Learn

What is Meshtastic?

5 min read

Meshtastic is an open-source project that transforms inexpensive LoRa radio hardware into a long-range, off-grid mesh communication network. It lets people exchange text messages, share GPS locations, and relay data — all without any internet connection, mobile signal, or central infrastructure.

How It Works

Each Meshtastic device is a node on the mesh. When you send a message, your device broadcasts it as a radio signal. Any node within range receives it and automatically rebroadcasts it — this is called “flooding” the mesh. The message hops from node to node until it reaches its destination, or until it’s been seen by enough nodes to be considered delivered.

This makes the network inherently distributed. There’s no server, no account, and no single point of failure. Remove any one node and the mesh routes around it.

Why People Use It

Emergency communication — Meshtastic works when mobile networks fail. Flooding, storm damage, or simply being in a remote glen with no signal — your Meshtastic device keeps working as long as it has battery.

Outdoor groups — Hiking, mountaineering, and expedition groups use it to stay in contact across terrain where radio handsets would be too heavy or too expensive.

Community infrastructure — Networks like Meshtastic Scotland use it to build persistent, community-maintained communication coverage across a region.

Disaster preparedness — Emergency services and community groups increasingly deploy Meshtastic nodes as a low-cost backup communication layer.

What You Need

Getting started requires three things:

  1. A LoRa-capable device — Hardware like the Heltec V3, TTGO T-Beam, or RAK WisBlock, available for £25–£80. These are small, low-power devices that can run for days on a battery.
  2. Meshtastic firmware — Free, open-source, flashed onto your device in minutes.
  3. The Meshtastic app — Available for Android and iOS. Connects to your device via Bluetooth and gives you the messaging interface.

That’s it. No SIM card, no account, no subscription.

The Scotland Context

Scotland presents a particular challenge for mesh networking: its terrain. Deep glens, sea lochs, islands, and moorland all create radio shadows. A node at ground level might cover 3–5km. A node on a church tower at 25m above the surrounding rooftops can cover 20km or more in every direction.

This is why Meshtastic Scotland focuses on height-deployed nodes — devices installed on elevated structures to maximise coverage and create a network that bridges Scotland’s geography rather than being defeated by it.