastructure.

Key Features

  • Off-grid communication: Functions without internet or cellular service
  • Long range: Can achieve several kilometers of range between nodes
  • Low power consumption: Devices can run for days or weeks on battery power
  • Mesh networking: Messages can hop through multiple nodes to extend range
  • Open source: Both hardware and software are open source and customizable
  • Affordable: Uses relatively inexpensive hardware components
  • Cross-platform: Supports Android, iOS, web, and Python interfaces

Hardware Platforms

Meshtastic firmware can be installed on various development boards with LoRa capabilities. The main microcontroller types supported are:

  1. ESP32: Older chip that consumes more power but has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities

    • LILYGO® TTGO T-Beam (>V1.1 recommended)
    • LILYGO® TTGO Lora (>V2.1 recommended)
    • Nano G1
    • Station G1
    • Heltec V3 and Wireless Stick Lite V3
    • RAK11200 Core module for RAK WisBlock modular boards

  2. nRF52: More power efficient than ESP32, better for battery-powered applications

    • RAK Meshtastic Start Kit: RAK19007 + RAK4631
    • Seeed Card Tracker T1000
    • HELTEC LoRa
    • Nano G2 Ultra
    • Station G2
    • LILYGO LoRa T3-S3

  3. RP2040: Raspberry Pi's microcontroller

    • Raspberry Pi Pico with LoRa module

Power Consumption Considerations

For solar-powered applications, understanding power consumption is critical:

  • Meshtastic devices consume different amounts of power when receiving vs. transmitting
  • Transmitting uses significantly more power than receiving
  • Power consumption is measured in watt-hours over time
  • Duty cycle (percentage of time spent transmitting) affects overall power consumption
  • Background network activity (beacons) consumes some baseline power
  • For solar applications, power measurements over 2-6 hours provide good estimates

Antenna Considerations

  • Antenna selection significantly impacts range and performance
  • Frequency must match your region (915 MHz in US/AU, 868 MHz in EU)
  • Helium network antennas can be compatible with Meshtastic if they match the frequency requirements
  • Antenna gain (measured in dBi) affects range and radiation pattern

Community Resources

Meshtastic has an active community with resources including:

  • Local user groups
  • Community-developed applications
  • Custom enclosures for various hardware platforms
  • Documentation and guides

Getting Started Steps

  1. Choose a compatible device
  2. Flash the device with Meshtastic firmware
  3. Configure the device settings
  4. Connect to the device using a client (mobile app, web interface, or Python CLI)
  5. Join or create a mesh network