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--- radio:mesh [2025/11/16 11:55] – A. Gorilla
+++ radio:mesh [2025/11/16 14:20] (current) – [Mesh Networking] A. Gorilla
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 ====== Mesh Networking ======
-**Mesh networking** is a decentralized wireless communication system in which each device //(or **"node"**)// acts as both receiver & repeater, automatically relaying data for other nodes. Instead of relying on a central router, access point, or cellular tower, messages “hop” from node to node until they reach their destination.
+**Mesh networking** is a decentralized communication system in which each device //(or **"node"**)// acts as both receiver & repeater, automatically relaying data for other nodes. Instead of relying on a central router, access point, or cellular tower, messages “hop” from node to node until they reach their destination.
 The lack of central authority in mesh networks makes them extremely popular for those looking to bypass traditional ISP monopolies, [[hazards:stingray|cell towers]], and draconian censorship laws.
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 ==== Long-Range Mesh ====
-If you are looking to communicate with people outside the range of your phone's antenna, you will need to dive into one of the popular **long-range mesh networks**. The biggest and most robust networks will be of this type. These are but some of them:
+If you are looking to communicate with people outside your immediate periphery, you will need to dive into one of the popular **long-range mesh networks**. The biggest and most robust networks will be of this type. Here are some major ones:
 === LoRa ===
-**LoRa** //(for **Lo**ng **Ra**nge)// is a radio modulation technique for long-range, low-power communication over amateur radio and the sub-gigahertz ISM bands //(**915MHz** in the US, and **433MHz** & **868MHz** in Europe)//. It achieves ranges of 1-9mi //(2–15km)// while consuming minimal energy, making it ideal for simple text-messaging & IoT sensors that only need to transmit small packets occasionally. LoRA has been adapted for use with several types of mesh-based and non-mesh networks, such as **Meshtastic** and **LoRaWAN** //(see below)//.
+[[wp>LoRa|LoRa]] //(for **Lo**ng **Ra**nge)// is a radio modulation technique for long-range, low-power communication over amateur radio and the sub-gigahertz ISM bands //(**915MHz** in the US, and **433MHz** & **868MHz** in Europe)//. It achieves ranges of 1-9mi //(2–15km)// while consuming minimal energy, making it ideal for simple text-messaging & IoT sensors that only need to transmit small packets occasionally. LoRA has been adapted for use with several types of mesh-based and non-mesh networks, such as **Meshtastic** and **LoRaWAN** //(see below)//.
 === LoRaWAN ===
-Before we continue, it should be noted **LoRaWAN** is not a true mesh network. Rather it is **extended-star //(or "star-of-stars")// topology**, ie: devices talk only to gateways. It trades very low data rates (0.3–50 kbit/s) for exceptional range and robustness against interference. LoRaWAN devices can last 5–10 years on a single battery, and operate over distances of 2–15km, while sending data only a few times per hour or day.
+**LoRaWAN** is one of the most popular **LoRa** implementations. Before we continue, it should be noted LoRaWAN is not a true mesh network. Rather it is **extended-star //(or "star-of-stars")// topology**, ie: devices talk only to gateways. It trades very low data rates (0.3–50kbps) for exceptional range and robustness against interference. LoRaWAN devices can last 5–10 years on a single battery, and operate over distances of 2–15km, while sending data only a few times per hour or day.
-Unlike true mesh systems, devices in standard LoRaWAN do not relay messages for each other — all traffic goes through gateways connected to the internet or private backhaul. We mention it here because other mesh systems oftentimes work on the same hardware, which is a major source of confusion for mesh newbs. However, LoRa can also be used in pure peer-to-peer or mesh configurations such as **Meshtastic** //(see below)//.
+Unlike true mesh systems, devices in standard LoRaWAN do not relay messages for each other — all traffic goes through gateways connected to the internet or private backhaul. We mention it here because other mesh systems oftentimes work on the same hardware, which is a major source of confusion for mesh newbs. However, LoRa can also be used in pure peer-to-peer mesh configurations such as **Meshtastic** //(see below)//.
 === Meshtastic ===
-Unlike LoRaWAN, [[radio:meshtastic|Meshtastic]] is a true long-range mesh system built on LoRa hardware where every device is its own independent node. Meshtastic nodes automatically rebroadcast messages from nearby Meshtastic nodes, creating self-reliant off-grid text messaging & location-sharing networks. The Meshtastic firmware can be installed on any compatible [[tools:esp32|ESP32-based]] device. There are many prebuilt Meshtastic devices on Amazon, some of which have Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity. It is especially popular with hikers, preppers, and disaster-response groups. Range per hop is typically 5–20 km in good conditions.
+Unlike LoRaWAN, [[radio:meshtastic|Meshtastic]] is a true long-range mesh system built on LoRa hardware where every device is its own independent node. Meshtastic nodes automatically rebroadcast messages from nearby Meshtastic nodes, creating self-reliant off-grid text messaging & location-sharing networks that can transmit data up to a **whopping 37kbps!** It's not practical at all for transmitting media //(or anything with a large file size)// but it excels at plaintext, which is quite versatile if you know how to work it.
-If you are new to mesh networking, Mestastic is one of the easier entry points. If you are looking to DIY your own Arduino-esque off-grid texting device with a 3D printed case, this is the network people are doing it on. For more information on Meshtastic devices and how to use them, read our [[radio:meshtastic|Meshtastic guide]].
