Mesh Technology

CARA Site MeshCore Repeater

by Owen Harper, KR4BAK

What is MeshCore?

MeshCore is a fairly new, long range (LoRa) software that uses the 900 Mhz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. It does not require an amateur radio license. The systems can be used for text messaging, Global Positioning System (GPS) location data, and other small data transfers. Through a system of “repeaters” and “nodes”, messages can be relayed anywhere, either locally or over hundreds of miles. See the functional diagram below.

Why the CARA Gibson Mountain site?

The CARA repeater site is the home of the “Gibson MTN 1W RPTR” MeshCore repeater. The site’s 1010 ft elevation gives the repeater a much greater range than could be achieved between individual companion sites. Below is an illustration giving some of the technical specifications and expected ranges for the CARA site implementation.

Photos of the MeshCore installation on the tower at the CARA repeater site follow.

Giving MeshCore A Try

If you would like to try MeshCore and use the CARA MeshCore repeater, start by familiarizing yourself with the MeshCore documentation at the official website at meshcore.io. You will need to download the MeshCore app for your platform and obtain the required node hardware. Then scan the QR code below to add ‘Gibson MTN 1W RPTR’ to your contact list in the app.

Have fun and if you have any questions about the Gibson MTN MeshCore repeater, the surrounding area’s mesh, or how to get started, feel free to email Owen Harper, KR4BAK at owen.kr4bak(at)gmail.com.

CARA Site Meshtastic Relay

by Mitch Dickey, W4LAN

The CARA Mestastic relay is a part of NoVA Meshtastic network, which is a volunteer-driven community network bringing Meshtastic off-grid messaging to Northern Virginia and the surrounding region. Members run nodes ranging from pocket-sized handhelds and home base stations to high-elevation relay sites on towers and ridgelines. Together they form a decentralized mesh that works with no cell service, internet, or licensed infrastructure. To keep the network reliable as it grows, the group publishes shared configuration standards, available at novame.sh. They cover a common LongFast channel on a designated frequency slot, a consistent node-naming convention, and role guidance so that mobile and personal devices stay CLIENT and don’t flood the mesh as routers. 

Meshtastic itself is open-source firmware for low-cost LoRa radios operating in the unlicensed 902–928 MHz ISM band in the US. LoRa’s chirp spread spectrum modulation lets small, battery-powered devices communicate over miles, especially from elevated locations, using very little power. Messages, GPS positions, and sensor telemetry are AES-encrypted and relayed node to node through managed flooding, with a hop limit that keeps traffic under control. The result is a resilient, community-owned network that’s useful for outdoor recreation, events, emergency preparedness, and anyone curious about radio. Getting started takes little more than an inexpensive device and a smartphone.

Photos of the Meshtastic installation on the tower at the CARA repeater site follow.

For more information, go to: https://meshtastic.org/