The mesh

The Richmondshire Mesh will be run using MeshCore, an off-grid messaging system that runs on 868MHz and uses identical hardware to the long-established Meshtastic, as neither system is in use in this area I have chosen MeshCore as it is a much better system in that it only transmits as required and messages aren't (usually) lost.

The Mesh will enable you to exchange messages with others either in a public channel or private channels, there are two ways in which to do this, one is using a small companion device with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone (it doesn't need a SIM) and an app that's available from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, the app is free of charge, the most common devices for companion use are the Heltec V3 or the Seeed Studio T1000-E tracker, the latter is equipped with GPS and can hang from a lanyard, the other method is to use a dedicated device such as the Lilygo T-Deck, this is a self-contained device that allows you to message into the mesh without the need of a mobile phone, it looks like an old-school BlackBerry phone but doesn't allow phone calls, there are other devices as well (mainly from Lilygo) that also operate stand alone with MeshCore.

The way MeshCore works is that you can only be seen by others and added to contact lists provided you send an advert, either a zero-hop (no repeaters involved or if they hear they won't repeat it) and flood which means everyone on the mesh can and will hear you, most clients are set to auto-add advertised contacts to the contacts list but this can be disabled should you require, the public channel can also be removed from apps and devices if you should desire, ie you only want to speak to a small group on the mesh.

MeshCore can also allow for custom routing of messages, you can specify which repeaters to use to get your message through and therefore save some bandwidth on the mesh, rather than use the whole mesh, this is convenient if you know the best path to use, however MeshCore can work this out for you.

The other good thing about MeshCore is you can set up your own repeater if you want to do this, no permissions or licences are generally needed, particularly if you are in a place where you are currently on the fringes of coverage, and messages don't always reach you, popular hardware for doing this is the RAKWireless WisBlock series, the Raspberry Pi Pico can also be used with a Waveshare LoRa board (make sure it's the 868MHz version!) and Heltec V3 boards can also be set up as repeaters, suitable base station antennas are available from Paradar and McGill Microwave, a suitable enclosure if you're planning to use a RAK4631 module on either a RAK19003 or RAK19007 board is the Hermes from zerofox3D as this can take a set of 18650 cells, can take an antenna (with adaptor if needed) straight onto the case and only the case or antenna need be fitted to a pole, it is also available in a choice of N-type or SMA connector for the antenna and because the RAK Wisblock boards can take a solar panel input to charge this provision is also provided with the case by the manufacturer though you have to source your own 5-volt solar panel, these are often available on Amazon, usually aimed at doorbell cameras and fitted with a USB plug which you can simply cut off for this purpose, you also have to source your own 18650 cells but again Amazon sells these, so you are more than welcome to add repeaters to the mesh, the RAK hardware is available in the UK from mpowered247.com and they will test it for you before it leaves their warehouse (around 8 days turnaround), the Meshtastic starter kit V2 should be fine for this but it will need flashing with the MeshCore repeater firmware to be used with the mesh, the firmware is available from the MeshCore website (I will be writing up instructions on how to set up a repeater).

Furthermore, the mesh will always be there, day or night, rain or shine, even when the power goes off as many of these devices run off batteries and use such little power and if placed outdoors will run off solar power during the day, and all your conversations are private and secure away from the public channel and no one can snoop on them without first obtaining any private keys.

Finally if you've just joined the mesh put out a message in the public channel to say hi, I monitor this frequently in this area