A Non-Technical Introduction to Meshtastic Off-Grid Radio Communications

День тому

This is an open source solution that works with inexpensive LoRa radios, and your mobile phone or laptop, to be able to pass messages directly, or in shared channels, between the various nodes with no Internet or mobile phone coverage required.
The intention of this video is to give a non-technical overview of what it could be used for, how it works, and what you can expect from it. This is not a "how-to configure it" or a field demo video. Hopefully the video helps motivate some new users to set up these nodes in their own cities, and thereby help this form of mesh off-grid communication be more effective across entire cities.
See also my overview of the Meshtastic Mobile App at • Overview of the Meshta...
CHAPTERS:
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Intro 00:00
Key Features 01:21
Scenarios 04:59
Meshtastic Nodes 11:13
Typical Home Setup 16:05
Minimal Setup 19:17
Mobile App 20:38
Outro 24:04
LINKS:
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Meshtastic website: meshtastic.org/
My Meshtastic web page with SA context and links: gadgeteer.co.za/hamradio/mesh...
Making your own wire dipole antenna: • How to build your own ...
FOLLOW ME:
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My daily tech blog at gadgeteer.co.za/blog
I post to all these social networks at gadgeteer.co.za/social-networ...
Videos also replicated to Odysee at odysee.com/@GadgeteerZA
#technology #Meshatastic #offgrid #opensource

КОМЕНТАРІ: 77

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

The msh/ZA topic in MQTT we are using for South Africa right now: If you want to follow a similar approach in your country, just use /msh/AU or msh/UK as appropriate. I've expanded a lot on tips and lessons learnt at the bottom of my web page at gadgeteer.co.za/hamradio/meshtastic-in-south-africa/, and I am updating that as I learn more.

@keithcress1335 17 днів тому

Been seeing "Meshtastic" all over the place lately. Thanks for actually defining it for me!

@GadgeteerZA 17 днів тому

It's a pleasure. Yes, I realised many I spoke to were interested, but the technology did not always the "what it is about".

@MyTube4Utoo 2 місяці тому

I've been a licensed Ham Radio operator since 1989, and was into CB many years before that. I have radios to cover all ham bands, GMRS, CB, and now LoRa/Meshtastic. I highly suggest people get at least one radio for Meshtastic, and preferably a CB and/or GMRS radio, too. I have one RAKwireless WisBlock, one Heltec v3, and three more Heltecs on the way for Meshtastic. The way this world is going I'm preparing for the worst. A good video. Thank you.

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

I've done pretty much the same as you, except we've never had GMRS here. It's always too late when you need this hardware, to then think about getting it. But just like CB radio, Meshtastic is a great way of meeting other people nearby. When I was in my teens, I met most of my best friends via CB radio. But the challenge is getting people to adopt it, just like even with ham radio, I'm really struggling to get many of them to adopt digital modes. Voice is fine, but when propagation is challenging, digital tends to punch right through the noise floor.

@MyTube4Utoo 2 місяці тому

@@GadgeteerZA 👍

@ASMRCYRA 2 місяці тому

Great overview Danie! 🙌🏻

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Thanks so much!

@Crftbt 2 місяці тому

More on Meshtastic would be appreciated. :)

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Thanks, yes I will certainly be doing some more, probably focussed on specific "topics" and how to use them effectively. And I'll need to do it while I'm all over Meshtastic, and not moved onto something new ;-)

@Crftbt 2 місяці тому

@@GadgeteerZA Great to hear you're on the Meshtastic train for now. Topics on various functionality would be great to hear about. :)

@prince3121 25 днів тому

Thanx for this explanation. I found it very informative and am really interested in setting it up for mobile messaging when cycling or hiking.

@GadgeteerZA 25 днів тому

Glad it was helpful! Yes, I've even found a coffee vending guy interested in setting one up on top of his coffee station near a forest. I'm getting another mobile device end of this week and also hope to use it when hiking.

@Baumeister40 15 днів тому

Thank you for the presentation. Before this, all I could find was highly technical without a practical scenario. Let's see who I can share this with.

