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General Questions

Answers to the most common general questions about LoRa mesh networking, MeshCore, and Meshtastic.

Do I need a license to use Meshtastic or MeshCore?

No. Both protocols operate in the 915 MHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band in the US and Canada, which is license-free for FCC Part 15 compliant devices. You do not need an amateur (ham) radio license to buy, own, or operate a LoRa mesh node for MeshCore or Meshtastic.

The FCC Part 15 rules that apply (47 CFR 15.247(b)(3) and (b)(4)): maximum 1 W (30 dBm) conducted transmit power. Antenna gain up to 6 dBi is allowed at full power; above 6 dBi, conducted power must be reduced dB-for-dB, so EIRP stays at roughly 36 dBm. There is no standalone "4 W EIRP" allowance that lets you run full power into a high-gain antenna. Mass-market LoRa boards ship at FCC-compliant default power, but some hardware (external PA modules, Station G2) can be configured above legal limits - verify your settings.

Note: if you are a licensed amateur radio operator and choose to operate on amateur frequencies using Part 97 rules, different rules apply - but standard ISM band operation requires no license at all.

Does this work without internet or cell service?

Yes - completely. That is the entire point of LoRa mesh networking. The mesh operates entirely on LoRa radio signals transmitted directly between devices. There is no internet connection, no cell network, no infrastructure, and no central server involved in basic mesh operation.

Each node talks directly to nearby nodes via radio. Messages hop from node to node until they reach the destination. As long as there is a path of nodes in range of each other between sender and receiver, messages get through - regardless of whether any internet or cell service exists.

Some users optionally connect gateway nodes to the internet via Wi-Fi (primarily for Meshtastic's MQTT bridging feature), but this is entirely optional and not required for the mesh to function.

How far can messages travel?

Range depends on environment, antenna height, and channel settings. Typical figures:

  • Urban, near ground level (node to node): 1 - 5 km
  • Rural, open terrain (node to node): 5 - 20 km
  • Elevated repeater on a hilltop or tower: 20 - 50+ km line of sight

Those are single-hop figures. With a mesh network of repeater nodes, a message can travel beyond any single-hop range by relaying across a chain of nodes. In practice, reliable multi-hop range is limited by the firmware's hop limit (Meshtastic defaults to 3, with a hard cap of 7), per-hop latency, and accumulating packet loss, so long cross-region delivery is the exception rather than the rule.

The single most effective way to increase range is elevation: a repeater node on a hilltop at 500 ft elevation can often reach nodes 30 - 50+ km away that a ground-level node cannot reach at all.

Can I use MeshCore and Meshtastic devices together on the same network?

No. MeshCore and Meshtastic use different protocols and different packet formats. A MeshCore device cannot decode Meshtastic packets, and vice versa. You need all devices on the same protocol to form a communicating network.

If you want to communicate with someone using a different protocol than you, one of you needs to switch. Check what protocol your local network and community uses before purchasing or flashing hardware.

What does this cost? Are there any ongoing fees?

Hardware cost: $20 - $150 depending on the device. A basic Heltec V3 for MeshCore costs around $22. A LILYGO T-Deck Plus with built-in keyboard and screen costs around $80.

There are no ongoing fees, subscriptions, data plans, or service charges. Once you have the hardware, the network is free to use indefinitely. The firmware is open source and free. The apps are free. There are no cloud services you are paying for.

Optional costs: a better antenna ($15 - $30), a weatherproof enclosure ($10 - $20), and power hardware for a permanent outdoor node. None of these are required to get started.

Can I use this without a smartphone?

Most LoRa mesh devices require a smartphone running the companion app (Meshtastic app or MeshCore app) for messaging. The phone connects via Bluetooth and provides the user interface.

However, some devices have built-in keyboards and screens and can operate completely standalone:

  • LILYGO T-Deck (~$55) - built-in QWERTY keyboard and color display
  • LILYGO T-Deck Plus (~$80) - T-Deck with larger battery and improved hardware

These standalone devices are popular for go-bag use, field operations, and anyone who prefers not to depend on a phone. They are fully functional mesh nodes without any external device required.

There is also a desktop application and web interface available for Meshtastic for use with a computer connected via USB or Bluetooth.

Is this secure? Can others read my messages?

Messages are encrypted using AES-based encryption with pre-shared keys (PSK). Only devices configured with the same PSK on the same channel can decrypt messages on that channel.

The default public channel uses a well-known key that anyone can configure - it is essentially unencrypted in practice, similar to a public radio channel. For private communication, create a private channel with a custom PSK and share it only with intended recipients.

Direct messages (DMs) between specific nodes are encrypted with the recipient's public key in MeshCore. In Meshtastic (firmware v2.5 and later), DMs are also encrypted with the recipient's public key using public-key cryptography (X25519 key exchange + AES-CCM), the same general approach as MeshCore. Pre-2.5 Meshtastic firmware fell back to the shared channel key.

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