LORA ((Meshtastic network))

[Yorkshire Andy]

Been having a dabble with a couple of these..

Put simply and none technical for lil . Modern walkie talkies that you send text messages with

You buy the bits individually or as a bundle

I've got two heltec V3 units bottom end of the market but simpler..

Put simply you pair each board to a mobile phone / tablet and using the Meshtastic app it connects to the magic boxes to send text messages far and wide either publicly or privately between each other using a encrypted system bit like WhatsApp but not needing a mobile phone network or WiFi the lora unit sends the message on its own transmitter.. to other lora units in range ..

now this is where it gets clever

If your mate is a bit too far away from you but another user is between you it bounces via their unit extending your range ..

I've some better antennas on order the supplied ones are minute.. I got some longer ones now and I'm making it across town easy at a mile distance between phone and my parents these longer ones I'm hoping for longer range

[jansman]

What a good idea! That would be ideal as our eldest and family are over the valley in the next village. In a power cut/ internet cobblers that could do the biz!

[Yorkshire Andy]

You need a computer to initiate the units to put the UK software on the little board but there is plenty of guides I had a problem getting windows to recognise the usb connection swapped USBC leads for a cheap crappy one it connected immediately

https://meshtastic.org/docs/getting-started/

Looks a bit like gibberish but

Buy board

Install drivers on pc

https://meshtastic.org/docs/getting-sta ... ers/esp32/


Restart PC


Plug in new PCB to usb

Use the flasher (no sniggering) to update firmware
https://flasher.meshtastic.org/



I've some cases but they are 3d printed not strong or waterproof next upgrade some industrial electrical boxes and something to mount the bigger antennas on

Currently got a mini springer and a an 12" rigid am getting be a mile happily enough..

One drawback is if the phones not in Bluetooth range when a message land it doesn't display on the phone. But it's on the little oled screen on the unit



If anyone orders in the UK ensure it's the 863MHz 928Mhz unit


And don't plug into any power or pc without the antenna attached or you risk frying the board

Once set up the app gives you this sort of screen

Just random letters or words when testing

[korolev]

Looks interesting. The only downside that I can see is if there are no other units in range to act as repeaters.

[pseudonym]

Looks interesting. The only downside that I can see is if there are no other units in range to act as repeaters.

Buy a couple of spares, put them in ziplock bags and place them at intervals along route.

[Peter]

What are the advantages over a pair of Baofeng bf-888 radios ?.

[Yorkshire Andy]

What are the advantages over a pair of Baofeng bf-888 radios ?.

It's secure / encrypted

You can leave messages so if your outside when you return In doors the message can be read

Much longer range if enough people get on board with it

Licence free and no need to do foundation course


Task this weekend is to get a big antenna put Into the attic and see how far I can get.. worst case it'll be a big repeater for this area for others to bounce off

[PPrep]

I've been considering radio communications and am enquiring about Meshtastic. Although I'll look it up on the Internet, practical advice from a UK user would be invaluable. First, I don't use smart technology, so cannot use a smartphone app for programming or updating. I'm passably proficient with PC's and normally use Linux, and Windows 10 if I have to. My problem is that I don't know anyone who is a prepper, or interested in this kind of thing.

I have a pair of decent PMR 446 radios and an FM/AM CB rig (SSB tranceivers are far more expensive for some reason). I have some understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of these.

Although I can solder and do electronics assembly, it would be easier for me to buy a Meshtastic radio ready to go. When I received my PMR radios, I found they were programmed with US frequencies and had to program them with UK frequencies, which was a pain. I use a Nano Vector Network Analyser for testing home - made antennas. Amazing gadget, this.

Is it worth my considering Meshtastic given my circumstances?

[daylen]

LoRa has a very different use case to radio and they're not really comparable. LoRa is concerned with low energy, long range but low data rate transmission. SMS messages or other small data sets are perfect but you'll not be transmitting voice, even low quality.

The mesh features greatly expand the range and given the lack of infrastructure requirements they can be great for off-grid text communications. You can also link them with GPS to create locator beacons which would be useful for family members in a grid-down situation. Their low power requirements means you can power them for ages on pretty small batteries.

[PPrep]

LoRa has a very different use case to radio and they're not really comparable. LoRa is concerned with low energy, long range but low data rate transmission. SMS messages or other small data sets are perfect but you'll not be transmitting voice, even low quality.

The mesh features greatly expand the range and given the lack of infrastructure requirements they can be great for off-grid text communications. You can also link them with GPS to create locator beacons which would be useful for family members in a grid-down situation. Their low power requirements means you can power them for ages on pretty small batteries.

Thank you for your advice. Text communications will be OK for me. My main concern is being able to set up and use LoRa without using a smartphone as I don't use smart technology. The other concern is that I don't know anyone who uses this or similar kit. So, will LoRa be unsuitable for me?