# Mesh and Amateur Radio (ARES/RACES) ## Mesh and Amateur Radio (ARES/RACES) LoRa mesh and traditional amateur radio serve complementary roles in emergency communications. Understanding how they fit together helps you deploy each where it is most effective. ### What ARES and RACES Are **ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)** is an ARRL program where licensed amateur radio operators provide emergency communications for served agencies (Red Cross, hospitals, government agencies). **RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)** is authorized under 47 CFR §97.407, sponsored by FEMA, and activated only by the responsible state or local emergency-management (civil-defense) authority. Both programs have established protocols, training requirements, and communication plans. They operate on licensed amateur radio frequencies with trained operators. Note: the LoRa mesh described on this page operates on the 915 MHz ISM band under FCC Part 15, **not** on the amateur frequencies used by ARES and RACES. Default-encrypted Meshtastic traffic cannot lawfully be moved onto amateur bands — 47 CFR §97.113(a)(4) prohibits messages encoded to obscure their meaning — so mesh does not simply join the amateur allocation. ### Where Mesh Fits In
CapabilityAmateur RadioLoRa Mesh
Voice communicationsYes - primary strengthNo - text/data only
License requiredYes - FCC license requiredNo, when operated under Part 15 on the 915 MHz ISM band — using FCC-certified equipment at up to 1 W (30 dBm) conducted, on a non-interference, must-accept-interference basis\*
Served agenciesHospitals, Red Cross, EOCNeighborhoods, community groups
Long-range linksHF (worldwide), VHF/UHF regionalLoRa: up to ~20 - 50+ km only in ideal hilltop-to-hilltop line of sight; typically far less (often <5 km) between handhelds in real terrain†
Text messagingWinlink, APRS, packetNative; all nodes capable
Deployment cost$100 - $1,000+ per station$20 - $60 per node
Deployment speedRequires trained operatorAny community member, once the network and presets are pre-configured
\*915 MHz mesh is unlicensed under Part 15 (1 W conducted, EIRP-capped, FCC-certified equipment). Running mesh on amateur bands instead requires a license and caps spread spectrum at 10 W PEP with no encryption. †The 20–50+ km figure is a best-case clear-line-of-sight hilltop-to-hilltop direct link, not typical operational coverage; all delivery is best-effort. Treat these as ceilings, not planning numbers — see Realistic Range and Coverage Expectations. ### Practical Integration Model A realistic combined deployment: - **Neighborhood layer (LoRa mesh):** Blocks to ~1-3 miles, more with elevated repeaters - coordination among neighbors, location sharing, welfare checks. No amateur license required when operated under Part 15 (FCC-certified equipment, 1 W conducted, EIRP-capped); any resident can deploy a node. - **Regional layer (VHF/UHF amateur):** Repeater-linked coverage across a county or metro area. Requires licensed operators; handles voice coordination between neighborhoods and EOC. - **State/national layer (HF amateur):** Winlink gateways and HF nets for long-distance traffic when regional infrastructure is compromised. ### For Amateur Radio Operators If you hold an amateur radio license, consider: - Deploying LoRa mesh alongside your existing radio setup to provide text/data capability for neighbors who don't have radio licenses. **Keep LoRa mesh on unlicensed Part 15 (902-928 MHz) frequencies. Do NOT run encrypted Meshtastic/MeshCore traffic on amateur bands** — 47 CFR §97.113(a)(4) prohibits messages encoded to obscure their meaning, and unlicensed neighbors may not transmit on amateur spectrum at all. - Using LoRa mesh for neighborhood coordination while using your radio for ARES/RACES served agency traffic - Advocating for LoRa mesh within your ARES group as a force multiplier for neighborhood-level coverage