You're Not an Idiot, But Your ISP Thinks You Are
So you want to join MeshCore? Excellent choice! Whether you’re tired of dropping calls in your basement, preparing for when the internet finally breaks from too many cat videos, or just want to send encrypted messages that bounce through 64 radios like the world’s nerdiest pinball game, you’ve come to the right place.
MeshCore is like if walkie-talkies went to MIT, got a PhD in resilient networking, and decided to stick it to Big Telecom. No monthly fees, no ISP, no customer service hold music. Just you, some radio waves, and the sweet taste of decentralized freedom.
Here’s the thing: MeshCore is amazing, but it only works if we’re all speaking the same language. Imagine showing up to a party where everyone’s shouting on different frequencies—it’s chaos, nobody understands anyone, and someone’s probably broadcasting on the frequency reserved for garage door openers.
This is why North America has coordinated channel settings. If you want your node to talk to nodes in Portland, Vancouver, or that guy in San Jose who won’t shut up about how Silicon Valley invented mesh networking, you need to use these settings:
Frequency: 910.525 MHz
Bandwidth: 62.5 kHz
Spreading Factor: 7
Coding Rate: 5
These aren’t arbitrary numbers. They’re the North American standard. Use them. Love them. Don’t be “that person” who uses different settings and then wonders why nobody’s talking to them.
MeshCore is a lightweight mesh protocol that runs on LoRa radios. Think of it as:
Key Superpowers:
Look, Meshtastic did great things. It got people excited about mesh networking. But MeshCore is what happens when you rebuild from the ground up with scalability and reliability in mind. Meshtastic’s flood-broadcast model? Great for small networks. Terrible when things get crowded. MeshCore uses hybrid routing that actually scales.
Translation: MeshCore won’t fall apart when your neighborhood gets excited about mesh networking.
Good news! If you already own Meshtastic hardware that’s gathering dust, you can flash it with MeshCore. Most ESP32-based LoRa boards work great:
Heltec V3 or V4 LoRa32
LilyGo LoRa32 / T-Beam
LilyGo T-Deck
RAK4631
T-1000E
MeshCore has three firmware types. Choose based on what you want to do:
What it does: Pairs with your phone or computer so you can actually use the thing.
Connections: Bluetooth, USB, or WiFi
Perfect for:
What it does: Extends network coverage by relaying messages.
Special ability: Advertises itself every 4 hours like a polite radio tower.
Cannot: Connect via Bluetooth (it’s busy being infrastructure, respect its life choices).
Perfect for:
Real talk: Repeaters are VITAL. They’re the backbone that keeps everything connected. If you have access to a high location—rooftop, hilltop, tall building, even a second-story balcony with a good view—you can make a huge difference. A well-placed repeater can be the gateway for your whole neighborhood.
What it does: Creates a BBS-style shared message board.
For the kids: A BBS is like Discord, but it ran on 2400 baud modems and made funny noises.
Perfect for: Community bulletin boards that can’t be shut down by corporate overlords.
Easy Mode - Web Flasher:
Hard Mode - PlatformIO:
Companion RadioSimple RepeaterSimple Room ServerRemember those coordinated settings from earlier? USE THEM.
Frequency: 910.525 MHz
Bandwidth: 62.5 kHz
Spreading Factor: 7
Coding Rate: 5
Repeat after me: “I will not use random settings. I will not fragment the mesh. I will coordinate like a responsible adult.”
Unlike other mesh networks where devices constantly scream “HEY I’M HERE!” into the void, MeshCore is more polite. You need to manually advertise yourself by clicking the signal icon.
What’s an Advert?
Two Types:
Zero Hop: “Hello, immediate neighbors!” waves politely
Flood: “HELLO ENTIRE NETWORK!” screams into the void while repeaters enthusiastically relay your scream across the continent
Choose zero hop if you’re an introvert. Choose flood if you want the whole mesh to know you exist.
Mobile App (iOS/Android):
T-Deck:
The problem: No GPS lock, wrong GPS baud rate, or your device thinks it’s 1970.
The fix:
time command via USB consoleCorrect answer: Of course not. It’s running repeater firmware. It has more important things to do than pair with your phone.
Wrong answer: Throwing your device out a window
Did you advertise? No, seriously, did you click the button? MeshCore nodes don’t automatically beacon constantly. If you don’t advertise, you’re basically a ghost.
Good question! In places like Portland and Vancouver, operators are building solid MeshCore networks. But in many areas (looking at you, Silicon Valley), adoption is still early.
This is where YOU come in. The network gets better with every node. Build a repeater. Get it high. Spread the word. Be the change you want to see in the mesh.
Here’s something embarrassing: Silicon Valley—birthplace of so much wireless innovation—is practically a MeshCore desert. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest is building resilient networks that actually work.
The solution? You.
If you’re in San Jose, the Peninsula, or anywhere in the Bay Area:
Plans are underway for high-level repeaters in the Bay Area. But we need more nodes, more repeaters, more participation. MeshCore doesn’t require permission or monthly fees. It just requires you to show up.
You now know:
MeshCore is better than shouting. It’s better than hoping your internet works. It’s a resilient, encrypted, decentralized network that gets stronger with every node.
So what are you waiting for?
Flash that device. Use the coordinated settings. Advertise yourself. Build a repeater if you can.
Welcome to the mesh.
This guide is educational, occasionally accurate, and written with love. Always follow FCC regulations for radio use. The author is not responsible for:
Version: 1.0
Status: Off-Grid But On-Network
Coordinated: Yes
Frequency: 910.525 MHz, 62.5 kHz BW, SF7, CR5 (and don’t you forget it)
Now stop reading and start meshing! 📡