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Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) is the cryptographic mechanism MeshCore uses to establish a shared secret between two nodes without that secret ever being transmitted over the radio. This page explains the underlying mathematics, describes how MeshCore us...

MeshCore's channel system organizes mesh traffic into communities of interest. Understanding what public and private mean in the MeshCore context is essential for anyone deploying MeshCore in environments where confidentiality matters. How Channel Keys Work E...

This page describes MeshCore's routing mechanism as verified from docs/packet_format.md (for the packet/route-type structure) and the firmware source and CLI docs (for the routing behaviour) in the official MeshCore repository. Note: MeshCore's hybrid flood/di...

Deploying MeshCore at scale of 50 or more nodes requires deliberate planning of repeater placement, advertisement strategy, and congestion avoidance.Repeater Placement for Path DiversityPath diversity is the single most important design principle for a resilie...

Before deploying an antenna on your mesh node, understanding how to measure and interpret antenna performance can save you from poor coverage or potential hardware damage. What is SWR? Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) - more precisely Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VS...

Professional antenna testing requires a vector network analyzer and anechoic chamber. Field testing with simple tools can still tell you whether an antenna is working as expected for your deployment. The Two-Node RSSI Test The most practical field test for co...

Fixed infrastructure nodes - backbone repeaters, room server hosts, and long-term outdoor installations - have different hardware requirements than portable client nodes. Reliability, power efficiency, and maintainability are the priorities. Primary Hardware ...

How many repeaters do you need, and where should they go? This page provides practical calculation methods for MeshCore network coverage planning. Link Budget Basics The maximum range between two MeshCore nodes depends on the link budget: Link Budget = TX Pow...

For fixed infrastructure nodes at permanent sites with grid power access, AC mains power is the lowest-maintenance power solution for routine uptime, eliminating battery replacement cycles and enabling higher-power configurations. It is not the most reliable o...

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is an excellent choice for outdoor nodes at sites with structured cabling infrastructure. It combines power delivery and network connectivity in a single cable, simplifying installation and enabling remote management. PoE Standards ...

An MQTT gateway connects your Meshtastic mesh to the internet, enabling message delivery to non-LoRa clients, integration with home automation, and connection to the global Meshtastic MQTT network. What the MQTT Gateway Does A Meshtastic node in "MQTT gateway...

LoRa mesh networking addresses a fundamental problem with modern communications infrastructure: centralized systems fail at exactly the moment they're needed most. Cell towers go down in natural disasters. Internet service disappears in power outages. Commerci...

The two dominant LoRa mesh platforms - MeshCore and Meshtastic - are both excellent but designed for different priorities. Here's a quick guide to choosing the right one for your situation. Choose Meshtastic If... You're new to mesh networking - Meshtastic ...

LoRa mesh hardware is available from multiple sources. Here's a guide to finding the right hardware at the right price, with notes on reliability and availability as of 2025-2026. Prices and stock change frequently - verify current pricing at the source before...

Understanding IP RatingsIP (Ingress Protection) ratings are defined by IEC 60529 and describe how well an enclosure resists solid particles and liquids. The two digits after IP each carry a specific meaning: the first digit rates dust protection (0-6), and the...

Standard Mounting HardwareProper physical mounting is as important as weatherproofing for long-term node reliability.U-bolts for round poles are the standard method for attaching enclosures and mast arms to steel, aluminum, or fiberglass round poles. ("NEMA U-...

Benefits vs. Pre-Made Enclosures3D-printed enclosures offer several advantages over off-the-shelf boxes for dedicated Meshtastic builds. The most significant is custom fit: a printed case can be designed around the exact PCB footprint of your T-Beam, Heltec, o...