Ask Lemmy

I have begun using Meshtastic mesh radio and it seems promising. It doesn't do anything that you can't already do with a cell phone, but it can provide personal, group, and community communication without any infrastructure requirements. You also get end-to-end encryption without depending on any kind of central hub.

I got interested in this from thinking about the political situation in the US. Having an independent and secure means of communicating locally could become important if the government continues along its current path. It has already been useful, on a small scale, at protests.

More generally, Meshtastic can provide communication during blackouts, emergencies, and natural disasters where the cell network may be down or saturated beyond capacity. And everyone with a radio automatically extends the mesh further. Just having a radio turned on becomes a minor, but real, form of community service.

The radios are very small, low-powered devices that almost all run on batteries. They are available fully assembled for around $60, but you can also buy kits (that do not require soldering) for under $30. It's easy and relatively cheap to get started.

There are also pre-built and kit-based dedicated repeaters that are designed to extend the mesh to a wider area. We bought a completely self-sufficient repeater that powers itself with two solar cells. The whole thing, including the solar cells, is smaller than a shoebox and cost just over $100. It is now on top of the highest ridge in our area and has extended reliable coverage out to our section of town, despite our hilly terrain.

Meshtastic is easy to set up, inexpensive, and potentially very useful.