What is a mesh text network?
A plain-language explanation of mesh text networks: how LoRa radios relay messages without cell towers or internet, and why towns use them for outages.
Planning communication for a long outage in a small town
How a small town can plan communication for a multi-day power and cell outage: who needs to reach whom, the layers of backup, and where a mesh network fits.
Meshtastic for cities: what staff should know
What city staff should know about Meshtastic: what it is, what it costs, its range, security, limits, and how towns use it for emergency communication.
Do you need an FCC license for Meshtastic?
Meshtastic in the US runs license-free on the 902–928 MHz ISM band under FCC Part 15. Here’s what that means for towns, and when a ham license matters.
Mesh vs. GMRS vs. ham radio: which fits your town?
Comparing Meshtastic mesh networks, GMRS, FRS and amateur radio as backup communication for small towns: licensing, cost, range, and who each fits.
How many relay sites does a town need?
How to estimate the number of solar relay sites a small town needs for a Meshtastic mesh network, based on size, terrain, high points and redundancy.