Meshtastic
An open-source, off-grid messaging system on LoRa radios. Pair a small device with your phone and chat, share GPS positions, and relay through other nodes.
Join our Meshtastic channelmeshtastic.orgHow it works
Each node is a small LoRa radio with a battery. Your phone connects to it over Bluetooth through the Meshtastic app. Messages are encrypted per channel and rebroadcast by other nodes within a limited number of hops, so your crew stays reachable even when you're spread across a field.
What to buy
Look for officially supported hardware, and buy the 915 MHz version in the US (868 MHz in Europe). Popular choices:
Seeed T1000-E
Credit-card sized tracker. Great clipped to a bag or lanyard.
LilyGO T-Echo
E-paper screen, long battery life, enclosure included.
Heltec / RAK / LilyGO boards
Low-cost ESP32 and nRF52 boards. Add a case and battery.
T-Deck
Built-in keyboard and screen, so you don't need your phone.
Check the official getting started page for the current list of supported devices.
Get set up
- Flash the firmware. Use the web flasher in Chrome or Edge. Plug in via USB, pick your device, and flash the latest stable version.
- Install the app. Search "Meshtastic" in the App Store or Google Play.
- Pair over Bluetooth. Add your device in the app and enter the PIN shown on its screen (default
123456if none is displayed). - Set your region. Choose US (or your country). This enables the legal frequency band.
- Name your node. Set a short name so your friends recognize you.
- Join our private channel. Scan the QR code on the channels page.
Using it at the festival
- Keep the node high: on top of your backpack or a lanyard, not buried at the bottom or in a pocket against your body.
- Turn on position sharing so your group appears on the map.
- Send a quick "check" message when you arrive to confirm the group can hear you.
- Keep messages short. The radio is slow, and a busy network gets congested.
- Bring a USB battery bank.