LoRa Mesh Networking Glossary

Quick reference definitions for terminology used throughout this wiki. Terms are organized alphabetically.

A

ACK (Acknowledgment)

A confirmation packet sent by the receiving node to confirm a message was received. Meshtastic uses ACKs for unicast (direct) messages; public channel messages do not generate ACKs.

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MeshCore term for a periodic broadcast packet that announces a node's existence on the network, including its name, position, and public encryption key. Similar to Meshtastic's NodeInfo broadcast.

ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service)

A volunteer organization affiliated with the ARRL that provides amateur radio communications support during emergencies. Many ARES groups have adopted LoRa mesh as a supplemental data layer.

Airtime

The duration a LoRa radio is transmitting a packet. Determined by Spreading Factor, Bandwidth, and message length. Longer airtime = more range but lower network capacity. At SF12/BW125, a short message can take 1-2 seconds of airtime; at SF7/BW500, milliseconds.

B

Bandwidth (BW)

The frequency width of a LoRa signal in kHz. Common values: 62.5, 125, 250, 500 kHz. Wider bandwidth = faster data rate, slightly less range. One of the three parameters that define a modem preset.

BMS (Battery Management System)

A circuit that protects a lithium battery from overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, and short circuit. Essential for bare lithium cells; many integrated battery packs include a BMS.

Broadcast storm

A network condition where packets are retransmitted indefinitely, consuming all available airtime. Prevented in LoRa mesh by hop count limits and packet deduplication.

C

Channel

In Meshtastic: a named communication group with a shared Pre-Shared Key (PSK). Nodes on the same channel can communicate. Up to 8 channels can be configured on one node. In MeshCore: the public or private channel with shared encryption key.

Channel utilization

The percentage of time the LoRa channel is occupied by transmissions. Displayed in Meshtastic app. Values above 25% indicate congestion; above 50% the network becomes unreliable.

Coding Rate (CR)

A LoRa parameter that adds forward error correction overhead. Common values: 4/5, 4/6, 4/7, 4/8. Higher coding rate provides better noise immunity at the cost of reduced data rate. One of three parameters in a modem preset.

Conducted power

Transmit power measured at the antenna connector of the radio. FCC Part 15 limits this to 1W (30 dBm) for 902-928 MHz spread spectrum.

D-E

dBi

Decibels relative to an isotropic radiator. A measure of antenna gain. Higher dBi means more focused signal in some directions. A 0 dBi antenna radiates equally in all directions.

dBm

Decibels relative to 1 milliwatt. Used to express absolute power levels. 0 dBm = 1 mW; 30 dBm = 1W; -120 dBm = the approximate receiver sensitivity of LoRa at high SF.

ECDH (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman)

A key exchange algorithm that allows two parties to derive a shared secret over an insecure channel without transmitting the secret. Used by MeshCore for all direct messages, and by Meshtastic DMs in firmware 2.3+.

EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power)

Total radiated power accounting for antenna gain and cable loss. EIRP = Conducted Power + Antenna Gain - Cable Loss. FCC Part 15 limits EIRP to 4W (36 dBm) for 902-928 MHz spread spectrum used in general coverage applications.

F-H

Flood routing

The routing method used by Meshtastic: when a node receives a packet, it retransmits it to all nodes in radio range. Simple but can cause congestion at scale.

Fresnel zone

An elliptical region around the direct path between two antennas. For reliable communication, approximately 60% of the first Fresnel zone should be free of obstructions. Trees, buildings, and terrain within the Fresnel zone cause signal loss even if the visual line-of-sight is clear.

Gateway

A node that connects the local mesh network to the internet (via WiFi, cellular, or wired connection), enabling MQTT uplink/downlink and access to map services and remote monitoring.

Hop

One radio transmission between adjacent nodes. A message that travels from Node A to Repeater B to Node C has taken 2 hops.

Hop limit

The maximum number of hops a packet may take before being discarded. Decremented at each relay. Default 3 in Meshtastic; prevents broadcast storms.

