Encrypted, Off-Grid Messaging? Welcome To the World of Mesh
I once considered Mesh Devices mysterious. I didn’t understand how they worked, and I was confused about their purpose. Although I am not formally educated in technology, computer science, or programming, my interest peaked when I heard how they could be used for prepping and emergency communications.
Communication is a top priority when it comes to prepping because I know my survival may depend on it. Depending on the nature of an emergency, communication between neighbors, family, and friends can mean the difference between life and death. However, communication devices may be expensive or require a license to operate. With a certain type of mesh, a license is not required, and the devices are relatively inexpensive.
Types of Mesh
Mesh routers are WiFi routers. A lot of people own these routers to provide WiFi around their homes or to extend the range of their WiFi around their property. These marvelous devices are capable of adapting in real-time to add or subtract devices, sometimes referred to as nodes within the network. The developers of Mesh are really smart, but some other smart people figured out a way to re-purpose them for communications.
There are two types of mesh I will mention that can be used for emergency communication. There is AREDN Mesh and Meshtastic. I will first give you a rundown about AREDN Mesh and then I will outline the benefits of Meshtastic, along with some other facts. This article will focus on the latter of the two.
AREDN
AREDN Mesh, also known as the Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network, is a type of network that utilizes WiFi dishes and routers that have been reprogrammed with AREDN software. Users can point their dish, or node, at other dishes to transmit information on a network. They connect using a line-of-sight connection, meaning that the dishes need to “see” each other. Tunneled internet connections are possible with these nodes but that relies on an internet connection. So line-of-sight connections are preferred for off-grid use.
The drawbacks to using this equipment are that it is difficult to flash with new software and an amateur radio license is needed to transmit. The benefits are keyboard-to-keyboard text, file sharing, VOIP calls, and even video can be used over a network. Weather stations can be connected too, with the ability to share weather information on the network.
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MESHTASTIC (General Overview)
Mestastic is both Mesh and fantastic. This technology is small, portable, and relatively inexpensive. It’s fairly simple to use and to learn. My first node is small enough to fit into my pocket. My second one is too. So is my third. What this technology has to offer is encrypted, off-grid, text messaging without monthly fees. These are capable of using a couple of different frequencies, but a license is not needed with the 915MHz nodes.
When I started, I needed to buy a node and have a phone or tablet with Bluetooth capabilities. That’s all the equipment I needed. After I had the equipment, I needed to download the meshtastic app and install it on my spare phone. From there, I connected the phone to the node and set up the node using the app. It was that simple.
These nodes are useful because they can be set up to provide a text-based communications network for a single home, a group of homes, or a neighborhood. They could also be used on a farm or ranch.
There are larger, weather-resistant nodes called Sun Peaters that can be purchased in kits which include a small solar panel. The kits can be installed on rooftops, poles, repeater towers, or any outdoor elevated position. Installation at higher elevations provides a larger coverage area for messaging. The sun peater nodes are small enough to fit into a backpack, making them easy to deploy. They come with a hose clamp for pole mounting and pre-drilled holes for multiple mounting options. The case is good at resisting moisture but I live in the desert where the dust is a bigger problem than moisture. Regardless, the dust hasn’t been an issue so far either.
If you live on a ranch, for example, you can mount sun peaters on the roof of your house and barn, or a tower out near your pasture, creating a mesh network across your property to send text messages across the network. This means that you can send texts from practically anywhere on the property to anywhere on the property. These would be completely off-grid, encrypted, and private.
If you travel to the Phoenix or Tucson areas today with a node of your own, you will probably be able to connect to a network of hundreds of nodes. Not only are the Phoenix and Tucson areas connected within themselves, but they are also connected to each other!
More Pros of Meshatastic Nodes
Encrypted, off-grid, and decentralized text messaging is the best feature of this. These little battery-powered devices are great because they operate on a fraction of a watt. The software is open source so it isn’t owned and controlled by a single tech giant. Deplatforming isn’t a thing. The cost, learning curve, and ease of use are other reasons to get into meshtastic. I found my first node for around $35. The cost has since increased a little but they can still be found for around $50. If you don’t know how to solder, then spend a little extra to get one that is completed.
A network is easy to create using multiple nodes and they are scalable. Their portability means they can be taken and deployed anywhere. They are quiet. Messages are encrypted and a license is not needed to use them. In a stuff-hitting-the-fan event, all of these features are desirable. If there’s no electrical grid, there’s no internet, but with meshtastic, you can create your own! The 915MHz frequency band passes through solid objects, like vegetation and construction materials used for buildings, enabling the nodes to have a better chance to connect.
GPS Coordinates can be used on the nodes. This tool is useful for seeing the locations of other nodes within the Mestastic app. GPS coordinates can be altered for misdirection or turned off completely for stealthier operations.
In case you’re wondering how they handle the desert heat, the node on my roof handled several months of extreme desert heat like a champ.
Cons
The disadvantage of this technology is that it is buggy. The software doesn’t always do what you want it to do but this is evolving, cutting-edge technology. With new tech, this is to be expected. There is also a lag time relating to the discovery of other nodes. The meshtastic devices don’t discover each other as quickly as the WIFI router mesh. Sometimes it takes a day or two for one node to see another. The Firmware must also be compatible with the latest version of the app.
Helpful Videos for Getting Started
There are some helpful videos on YouTube you can refer to for additional information or when you’re just getting started. Josh with Ham Radio Crash Course has a website and YouTube channel. I prefer his style of presentation and demonstration. His website has all things Ham-related so I’ll link it but the related videos I want to share are what I would like the focus to be on. He has videos specific to meshtastic.
Relevant links are below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DumgHz56IjI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwTy_-Y-A5o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH-K9fRuhfQ
Also, don’t forget to visit meshtastic.org. This website has a wealth of learning resources to help you understand and get started. Be sure to check it out.
Conclusion
In the context of prepping, it is a great idea to have multiple ways to do something. Since communication is so important to have for emergencies, it is important to have many ways to communicate. Mestastic offers a way to communicate that is not tied to any subscription service or grid-tied equipment. The low power consumption with the ability to charge them off the sun is highly desirable. I look at it as a way to pass traffic to friends and others on the relatively secure network and if disaster strikes, I will utilize it for welfare checks, passing critical medical information, weather reporting, or asking for help.
I still plan to execute my communications plan under dire circumstances, but having this additional tool adds redundancy to the framework of my plan. Check out the article I wrote about having a communications plan if you don’t have one already. Having a plan before it is needed is the key. The period before a disaster is the most critical time for any kind of prepping and if you’re prepared, you can’t be controlled. You can’t be manipulated.
Live Free, or Die Trying.
As always, I hope you stay prepared. God Bless and thank you for reading.
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