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Off-Grid Repeat: Turning Your Companion into an Emergency Relay

MeshCore companions don't repeat packets by default — that's intentional. Repeating is left to dedicated infrastructure nodes to keep routing clean. But in a disaster where no repeater infrastructure exists, waiting for infrastructure isn't an option. Off-Grid Repeat is the solution: a single toggle in the MeshCore app that turns any companion device into a temporary mesh relay.

No reflashing. No extra hardware. No laptop. One setting change on your phone.

Requirements

  • Firmware v9 or later on the companion LoRa board. If the toggle described below isn't visible in your app, the board needs a firmware update via the MeshCore device configurator.
  • MeshCore Open app on your phone (Android, iOS, or desktop).
  • All devices that want to communicate with each other must be on the same Off-Grid preset frequency — decide this before you need it (see below).

The Frequency Requirement — Read This First

Off-Grid Repeat only works on one of three dedicated Off-Grid preset frequencies. It cannot be enabled on the standard USA/Canada preset (910.525 MHz) or any other regional frequency. The app will block the save and show a warning if you try.

The three Off-Grid presets are:

  • Off-Grid 918 MHz — US and Canada (use this one)
  • Off-Grid 869 MHz — EU ISM band
  • Off-Grid 433 MHz — Available in most regions globally; lower data rate, longer range

For families and neighborhoods in the US and Canada: agree on Off-Grid 918 MHz before a disaster happens. Every person who wants to participate in the off-grid mesh needs to switch to the same preset. Everyone who wants to communicate but doesn't need to relay can also switch to 918 MHz without enabling repeat.

Important: Switching to an Off-Grid preset moves you off the normal regional mesh. Neighbors and community responders still running the standard USA/Canada preset at 910.525 MHz will not be on the same frequency. This is a trade-off — you gain a self-forming local mesh, you lose contact with anyone who hasn't switched. Coordinate in advance.

How to Enable Off-Grid Repeat

  1. Open MeshCore Open and connect to your companion device.
  2. Go to Settings → Node Settings → Radio Settings.
  3. Tap Choose Preset and select Off-Grid 918 MHz (US/Canada).
  4. Scroll down to Enable Repeat Mode and toggle it on.
  5. Tap the checkmark to save. The settings are written to the LoRa board.

The toggle only appears on firmware v9 and later. If it's not visible, update the firmware first.

Disaster Deployment Setup

Once repeat mode is enabled, the device becomes a relay for all nearby nodes on the same Off-Grid frequency. To get the most out of it during an emergency:

  • Place it at elevation. A second-floor window, a rooftop, the top of a fence — every meter of height extends range. The companion's antenna is the limiting factor, not the software.
  • Keep the phone plugged in. Off-Grid Repeat drains the battery noticeably faster than normal operation because the radio stays in continuous receive mode and retransmits every packet. Wall power is best; a battery bank is the minimum for extended use.
  • Keep the app in the foreground. On Android, the app must stay active or battery optimization will kill the BLE connection and stop repeating. Disable battery optimization for MeshCore Open in Android settings if you plan to use this. On iOS, background BLE behavior may limit reliability for extended sessions.
  • Keep BLE range in mind. The phone maintains a BLE connection to the LoRa board. Don't walk the phone more than about 10 meters from the board — if BLE drops, repeating stops.

Practical Family Setup

A straightforward disaster deployment for a household:

  1. Designate one device in the household as the off-grid relay — a spare companion that isn't someone's primary phone. A dedicated spare is better than a phone someone needs to use.
  2. Before any emergency: switch that device to Off-Grid 918 MHz, enable repeat, test that it relays messages from your other family nodes.
  3. During an emergency: plug it in near a high window and leave it running. It relays for your family and for any neighbor who has also switched to Off-Grid 918 MHz.
  4. Your family's other devices switch to Off-Grid 918 MHz to communicate — they don't need to enable repeat, just use the same frequency.

Off-Grid Repeat vs. a Dedicated Repeater Node

Off-Grid RepeatDedicated Repeater
Free — uses hardware you already ownRequires a separate LoRa board (~$30–60)
Ready in 30 secondsRequires flashing and setup
Drains phone battery, needs power sourceRuns days to weeks on small battery or solar
Phone must stay on and BLE-connectedAlways-on, fully independent
Mobile — moves with the personFixed, consistent coverage
Emergency and temporary usePermanent infrastructure

Off-Grid Repeat is a gap-filler, not a replacement. If you're building out a home or neighborhood mesh for long-term use, dedicated repeater nodes are the right answer. Off-Grid Repeat is what you use when you don't have that infrastructure yet — or when you're somewhere that infrastructure can't follow you.

Turning It Off

When the emergency is over, switch back to the standard regional preset (USA/Canada Recommended) and disable repeat. There's no reason to stay on Off-Grid frequencies when your normal mesh infrastructure is available — it would isolate you from the broader regional mesh.

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