I-L

ISM band

Industrial, Scientific and Medical radio band. Spectrum allocated for use without a license. In the US: 902-928 MHz, 2.4 GHz (WiFi), 5.8 GHz. In Europe: 863-870 MHz (for LoRa).

LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)

A lithium battery chemistry with superior temperature tolerance (-20°C to 60°C), long cycle life (2,000-4,000 cycles), and inherent thermal stability. Recommended for outdoor LoRa deployments.

Link budget

The accounting of all gains and losses in a radio link. Link budget = TX power + TX antenna gain - cable losses - free space path loss + RX antenna gain - RX noise floor. Positive link margin = reliable link.

LMR-200 / LMR-400

Trade names for low-loss coaxial cable commonly used for LoRa antenna connections. LMR-200 is flexible and low-loss for runs under 10m. LMR-400 is larger, lower-loss, preferred for runs over 10m at 915 MHz.

LoRa

Long Range radio modulation technology using Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS). Not a network protocol — just the radio layer. Used by Meshtastic, MeshCore, LoRaWAN, and other systems.

LoRaWAN

A centralized IoT network protocol that uses LoRa radio. NOT the same as Meshtastic or MeshCore. LoRaWAN requires gateways connected to a network server; it does not support peer-to-peer mesh networking.

M-P

MeshCore

An open-source peer-to-peer LoRa mesh networking protocol using path-based routing (RREQ/RREP) and ECDH encryption for direct messages. Distinct from and incompatible with Meshtastic.

Meshtastic

An open-source peer-to-peer LoRa mesh networking project using flood-based routing. The most widely deployed LoRa mesh protocol globally.

MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)

A charge controller technique that continuously adjusts load to extract maximum power from a solar panel. More efficient than PWM (93-97% vs 65-75%), especially important for small panel/battery systems.

NodeInfo

Meshtastic packet type that broadcasts a node's name, hardware type, and short name. Sent periodically and when the node first joins the network. Creates entries in other nodes' contact databases.

nRF52840

A Nordic Semiconductor microcontroller with integrated Bluetooth 5 and low-power design. Used in RAK4631, T-Echo, and T114 LoRa boards. Draws 4-5x less power than ESP32, making it preferred for battery-powered deployments.

PSK (Pre-Shared Key)

A cryptographic key shared among all members of a group before communication begins. Meshtastic channels use PSKs for AES-256 channel encryption. All nodes on a channel must have the same PSK to decrypt messages.

R-Z

RAK4631

A WisBlock LoRa module based on nRF52840 and SX1262 radio. The most popular nRF52840-based board for MeshCore and Meshtastic deployments due to its low power consumption and external antenna support.

Room server

A MeshCore node with internet connectivity that stores and forwards messages, extending the mesh over the internet and enabling asynchronous message delivery to offline nodes.

RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)

Measured in dBm (negative values). The power level of a received radio signal. More negative = weaker signal. LoRa can decode signals as weak as -120 to -148 dBm depending on Spreading Factor.

SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

The ratio of signal power to noise floor, measured in dB. LoRa can decode at negative SNR values (down to about -20 dB), which is why it achieves such long range despite low signal strength.

Spreading Factor (SF)

A LoRa parameter from 7-12. Higher SF = longer range, more airtime, lower data rate. Each step doubles airtime. SF12 has 64x more airtime than SF7 but also much greater sensitivity.

T-Beam

A popular ESP32-based LoRa development board by TTGO/LilyGO featuring an integrated GPS module, SMA antenna connector, and 18650 battery holder. Available in 915 MHz (US) and 868 MHz (EU) variants.

T-Echo

A nRF52840-based LoRa device by LilyGO with an e-ink display, integrated GPS, and excellent battery life. Recommended for portable/handheld Meshtastic use.

UART

Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter. A serial communication interface. Used to connect GPS modules, serial sensors, and external hardware to LoRa boards.