#meshtastic

I'm working on a project called PierMesh which you can read about at https://piermesh.net and on my work blog @utopicwork and I need as much help as I can get. Primarily Id like money to buy parts and equipment but what would also help is if anyone had info about some group that might fund our research and development. You can give out this contact email to anyone who might be interested: [email protected].

Places to donate:

Venmo: agief

Cashapp: $cmder

Paypal: https://paypal.me/agieocean

Infographics below the cut

I have some Seeedstudio XIAO ESP32-S3 + WIO-SX1262 lying around, so let’s integrate it into my cyberdeck and give it built-in Meshtastic capability.

Meshtastic is an open-source, decentralized mesh networking system using LoRa radios for long-range, off-grid text messaging and data sharing without cellular or internet infrastructure.

First, designing the case to hold the Lora antenna externally, and another case to hold the modules internally. You can download the 3D files here.

Next, drilling a hole in the case to let the antenna cable into the case. The antenna case was mounted on the hard case using acrylic tape. It’s a surprisingly strong non-permanent bond.

This is the best placement for the antenna that I was able to come up with. The antenna can be folded down for convenient transport.

I didn’t want it to be on all the time, so I had to wire up my own USB-A to USB-C cable with a power switch to turn it on when needed. Used some male USB-A and USB-C breakout connectors and shielded 4-core cable.

Another improvement to my cyberdeck is wiring an external switch to the Mcuzone 5V5A Dual PD Power Supply module, so that it can be turned on or off as needed, while the powerbank can be left connected.

You can check out my post here on how to run the Mestastic web client locally.

Here is the list of parts I have used so far for my cyberdeck build. Many of the parts came from Aliexpress.

That’s it for this post. Hope it’s helpful in your own build.

I keep seeing commercials for "rapid radios" where they are trying to pitch these "walkie talkie" type devices as radios that can reach across the country. This is misleading nonsense. They are a real product, and they will allow communication across long distances, under the right circumstances, but these are not radios, and the advertising is misleading.

They're essentially cell phones because they require cell towers and LTE service to be working and within range. Back in the early days of cell phones, I knew people with cell phones that provided a type of walkie-talkie service you could use between paired phones on the same plan. I'm sure there are people still using this on cell phones. But it's merely similar to how you use a walkie talkie, the signal itself is sent via the cell phone service.

So that means these devices are not like radios that can work when cell towers are non-functional or not in range. They are NOT independent of a mobile phone network.

Some ads claim there are "no monthly fees" which makes it sound like they're radios that are independently operating like an amateur radio or walkie talkie, where you need no subscription or plan. That's tricky though because they do have an annual fee for service - through their cellular carrier! They will not work without this service.

FRS radio, used via walkie talkies, will work independently of any subscription. You don't need a license to broadcast (talk over it), and if you buy a reputable legal set, even something cheap, they are fixed so that you can't access or transmit in a way that you wouldn't be allowed. Many of us played with these as kids, and some of the children's toy types work just fine, but there are better quality ones that will have a better audio signal and maybe a slightly bigger but still short range. CB radio is similar but the equipment is different and operates at different frequencies.

GMRS radios also have a limited range but are more powerful than FRS. You can have a base station and hook up antennas, but there are also handheld GMRS that work like walkie talkies too, and can communicate with radios on the FRS channels, and also more GMRS frequencies. You need a license to broadcast on GMRS, but it's relatively cheap and you only need one license per household to cover a whole family using different radios. There are rules by the FCC for example using your assigned call sign at 15 minute intervals or at the end of any conversation. There are also rules about using repeaters that allow people to broadcast or hear radio from greater distances. (I hear people 40 miles away on GMRS, using a repeater.)

Some GMRS radios come with a built-in weather radio and even FM radio too. Some can be programmed (on the device or connected to a computer app) to listen in on various frequencies such as emergency service channels like the fire department, just like "police scanners". These too if sold from a reputable source, and compliant with rules, will not allow you to accidentally broadcast on some officially designated channel or a HAM channel and get into trouble. HAM radio licensing no longer requires you pass a morse code test but it does still have tests on radio operations and equipment, and unless you pass these tests and get licensed you can't operate HAM.

CB, FRS, GMRS, and HAM are not cell phones and they are not private. Though texting is an option, encryption is not allowed by the U.S. FCC for these amateur radio bands.

Then there's also LoRa radio which is being used by people now for short-range low-power texting communication that doesn't require cell service. This is an unlicensed frequency that's used for a number of things. There is an open source tech called Meshtastic that's popular.

All of these things are totally different thing than these "radios" being marketed supposedly for "preppers" who want a way to communicate long distance or in a disaster. If you want to communicate when cell phone service is interrupted or not available nearby, these "long distance walkie talkies" are not the solution.

If you want to be able to communicate long distance without cell service, a satellite phone can do that, because they use satellites in orbit. But these also obviously require a service, because they work by satellites that are in orbit being operated by some company. And the service is pretty expensive.

Read up a little on how radios work, and then get the actual radios, from a reputable source, and get the right license if need be, and follow the rules.