Submitted 3 weeks ago by b_n@sh.itjust.works to selfhosted@lemmy.world
https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/dfa6329b-c938-46b5-a1d3-16a2ae636e6e.png
There’s a live stream tomorrow on the 'tube setting up a MeshCore companion for sending messages over radio waves directly instead of relying on internet providers.
Just FYI at the speed meshtastic/core is talking about, it would be very slow. Like dialup would look fast.
But its a fun hobby! Take a look over at !meshtastic@mander.xyz for anyone interested. Meshtastic (and meshcore) are also SUUUPER alpha so dont expect anything polished.
Totally agree. I saw some people doing just plain text messaging and it looked fairly snappy. I assume we’re miles away from the idea of pushing pixels on LoRa for a while.
If there's a, say, incident that makes the government want to shut down internet services, those text messages could cone in handy. And im sure the speed will increase as development continues; it always does.
Starting now means you'll end up being an important node later.
MeshCore runs at 2.73 kbps and it can send a short text message in a fraction of a second. The short turbo preset on Meshtastic is 21.88 kbps, but that’s still too slow for images. The higher speed reduces the range by quite a bit too.
For images, you would be better off using WiFi HaLow, which runs several mbps on 900 MHz.
If you have a ham license, there is HamWAN and ARDEN as well. They are fast enough to stream live video. They can work over long distances, but the high gain antennas have to be aimed carefully.
correct, the real mesh internet replacement is HaLow, that can get a whopping 4Mbps or something.
I’ve been looking into this as well and just bought my first components.
I’m trying Meshtastic first and then will try Meshcore.
What does everybody think of Reticulum Network and RNode? It honestly seems superior conceptually to Meshtastic/Meshcore, but I’m not sure how good it is in practice of if anybody is actually using it.
People who studied the code speak really fondly about reticulum, however, it’s not as popular for building the lora based mesh networks, because the full stack does not run on the simple microcontroller. You need what is basically a standard PC connected to it. Given that mesh repeaters are usually designed to run off-grid on solar and battery, wasting additional power for a raspberry pi or similar computer would make the project unfeasible.
All while Meshtastic or Meshcore are perfectly happy with the esp32 or nrf microcontrollers. And the nrf ones can run without a direct sunshine for days with the reasonably large battery.
They’re working on fixing that ;) github.com/attermann/microReticulum
meshcore is licensed the way you do it if you plan to go freemium down the road. its fine to use if your area has already gone that way. but meshtastic fits better in a foss standard and does the same thing.
either way you go its best to see these as fancy pagers not diy instant messagers. they have some great potential in a world where govs or nature can knock down cell service, if you’re purposeful and realistic about it. but they are not as easy to build as youtube would tell you. and they’re not gonna replace your phone full time.
Mesh is cool, but you get faster speeds on amateur HF or 900 bands and a further distance
Fair, however the meshcore gateway drug starter kit is like 40eur 😅.
Mesh also allows you to use encryption.
Sure, but you don’t need a license for mesh.
not really Internet, just a group chat.
that said, making a basic internet on up of it wouldn’t be too hard.
I was looking for a solution that lets someone use Yggdrasil (crypto routed network overlay) over LoRa. The basic idea is to use Yggdrasil multicast and use Reticulum RNodes I with tncattach.
Links:
It’s a lot of fun, but not an internet replacement yet. They did just come out with a new dial band that has enough bandwidth to do something useful. Can’t wait to give it a try.
Still very worth setting up. I have a node that runs in my attic, I can get good single most anywhere in my neighborhood, and I have enough nodes nearby that I can pretty much communicate with people all over the metro area (I’m in the twin cities).
Honestly I think it would be cool to see a widespread up network based around Bluetooth and WiFi. They don’t have the same range but the upside is that tons of devices support them.
i really want to see HALOW become cheap and highly availeble
avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
BTW, Meshcore is MIT and not fully FOSS, while Meshtastic is GPL.
CaptainPedantic@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
And both use LoRa which is proprietary.
avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Fact, but since that’s common and cheap, and I’m not aware of an equivalent FOSS alternative, I’d go with Meshtastic, if were to dabble. And I dabble. :D
FishFace@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
A license doesn’t have to be copyleft to be FOSS. Stop trying to redefine things because you don’t like them.
avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
That’s not what I did. Not all of Meshcore is FOSS. There are proprietary components.