Meshtastic nodes built with RAKwireless hardware are already easy to get started with, thanks to available starter kits. But what if you need a more specialized setup for your project? Like a network of sensors for environmental monitoring, or an enclosure for outdoor deployment?
A well-placed Meshtastic device can have incredible range, but planning the best deployment often requires software which is proprietary, expensive, and difficult to use. The Meshtastic Site Planner is a new, open-source tool that allows you to easily run accurate predictions of your device range in different locations. This tool builds on sophisticated and proven radio propagation models and creates a modern, intuitive application that everyone can freely use.
Emojis can add a whole new level of personalization and fun to your Meshtastic devices! From customizing Short Names to make your nodes stand out, to marking waypoints on the map, and even displaying expressive messages on OLED screens, emojis offer countless ways to make your Meshtastic setup uniquely yours. Whether you’re adding a practical touch or just having fun, there’s something for everyone in the world of Meshtastic emojis.
When setting up your Meshtastic network, configuring the correct Role for each device can be crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring reliable communication. Conversely, the pitfalls of choosing the incorrect Role can lead to congestion and poor performance on your mesh. In this post, we'll explore why you might choose certain device roles and avoid others.
The Meshtastic Team is excited to announce Meshtastic Solutions. This new venture will support the Meshtastic open source project, as well as provide a pool of expertise for anyone building tools and systems with Meshtastic. Meshtastic Solutions will ensure the long-term health and success of the Meshtastic team and ecosystem, as well as to spur development of the Meshtastic firmware, clients, libraries, and utilities.
Meshtastic began with a straightforward goal: to keep hiking buddies connected in the outdoors when cell service was unavailable. What started as a simple project has grown, thanks to a passionate community pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Today, Meshtastic is used in Search and Rescue operations, off-grid communication, disaster recovery, and even grid-down scenarios. Whether it's preparing for the next flood or tornado, extending communication over the Internet with MQTT, or simply enjoying an off-grid adventure, Meshtastic has become an essential tool for many.
The Meshtastic project-hosted MQTT server, which allows sharing mesh traffic over the Internet, has recently made an important change that impacts the way information is shared via MQTT: the ability to subscribe to all topics has been removed. However, users can still subscribe to regional topics, such as msh/US/#, to view nodes in their specific area. The MQTT functionality remains intact, public maps are still accessible, and users can continue to see nodes within their specified regions with some new changes.
Designing a low-bandwidth wireless mesh network to run on low-power microprocessors with limited memory is challenging. Arguably the simplest mesh routing protocol is Flood Routing: each radio receiving a packet will rebroadcast this again, up to a defined hop limit. Although Meshtastic is based on this strategy, there are a few subtle, but significant enhancements. Most importantly, before a node rebroadcasts, it waits a short while and listens if anyone else is already rebroadcasting. If so, it will not rebroadcast again. Therefore, “Managed Flood Routing” would be a better name. For more details on the enhancements, please review our documentation.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently considering a proposal from NextNav that could drastically reshape the 900 MHz band. While this proposal may seem like just another routine reconfiguration, it has significant implications for a broad range of users, particularly those who rely on unlicensed spectrum for innovative, community-driven projects. At the heart of the debate lies the potential impact on open-source initiatives like Meshtastic, an open-source, decentralized communication platform that operates in the 900 MHz ISM band.