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[DOC] Overview

What is MeshCore?

MeshCore is a decentralised text-based communications platform. It is designed to run on commodity, affordable development boards (nRF52840, ESP32, RP2040) and uses LoRa radios to create a meshed network. 

MeshCore works well over long distances and sub-optimal RF conditions due to the underlying LoRa radios. With very low power requirements and a small physical footprint, it is ideal for out-of-band communications that don't rely on traditional telecommunications or electrical infrastructure to support it.

How does it work?

Messages are sent from a Companion device, which are then relayed through Repeaters to reach the destination node. Messages can be sent directly between companions that are in each others' contact list (no repeater required if in direct range), to a public or private channel (similar to a "group chat"), or to a node running the Room Server firmware (similar to a BBS or chat room).

Companion nodes can be completely standalone devices with their own display and keyboard (such as the Lilygo T-Deck), or they can be a device connected via Bluetooth BLE to a mobile device running Android or iOS with the MeshCore app installed.

What Firmware options are available?

MeshCore nodes can perform different roles, depending on the firmware image used. The most common are:

  • Companion (BLE): the radio acts similar to a modem; messages can be exchanged directly with other companion radios in direct range of each other, or via repeaters. A client (such as a mobile device running the MeshCore app) is used to connect to the radio and exchange messages.
  • Companion (USB): Same functionality as the BLE companion, however this allows you to connect via USB instead of BLE (for example, if attached to a computer).
  • Room Server: A BBS/chat room style message board, allowing a user to connect after being offline or out of range and retrieve historical messages. Room servers can optionally be enabled to act as a repeater as well, however this function currently doesn't have feature parity with the repeater firmware and is not recommended for full time use.
  • Repeater: Rebroadcasts messages sent from other nodes on the network to nearby repeaters.

What is the bare minimum to get started?

At minimum you will need at least one device to run the companion firmware (standalone or BLE) so that you can send and receive messages, and another node to talk to. If you are in an area with an established mesh, you may find the #Public channel on the mesh to be fairly active.

If you're interested in trying MeshCore, head over to [DOC] Choosing a Node to view some common hardware options.

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