@GadgeteerZA 13 днів тому

Thank you. Yes that was the reasoning behind it. I'm planning to also do a short one on what the mobile app interface looks like, and what you can do with it. Really to give a feel of what it looks like to actually use.

@greenockscatman 2 місяці тому

Fascinating technology. Think of what the up-front investment for doing something like this was just 10-15 years ago!

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Yes true mass production etc makes these devices quite cheap, and using mesh leverages off lots of other nodes instead of building out your own network. Municipalities can use this for passing telemetry data right across a city.

@lvdmerwe 2 місяці тому

Sounds like a good system and would be great if lots of people jump on board. Love the purple mouse!

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Yes needs a few people and then it can stretch out the communications quite well. Yes using the same purple mouse as my standard mouse cursor.

@ScandalUK Місяць тому

You say that, but London & Manchester (UK) airwaves are packed with Meshtastic - you’re lucky to get a message through lol

@GadgeteerZA Місяць тому

@@ScandalUK yep we're way behind that. Hopefully tomorrow Saturday we get one placed up on our mountain, and we get coverage between our isolated nodes right now. We're using a custom localised MQTT topic so hopefully we can announce measures to reduce congestion when we need to.

@hobbswade 18 днів тому

My cat was attracted to the blue pointer! 😂

@GadgeteerZA 18 днів тому

Clever cat!

@lincolnscott3155 15 днів тому

Great clip mate! 👍🇦🇺🇿🇦

@GadgeteerZA 15 днів тому

Thanks 👍

@aq8211 24 дні тому

Great video! Do you recommend meshtastic for massive industrial IoT usecases like smart metering where you need a couple thousand meters on the same mesh network?

@GadgeteerZA 24 дні тому

Thank you. Mmm not sure about a few thousand, but put it this way, you can tweak how often each transmits so typically you reduce that a bit, and you can set an encrypted channel so no-one else is reading the data. The devices transmit incredibly quickly - quick short bursts. The other thing is by default they will each relay signals onwards, but Meshtastic does choose the most direct route. But again you can set a few to relay, and the rest not. So some thought and tweaking is just required. It depends on how far away they are versus concentrated in a smaller space. But you can reach those who will know more at meshtastic.org/ in the Discord or Reddit servers. I'm sure many have actually done something like this.

@sUASNews 2 місяці тому

A couple of us are on the other side of the country in the KZN Midlands, maybe one day there will be enough nodes to make the jump ;-) Used in the troubles with ATAK as well. I'm not a great fan of MQTT once there are lots of nodes about.

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Good to hear you guys are flying the mesh flag that side as well. Will be interesting to see one day what the furthest stretch is we can get across a few nodes. Yes, I suspect MQTT will flood the network if the nodes are all connected. I still want to understand how MQTT is implemented better with Meshtastic. It definitely seems some settings override others.

@GNefdt Місяць тому

Hello, I thought 433 had better penetration and range than the 868. You can get an advertised +20dbm at 433 100mw T-Beam 1.1 if I’m not mistaken?

@GadgeteerZA Місяць тому

Yes 433MHz will have "better" penetration being lower frequency, but there are some caveats such as in ITU Region 1 I recall we are limited to using only 10mW license-free (well in our country anyway), and if you go higher power as a licensed ham operator you lose the encryption. So what we're finding in our area is that 868MHz is by far the most popular.

@BruceRudling 2 місяці тому

Hi Dannie. Fantastic content, thank you. I am a radio ham in Natal and have just ordered 3 heltec nodes (now the wait) I have started a whattsapp group for people interested in growing a mesh in SA, do you mind me sharing your video there?

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Good to hear you are also getting involved. It can help form an important link between ham operators and their neighbourhood. Yes, no problem, please share it. Note also many of us are using the msh/ZA topic on MQTT as that will give us a South African view of who is where across SA. The global default of msh/ is just too busy.

@BruceRudling 2 місяці тому

I will be sure to add msh/ZA to the MQTT because for now I know I will be the only node in the area untill I spread the word

@sUASNews 2 місяці тому

@@BruceRudling I'm up near Notties and we have had some nodes running for a couple of years now, whereabouts are you Bruce?