+The Meshtastic firmware can be installed on any compatible [[tools:esp32|ESP32-based]] device. There are many prebuilt Meshtastic devices on Amazon, some of which have Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity. It is especially popular with hikers, preppers, and disaster-response groups. Range per hop is typically 2-10 miles or 5–15 kilometers in good conditions, but records of 100-200 miles have been achieved.
+If you are new to mesh networking, Mestastic is one of the easier entry points. If you are looking to DIY your own Arduino-esque off-grid texting device with a 3D printed case, this is the network most hobbyists are doing that on. For more information on Meshtastic devices and how to use them, read our [[radio:meshtastic|Meshtastic guide]].
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-==== Project OWL ====
+=== Project OWL ===
 **Project OWL** //(**O**rganization, **W**hereabouts & **L**ogistics)// is an open-source initiative that centers on **"DuckLink"** devices: small, solar- or battery-powered LoRa nodes that form ad-hoc clusters called **ClusterDuck networks**. DuckLink nodes relay small data packets like location, messages, and sensor readings over distances up to 1 km per hop. Specialized nodes can be set up to communicate with smartphones and even function as internet gateways.
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 ==== Opportunistic Mesh ====
-An **opportunistic mesh network** is a decentralized, self-forming wireless network in which nodes automatically discover each other, connect, and relay data only when they happen to be within radio range of one another. It does not require any pre-existing infrastructure, fixed topology, or central coordination. It’s a mesh that works by taking advantage of whatever temporary contacts happen //opportunistically//, rather than assuming constant connectivity or fixed relays.
+An **opportunistic mesh network** is a decentralized, self-forming wireless network in which nodes automatically discover each other, connect, and relay data only when they happen to be within radio range of each other. It does not require any pre-existing infrastructure, fixed topology, or central coordination. It’s a mesh that works by taking advantage of whatever temporary contacts happen //opportunistically//, rather than assuming constant connectivity or fixed relays.
 Unlike traditional or planned meshes //(e.g., city-wide Wi-Fi mesh or Meshtastic’s long-range LoRa mesh)// opportunistic meshes rely on mobility and chance encounters: Nodes carry messages in a “store-carry-forward” fashion, holding data until they physically move close enough to another node //(or another node moves close to them)// to exchange or forward it.
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 === Briar ===
-{{wst>expand}}
+[[https://briarproject.org|Briar]] is an open-source, peer-to-peer messaging app for Android //(with desktop support)// specifically designed for censorship-resistant and offline communication. It can synchronize encrypted messages, contacts, and group chats directly via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and optionally through [[tools:tor|Tor]]. When multiple devices are in range, Briar automatically forms a temporary mesh, relaying messages hop-by-hop through intermediates even if the sender and recipient are not directly connected.
 === Syncthing ===
-{{wst>expand}}
+[[https://syncthing.net|Syncthing]] is an open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that continuously keeps folders identical across multiple devices //(phones, laptops, servers)// without relying on any central cloud server. It normally uses the internet for discovery and relaying, but when devices are on the same local network //(ie: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth)// or when internet is unavailable, it can automatically fall back to direct local connections and even route traffic through other nearby Syncthing nodes, effectively creating an ad-hoc mesh for file transfers.
+==== Local Area Mesh ====
+While the above applications & protocols make some types of mesh networking easier, you do not need any of them. Any **LAN** or **local area network** can be set up as a type of mesh network. Pretty much every major operating system has LAN support, meaning all you have to do is plug your computer into the LAN and it will usually autodetect. There is nothing stopping you from running miles of LAN cables and wifi repeaters with your friends to create a city-wide LAN. In fact, residents of cities like Havana, New York, Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, Toronto and more, have done exactly that to varying degrees of success.
+If your mesh requires persistent connections, fast speeds and the ability to transfer large files, this is the type of mesh you will want to build.
 ==== Other Mesh Networks ====
-For the ease of teaching this subject, we focus our R&D on the mesh deployments covered above. Those deployments are just a sampling of the many types of mesh networks out there - particularly actively-maintained ones enjoyed by our students. However, if you need more examples of this concept, check out some of these projects:
+For the ease of teaching this subject, we focus our R&D on the mesh deployments covered above. However, those deployments are just a sampling of the many types of mesh networks out there - particularly actively-maintained ones enjoyed by our students. If you need more examples of this concept, check out some of these projects:
 === goTenna ===
-The **goTenna** is a commercial mesh networking device using ISM bands, controlled by your smartphone. Like Meshtastic, it is a true peer-to-peer mesh system. Unlike Meshtastic, it is proprietary system marketed mainly to tactical response teams and professional outdoorsmen. Not worth investing in this one unless you are working with other goTenna users.
+The [[https://gotenna.com|goTenna]] is a commercial mesh networking device using ISM bands, controlled by your smartphone. Like Meshtastic, it is a true peer-to-peer mesh system. Unlike Meshtastic, it is proprietary system marketed mainly to tactical response teams and professional outdoorsmen. Not worth investing in this one unless you are working with other goTenna users.
 === Serval Project ===
-**Serval** was one of the earliest smartphone-based mesh projects (2010s) that turned Android phones into walkie-talkies & text relays over Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. It is largely inactive now, but it was very influential on the development of modern mesh-based ecosystems.
+The [[wp>Serval Project]] was one of the earliest smartphone-based mesh projects (2010s) that turned Android phones into walkie-talkies & text relays over Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. It is largely inactive now, but it was very influential on the development of modern mesh-based ecosystems.

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