Guides
Each guide is written from the official project documentation and links to it, so you can check every claim.
Start here
- What Is Meshtastic? How the LoRa Mesh Network Works
Meshtastic is open-source firmware that turns inexpensive LoRa radios into an off-grid text messaging mesh. Here is how it works and what you need.
- Meshtastic vs MeshCore: Routing, Roles, and Which to Pick
Meshtastic uses managed flooding where most nodes can relay; MeshCore relays only through repeaters. A neutral comparison from each project's official docs.
- What Is MeshCore? Companions, Repeaters, Room Servers
MeshCore is open-source LoRa mesh firmware where only repeaters relay. Learn its firmware types, apps, flasher, routing, and US radio settings.
- Is Meshtastic Legal in the USA? Frequency and FCC Rules
Meshtastic in the US uses the 902-928 MHz band under FCC Part 15, with no license for normal use. Power limits, antenna rules, and ham mode explained.
Set up your radio
- Meshtastic Web Flasher: How to Flash and Update Firmware
How to install or update Meshtastic firmware with the official Web Flasher, ESP32 vs nRF52 UF2 drag-and-drop, backing up keys, and fixing common errors.
- Meshtastic Roles Explained: Client, Router, and More
What each Meshtastic device role does per the official docs, router vs repeater vs ROUTER_LATE, and why most nodes should stay CLIENT.
- Meshtastic Presets Explained: Long Fast and Beyond
Every Meshtastic modem preset with official data rates and link budgets, why your mesh must share one preset, and how frequency slots work in the US.
- Meshtastic Solar Node: Planning a Solar Repeater
Plan a solar Meshtastic node with official guidance: choosing a role, power-saving settings, measuring energy use, batteries, enclosure, and antenna.
Range, maps, and privacy
- Meshtastic Range: How Far Can It Reach and Why
Meshtastic range depends on line of sight, antenna height, terrain, and modem preset. What the official docs say, including the documented 331 km record.
- Meshtastic Map: How to Find Nodes and Meshes Near You
How to find Meshtastic nodes and communities near you: local groups, in-app discovery scans, online node maps, how those maps get data, and their limits.
- Is Meshtastic Encrypted? Privacy and Tracking Explained
Meshtastic encrypts message payloads with AES, but headers, the default channel, position sharing, and MQTT can expose more than you expect.
- Meshtastic MQTT: Uplink, Downlink, and Privacy
What Meshtastic MQTT does, how the public server works, uplink vs downlink, the OK to MQTT flag, map reports, and the privacy trade-offs.