Mesh Networks

In a mesh network, every radio, or node, passes traffic along for the others. A message hops from node to node until it reaches the one it is meant for, and if one node drops out, traffic can take another path where one exists. This page covers two very different mesh systems, and it helps to know which is which.

AREDN, the Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network, builds a high-speed computer network over ham radio. Its free, open-source firmware is loaded onto certain commercial Wi-Fi radios, and the network runs under Part 97 on amateur frequencies next to the ones ordinary Wi-Fi uses. In the US that means the 902 to 928 MHz, 2390 to 2450 MHz and 5650 to 5925 MHz bands, and you need a Technician license or higher. The upper channels in the 2.4 GHz band are shared with everyday Wi-Fi users, so channel choice matters.

An AREDN network is an ordinary computer network carried by radio, so it can serve internet phones, network cameras and other services you would run on a home or office network. Links need a clear line of sight and some planning, but they can cover long distances at high speed. That makes AREDN a good fit for clubs and emergency groups that want a network of their own between fixed sites.

Meshtastic is a different animal. It is an open-source project that uses small, inexpensive LoRa radios to send short text messages and, with an optional GPS, positions. You pair a node with a phone app and type away. In the US it runs on 902 to 928 MHz, and in most regions no license is needed. Out of the box, its messages are encrypted.

That last point matters, because ham transmissions may not be encrypted. Section 97.113(a)(4) of the rules forbids “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.” Meshtastic has a licensed setting for hams: it sets your node’s name to your callsign, turns off encryption and unlocks amateur band settings, including 70 cm. Nodes in licensed mode cannot talk with the ordinary encrypted nodes around them.

See Part 97 in Plain English for more on the rules, and the Ham Dictionary for any unfamiliar terms.

Which one should you try? Choose AREDN if you want real network speed between fixed stations and you are ready to put antennas up high. Choose Meshtastic if you want pocket-sized text messaging with almost no setup. If you mount a node on a mast or roof, work with a helper, use fall protection and stay well clear of power lines.

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