Meshtastic: Off-Grid Mesh Communication Network
Meshtastic is a decentralized wireless mesh networking protocol that enables long-range, low-power communication over unlicensed radio bands using LoRa technology[1]. Created by Kevin Hester in early 2020, the project aims to provide text messaging and data transmission capabilities in areas without existing infrastructure[1:1].
Key Features
- Long-range communication (331km record achieved)[2]
- Encrypted messaging
- No phone required for mesh communication
- Decentralized architecture without dedicated routers
- Extended battery life, particularly with NRF52-based devices
- Optional GPS location tracking
- Environmental sensor support
Hardware Options
The system supports various hardware platforms:
- ESP32-based devices
- Lower initial cost
- Limited battery life (approximately 8-14 hours on 18650 battery)[3]
- Examples: Heltec V3, T-beam
- NRF52-based devices
- Superior power efficiency (up to 16 days on single 18650 battery)[3:1]
- Higher cost
- Examples: RAK Wisblock 4630, T-Echo
Real-World Applications
The Mars Society uses Meshtastic T-Echo radios for communication during analog astronaut missions in remote areas where traditional communication infrastructure is unavailable[1:2]. Other applications include:
- Hiking communication in remote areas
- Emergency communication during natural disasters
- Backup municipal communication systems
- Environmental monitoring through sensor networks
Technical Limitations
- Requires line-of-sight between devices
- Limited to text messaging (no internet replacement)
- Bandwidth constraints can cause network congestion
- Network reliability depends on node density
Network Capacity
The system has demonstrated ability to handle between 2,000 and 2,500 nodes simultaneously at large events like DEF CON, using “Short Turbo” mode for quicker broadcast bursts[1:3].
Security Considerations
Messages can be encrypted, but users should implement their own application layer encryption for sensitive communications. The default public MQTT server makes traffic visible, though encrypted[3:2].
Meshcore is currently considered superior in most respects to Meshtastic, and as a result has a faster growing user base.
https://meshcore.co.uk/
Meshtastic definitely has a substantial lead in userbase and I’d assume grows faster than meshcore. Where are you getting your statistics from?
Meshtastic is fully dominant in user numbers, but is fundamentally broken by design for what most people actually want to use it for, which is a distributed zero infrastructure communication network. As soon as numbers rise it is crushed by the weight of its own administrative traffic. Also, it’s way too easy to set nodes up as ROUTER nodes, which crushes the mesh and swallows traffic ironically.
I just founded a new religion called Assholeology and six people joined. We grew 600% in the last 90 seconds, we’re the fastest growing religion on the planet. Statistics is the science of applied dishonesty.
Meshtastic I think got here first and has an install base, but it’s fuckawful software. There’s not a single feature that isn’t more than half-implemented.
Plus…where I live, I don’t get any kind of practical range out of 900Mhz. The fourth circle of hell is opaque to UHF so I can’t reach outside my own neighborhood. I can hear clean to Limbo on 2 meters though.
I looked around a bit more, seems to be regional which is growing faster. UK Meshcore is growing fast, which makes sense since core devs are there. I haven’t found a good statistics source for node numbers, probably for the best given the network goals. Meshtastic of course is older so has the inertia lead, but the security and routing of Meshcore definitely is appealing to me and seems better for emergency situations where text messaging reliability is top priority.