Getting Started
Getting on to the Meshtastic Scotland network is straightforward. You don’t need an amateur radio licence, specialist knowledge, or expensive equipment. This guide takes you from zero to connected.
Step 1: Choose Your Hardware
Several LoRa devices run Meshtastic well. For a first device for use in Scotland, three options stand out:
Heltec V3 (~£25–35) The most affordable option. Small, light, has a built-in screen, USB-C charging. Battery can be attached. The go-to for a hand-held or pocket device.
TTGO T-Beam v1.1 (~£35–50) Has built-in GPS (useful if you want to track your location on the mesh), battery management, and supports a larger battery. Slightly bulkier. Good all-round choice.
RAK WisBlock (~£45–80 depending on modules) Modular system — you select the base board and add modules (LoRa, GPS, solar charging, sensors). More assembly but very flexible for fixed deployments. Excellent for permanent structure installations.
Where to buy: AliExpress (cheapest, slower shipping), Amazon UK, or specialist UK electronics retailers. Search for “Heltec LoRa32 V3” or “TTGO T-Beam v1.1”.
Scotland-specific note: Get the 868 MHz version of any device. Some devices are listed in 915 MHz (US frequency) or 433 MHz variants — you want 868 MHz for legal use in the UK.
Step 2: Flash the Firmware
Meshtastic firmware needs to be installed on your device before you can use it.
- Go to flasher.meshtastic.org
- Connect your device via USB
- Select your device model
- Click Flash — the web flasher handles everything
If the web flasher doesn’t work for your device, the Meshtastic documentation has device-specific instructions.
Step 3: Install the App
- Android: Meshtastic on Google Play
- iOS: Meshtastic on the App Store
Connect to your device via Bluetooth. The app will walk you through initial setup.
Step 4: Configure for Scotland
Once paired, configure these settings in the app:
Region: Set to EU_868. This is mandatory for UK use — it sets the correct frequency and duty cycle limits.
Channel: The default “LongFast” channel works for most cases. If other local nodes use a named channel, use the same one. The Meshtastic Scotland community defaults to LongFast unless otherwise noted.
Position: Enable if you want your location visible on the mesh. Turn off for privacy.
Node name: Set a recognisable name so other users can identify you on the network.
Using the Network
Once configured and within range of any node in the registry, you’re on the network. You can:
- Send broadcast messages — visible to all connected nodes
- Send direct messages — to a specific node by selecting them in the app
- View the mesh map — see all nearby nodes and their positions
- Check signal quality — the app shows SNR and RSSI for received messages
Deploying a Permanent Node: Finding a Structure
The most impactful thing any community member can do is secure access to an elevated structure — a building with a rooftop or tower that sits above the local skyline. A church steeple, a water tower, a telecom mast, a community building on high ground.
The process starts with a conversation.
Identifying Candidate Structures
Look for structures in your area that:
- Sit visibly above the surrounding rooftops (10–50m above street level is transformative)
- Have accessible rooftop or external mounting points
- Are regularly maintained (someone you can talk to)
- Have a clear sky view in multiple directions
Google Maps satellite view is surprisingly useful for this. Church towers are the most obvious starting point — Scotland has thousands of them, spread across virtually every town and village, and many are managed by active congregations keen to do something useful with their heritage buildings.
Approaching a Landowner
Most people have never heard of Meshtastic. Lead with what it does, not what it is:
“We’re building a free, off-grid radio network across Scotland — a bit like a community version of text messaging that works without phone signal or internet. We’re looking for elevated structures to mount a small solar-powered device on. The hardware is about the size of a matchbox, it’s fully removable, and it costs the building nothing to host. We’d love to have a conversation about whether this building might work.”
When they ask more:
- It’s legal: LoRa operates in the licence-free 868 MHz ISM band in the UK
- It’s passive: The node receives and relays messages; it doesn’t transmit personal data or identify users
- It’s reversible: The hardware is attached with non-invasive fixings and can be removed completely without trace
- It’s community infrastructure: Not commercial, not surveillance, not funded by any corporation
Who to approach depends on the structure:
| Structure | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Church tower / steeple | Session clerk (Church of Scotland), vestry (Episcopal), parish administrator |
| Estate building | Estate factor or manager |
| Council building | Facilities management team |
| Community trust | Trust board secretary |
| Water tower | Scottish Water (harder, but worth trying) |
What to Offer
The landowner is doing you a favour. Be clear about that. What you can offer:
- Full documentation of what the hardware is and does
- A written agreement (even a simple letter) confirming the arrangement
- Regular updates on network status and coverage
- Prompt removal if the arrangement no longer suits them
- Credit in the registry — the structure appears as a named node, recognising the building and its owners as co-builders of the network
Designing the Installation
Once you have permission:
Enclosure: Use an IP65+ rated outdoor enclosure. The node should be fully weatherproof.
Power: Solar is ideal for roof installations. A 5W panel and 6,000 mAh LiFePO4 battery will sustain a Meshtastic node through Scottish winter cloudy periods. If the landowner can offer a mains supply, even better.
Antenna: A 6dBi fiberglass vertical at 868 MHz mounted through a cable gland on the enclosure. Position the antenna clear of any metalwork or parapet wall.
Mounting: Non-invasive wherever possible — cable ties to existing steelwork, stainless steel jubilee clips to pipes or masts. Leave no drilling, no holes, no permanent marks.
Test before installing: Confirm the node can see other nearby nodes. Use the Meshtastic app to check what’s in range.
Register with Meshtastic Scotland
Once deployed and running, submit your structure to the registry. Include the location, structure type, AGL height, hardware, and landowner status. This makes the structure visible on the map and connects it to the growing network.
Etiquette and Good Practice
- Maintain your nodes — A dead structure node that the registry shows as active is misleading. Update the registry or contact us if your node goes offline.
- Honour the landowner relationship — The structure stays in the registry only as long as the landowner is happy. Maintain the relationship, not just the hardware.
- Don’t monopolise the channel — Meshtastic has duty cycle limits. Don’t build applications that flood the mesh.
- Share what you learn — Deployment photos, coverage maps, landowner conversation templates — all valuable to the community. The network improves when people share their experiences.