@BruceRudling Місяць тому

@@GadgeteerZA Hi Danie, Can you explain the MQTT settings. I have a node up now

@GadgeteerZA Місяць тому

@@BruceRudling they basically sync via Meshtastic's MQTT server to link different radios or meshes together through the Internet. So it is not using radio then. For now you want to show on the map so enable Uplink in the LongFast channel settings and that will announce you on the map. I'd suggest if you're in SA using the MQTT topic msh/ZA so you filter and see who is in SA. If you enable downlink then all Internet messages as well as peers show on your node, but it is difficult to see which are actually hitting you by radio.

@rogerioar 2 місяці тому

just curious - are there already any meshtastic users in the CT area?

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Yes myself and two other ham radio guys have ours running in Cape Town. One is sitting down by Simonstown too, but is not connected to the Internet, so you don't see it on the map. It's one of those situations where you need a few others spread out, so I'm hoping we can get some traction.

@flat-earther 2 місяці тому

I wish Meshtastic devices could be used with a WIndows computer without internet. sadly they built this whole thing around the smartphone application and I don't have a smartphone.

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

You can log into the device and message/manage it via a web browser by connecting to its IP address but yes that needs a LAN (no Internet needed though). That is not very stable though as you need to refresh the connection after a while. You could also connect to it directly using the USB cable, or in theory, install the Android app under an emulator in Windows, and connect via the laptop's Bluetooth.

@nanoicdalflanlun Місяць тому

Keep in mind that phone service isn't required for the smart phone. The app currently requires Android 5 or higher. Considering Android 5 was released in 2014, that opens a lot of used phone possibilities. As mentioned in the video, the T- Deck can be used standalone. If you haven't seen a picture of one, it looks like an old Blackberry phone. Since the release of the video, a significant milestone was reached with Linux. You can now run Meshtastic on Raspberry Pi boards and work is proceeding with other Linux platforms. It's my understanding much of this is being done with Python and since Python can run on Windows, a Windows version may not be too far off.

@DivergentDroid 19 днів тому

On the Range Test page there is an image of a Google related tool used to help find the long distance ranges, that has an option to check for a Flat (I have to do this for censorship) Earth. Now why do you suppose they would do that if Flat (I have to do this for censorship) Earth was not a possibility? I don't see other shapes like a cylinder which is what the Mercator projection is based on. This idea of a Flat (I have to do this for censorship) Earth being given equal consideration in the tool must be pretty important.

@GadgeteerZA 19 днів тому

OK not sure as my range test page in settings only has options to enable it, interval, and save in .CSV format. I'm on latest Beta so maybe you're on Alpha version? Radio frequencies tho do depend on Earth curvature as high frequencies are only straight line of sight vs lower frequencies (not Meshtastic frequencies) which are HF and can follow the curvature of the Earth by bouncing off the ionosphere. So as far as Meshtastic goes - it really only works in straight lines, unless you can reach a far mountain peak with a node on top, and then relay to nodes far on the other side. But even for 100km that is still pretty flat ground.

@DivergentDroid 19 днів тому

@@GadgeteerZA The claim "HF and can follow the curvature of the Earth by bouncing off the ionosphere." is in interesting one in that 1st, it commits the logical fallacy of begging the question Earth is a sphere and 2, There are no known experiments in physics to validate the claim of anything bouncing off of a layer of gas in an open system where that gas fails to obey the 2nd law of thermodynamics and expand into the available volume of lower pressure. I'm a shortwave guy not a ham but I have seen hams make such claims without scientific validation. Fun fact you can look up - The idea of an ionosphere was not created (it was not discovered) until after Marconi's radio test between England and New York. It was said by the mainstream scientists of the day it would never work due to Earth being spherical. Poof, it worked. Suddenly the radio buffs needed a reason why it worked in keeping with their heliocentric belief. Thus, the Ionosphere was born.

