Meshnology offers a range of IoT and Meshtastic related products including ESP32 LoRa modules, batteries, antennas, development boards, sensors, and cases.
It is a 4-inch touchscreen device designed for Meshtastic®, powered by dual MCUs, the ESP32 and RP2040, and supports Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa®. It is an open-source, powerful IoT development platform.
Meshtastic offers a text messaging service that operates without internet, satellite, or cellular connections, using radios to send and receive messages and GPS coordinates. It's designed for ease of use, allowing anyone to communicate in areas without cellular coverage or as a backup communication method.
Utilizing LoRa (Long Range) technology, Meshtastic connects nodes (small, battery-powered radios) within signal range, forming a mesh network. Messages hop from node to node, reaching recipients even without direct line-of-sight, thanks to the mesh's retransmission capability. Security is maintained through encryption, ensuring that only intended recipients can read messages.
Getting Started:
- Choose a Node: Select a LoRa node compatible with your region (915MHz for North America, 868/433MHz for Europe). Popular choices include the HelTec ESP32 LoRa V3 and the Seed Studios SenseCAP T1000-E.
- Install Meshtastic: Flash your node with Meshtastic software using instructions from flasher.meshtastic.org.
- Download the App: Install the Meshtastic app on your device to pair with the node and join the mesh.
- Join a Mesh: Connect with existing nodes in your area or start your own mesh network. Engage with local mesh groups via channels like LongFast for community interaction.
The Meshtastic 2.6 Preview introduces major new features including the Meshtastic UI (MUI) for standalone devices, next-hop routing for direct messages, and InkHUD for e-ink devices. These updates aim to enhance user experience, improve routing efficiency, and maintain device data integrity. The release is in preview stage to gather feedback and ensure robust performance.
The T-Deck is a compact device with a 2.8-inch IPS LCD touch screen, integrated keyboard, trackball, microphone, and speaker, running on an ESP32-S3 dual-core processor. It supports various frequencies and includes a GPS module and battery in its Plus variant. It features a U.FL/IPEX antenna connector for LoRa and can be flashed using Espressif's firmware download mode.
A review of Meshtastic, a cheap, encrypted, offgrid communicator using T-Beam devices. The review includes both positive and negative aspects of the project.
Meshtastic is an off-grid mesh network for short messages, but its use is limited by the need for a phone app or web UI. The T-Deck offers a standalone solution, though it has its issues. The article covers the installation and use of the experimental T-Deck UI firmware, its limitations, and community reactions.
An open source, off-grid, decentralized, mesh network built to run on affordable, low-power devices.
