How Meshtastic Works

  • Meshtastic is a free open source software that allows users to communicate via text without the need for cellphone towers.

  • Users pair their phone with their nodes via the Meshtastic app. From within the app, they can send text messages to other users.

  • Each node (LoRA device) acts as a repeater to relay messages from sender to receiver. Each span between nodes is called a “hop.” Each node has a 4 digit ID to make sure messages are only seen by the right person.

  • Nodes can also act purely as repeaters, rather than messengers.

  • Sending messages from Meshtastic devices utilizes LoRa (short wave, long range radio technology).

A digital illustration of a purple speech bubble with a gradient effect, placed against a dark background.
Smartphone displaying Meshtastic logo
A blue portable device, designed and produced by Prism Design Works in Texas, called a LoRaBAR X, with a small screen displaying information, positioned in front of a black background, with antenna and port connections visible.
Bright blue neon arrow pointing to the left.
A blue electronic device with a small screen displaying technical information, attached to a black antenna and a white object on the side, set against a black background.

HOP 1

NODE

Glowing blue left arrow pointing to the left

NODE

HOP 2

Bright blue neon left arrow pointing to the left with a glowing effect.
A blue portable device, designed and produced by Prism Design Works in Texas, called a LoRaBAR X, with a small screen displaying information, positioned in front of a black background, with antenna and port connections visible.
A purple and blue speech bubble icon with a digital or futuristic design.
Smartphone with a green screen and a black upward arrow icon
Neon blue left arrow pointing to the left.

NODE

How Far Can a Message Go?

The current ground record for message distance between two devices is 205 miles. This was accomplished using ideal LOS parameters and high gain long range antennae.

Southern part of Italy and western Balkan region map showing a flight path from XARC in Italy to Sneznik in Slovenia, crossing over the Adriatic Sea.
Map of northern Italy and neighboring countries showing radio signal coverage and connections with focus on Venice, Italy, and nearby locations.
Side-by-side screenshots of two chat conversations. The left shows a messaging app in English discussing a successful test, with timestamps and a cloud icon. The right shows a satellite tracking app named 'Meshstactic' displaying a route for a satellite named 'XArcana_RPT_868' traveling 314.3 km with a trace route.

However, this was one hop. Messages make multiple hops to get to their intended receiver (max of 7). If 7 hops were made using the exact same parameters as the record setting nodes, a total distance of 1435 miles could be covered.

Meshtastic Use Cases

MAJOR CELL PHONE PROVIDER OUTAGES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMMON

  • Feb 2023 – T-Mobile nationwide outage

    • Tens of thousands affected; caused by third-party network issue (widely reported in industry + user data)

  • Feb 22, 2024 – AT&T nationwide outage (with spillover effects)

    • 70,000+ outage reports; disrupted calls, texts, even 911 access

  • Late 2024 – Verizon widespread outage

    • Large multi-city disruption with tens of thousands+ reports (widely reported in news and outage trackers)

  • 2025 – AT&T outage (short but widespread)

    • Brief but nationwide impact (tens of minutes)

  • Oct 2025 – Verizon major outage

    • Multi-city outage affecting core services

  • Jan 2026 – Verizon nationwide outage

    • ~175,000 reports; lasted ~12 hours

  • Jan 2026 – T-Mobile outage (regional but significant)

    • Multi-state disruption of voice/data

‍ ‍We are in an age where every day there is increasing vulnerability to the cell phone grid from cyber attack and long outages. This, combined with the fading of the landline, has made it necessary to start thinking about secondary ways to stay in contact with the ones who matter most to us.

Remote and Wilderness Environments

  • Skiiers and snowboarders on mountains who need to be in contact in cell tower shadows

  • Hikers, campers, backpackers who venture off the grid

Six hikers walking in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background, and golden grass on the ground.
Person in purple jacket, teal pants, and helmet standing on snow with skis, holding a smartphone, in a snowy landscape with trees and mountains in the background.

Offshore

  • Cell service drops off quickly over water

  • Boaters, fisherman, and other maritime users have overcome coastal deadzones with Meshtastic devices

Two men on a boat with fishing rods, one is adjusting fishing gear while the other stands nearby, with water visible in the background.
A large cargo ship sailing through open ocean waters with containers stacked on deck, leaving a wake behind.

Emergency & Disaster Scenarios

  • Hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes disrupt cell towers due to damage or too many people using the towers at once

  • During Hurricane Katrina, communications failed completely (even in populated areas)

A man wearing a red cap standing amid debris of destroyed buildings after a storm or hurricane, with damaged houses and palm trees in the background.
Search and rescue team members examining maps and a computer for finding a location in a wooded area.