@GadgeteerZA 19 днів тому

@@DivergentDroid the ionosphere did not just appear then, it was really only discovered after radio waves were invented and could be experimented with, and it was observed how waves that travel in straight lines only, could sometimes bounce long distances. I am a radio ham so had to study all the theory of radio propagation at different frequencies as well as power and bandwidth levels. A lot of what radio hams do is experimenting with radio, so we have radio beacons, and low power signals that are sent out 24/7 and we monitor when and when they are received elsewhere on Earth. Each frequency band ha sits own characteristics in how it propagates,a nd it is quite fascinating. That experimenting also includes bouncing VHF signals (line of sight) off the moon when it is present, to reach further to locatiosn you cannot see ove rthe horison (no moon, no reach). So hence why we are interested in Meshtastic as it is straight line of sight only, but it's relay capability let's it get around all sorts of objects.

@DivergentDroid 19 днів тому

@@GadgeteerZA Do you realize all you have given me is still a never before validated claim? I have heard the explanation hundreds of times. Explanations are Not scientific evidence. I Need the Physics. If you cannot show me the physics, then all you have is a Belief not substantiated in reality. Show me - the "physics to validate the claim of anything bouncing off of a layer of gas in an open system where that gas fails to obey the 2nd law of thermodynamics and expand into the available volume of lower pressure." I want to see the physics demonstrations that prove the claim.

@GadgeteerZA 19 днів тому

I think you are taking us way off the topic here, and I'm not making any claims. The video is about Meshtastic line of sight radio - it only connects to what it can see in a straight line (I never claimed anything else for this radio). You asked about the Range Test page - was that the one in the Meshtastic mobile app config settings labelled Range Test? As I said, my app's config page only shows the three settings I mentioned, and no link to anything external. The Range Test is intended to generate signals on one radio, with the other one receiving them whilst in Range Test mode. Those can be saved to a CSV file and imported into a spreadsheet to analyse. I haven't used it myself yet, but the idea is to walk around a neighbourhood, doing this test, and then seeing what the signal strengths look like at say 100m, 500, 800m etc to see where the signal works or not.

@eugenehuman1945 2 місяці тому

I wouldnt mind buying a few. I was hesitant as i thought it might not be legal and not sure if anyone in South Africa uses it. I would not mind to install an unit with medium antenna to extend range and be an extra hop in my area. (Im on other side of tygerberg mountain)

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

That would be great! Yes, I did double check in the ICASA regulations and these are fine on 868 MHz as long as the power stays at these low levels. A medium antenna around 10 cm would work pretty well. The problem is too many people turn theirs on and see no-one because not enough people leave them running. I'm leaving mine at home plugged into USB with the long antenna in the hope that others see it online. I did a shorter TikTok video at www.tiktok.com/@danie_vdm/video/7342106452640664837 to try to get more local awareness too.

@EugeneHuman-kl1vc 2 місяці тому

@@GadgeteerZA You don't have a link you could post of a good 868mhz antenna that has the pigtail that will fit the Lora V3 USB device? I see alot of antenna's that has SMA connectors but then no small connector for pigtail little connector.

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

OK really difficult to post a specific link as it depends on where you will be sourcing it from. You also want to be sure exactly which device, so I've only so far worked with the Heltec Wireless Stick Lite V3 and that has an IPX connector. On my webpage at gadgeteer.co.za/hamradio/meshtastic-in-south-africa/ I did put some links including to the pigtail I bought, as well as explaining the alternative names that IPX often goes under e.g. IPEX, U.FL, etc. So, yes most antennas generally come with a SMA male connector, so you'd then want a pigtail with SMA Female (or RP-SMA) to IPX. Usually, the pigtails are sold separately from the antenna.

@EugeneHuman-kl1vc 2 місяці тому

@@GadgeteerZA the one i was looking to get is the Heltec one's with screen also the V3. So it uses that little u.fl connector. So my idea was to get a medium sized antenna to run 24/7 , say 6dbi or 7dbi but have ability for mobility. (say for camping). Ideally need a the antenna to have the SMA to ufl connector for the V3. I see some Lora devices has the SMA connector direct.

@GadgeteerZA 2 місяці тому

Yes that's a good plan. I'm looking to buy the LilyGo T-Echo that also has the SMA ready to go, but there is zero stock for a while. The Waveform version for Raspberry Pi also comes with SMA on the board, but it would be a bit bulkier with the Pi. If you end up with a pigtail connector tho, just check the male female sides are compatible.