What is MeshCore?
MeshCore is an open-source, LoRa-based mesh networking platform built for completely off-grid communication. It lets low-power radios relay encrypted text messages across long distances with no internet, no cell towers, and no central infrastructure — so a community can stay connected even when everything else goes dark.
Why it was created
MeshCore grew out of lessons learned from Meshtastic, an earlier LoRa mesh project. Meshtastic relies on “managed flooding,” where every node rebroadcasts every message. It’s simple and works well for small, ad-hoc groups, but the constant chatter congests the airwaves, causes packet collisions, and struggles to scale as networks grow denser.
MeshCore takes a smarter, more deliberate approach. Your personal client nodes never relay traffic — instead, dedicated repeaters carry messages along learned routes. A message floods once to discover a path, then every message after that is source-routed along that known route. The result supports up to 64 hops (versus Meshtastic’s typical 7), with a fraction of the airtime, more reliable delivery, and noticeably better handheld battery life.
Born from a real disaster
MeshCore has strong New Zealand roots. The web and mobile apps were developed by Liam Cottle in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle — the severe 2023 storm that devastated parts of the North Island and knocked out communications for entire regions. The core firmware was written by Scott Powell (of Ripple Radios, Australia). The whole project is community-driven: no corporate backing, no central authority — just people who believe the ability to communicate shouldn’t depend on infrastructure that can fail.
What it’s used for
MeshCore shines anywhere conventional networks are down or out of reach: emergency preparedness and disaster response, remote and rural areas, outdoor adventures like hiking and sailing, and large events where cell networks get overloaded. Solar-powered repeaters placed in high locations — hilltops, towers, rooftops — extend coverage across the whole mesh, no mains power or internet required.