Announcements:
The Digital Communications Conference is coming up in 2 weeks in Sandy, Utah. Two of our net members will be presenting at the conference. To view the details and to register for in person or online content, visit https://utah-dcc.square.site/.
The BARC will hold a one day cram style Technicial level study session next Saturday, February 21st beginning at 8 a.m. at the Cache County Sheriff's office, followed by a test session at approximately 3 p.m. Follow this link for details and to sign up https://barconline.org/licensing/technician/.
Training:
Good evening net control and fellow operators. I am Joe Levi, KF7NWA, with a brief overview of Meshtastic and how it can be used to augment your comms and PACE Plans.
Meshtastic is a low-power, LoRa-based mesh networking communication system which can complement amateur radio and GMRS emergency operations, allowing both skilled and unskilled operators to send and receive short text messages with each other, and to shared “chat groups”, all encrypted and secure.
Because it’s text-based and operates in the unlicensed ISM spectrum (915 MHz, or 33cm in the US), no license is required; and it can be easily used by younger operators with little-to-no previous experience.
Meshtastic radios are often called “nodes” and are available for $30 to $100.
Many of these nodes are used while connected to your phone, tablet, or computer using Bluetooth or Serial over USB. In this configuration, the phone’s screen, keyboard, and position data are sent to and received from the node, which then communicates with other nodes over the mesh. No cellular, WiFi, or internet is required
The world record distance of a successful Meshtastic exchange is 205 miles. Keep in mind, the 33cm band operates line-of-site, so elevation matters.To mitigate this, nodes form an ad-hoc mesh which automatically “hops” messages between devices, extending range by relaying messages across the mesh.
Though infrastructure is not required, properly deployed infrastructure nodes can come in handy to help the mesh cover more area.
We currently have a network of infrastructure nodes which covers the majority of Cache Valley from South of Weston, Idaho into Mantua, and most places in between.
Meshtastic is not a replacement for licensed amateur voice or digital modes, but it offers clear benefits as a practical supplement:
No license required — Meshtastic operates under Part 15 rules, so family, CERT volunteers, and non-ham operators can participate without exams or call signs.
Low cost — A fully-functional node is under $100 delivered, runs open-source firmware and apps, and is community-driven.
Encryption — Meshtastic uses AES-256 encryption on private channels for sensitive traffic, allowing sensitive and Personally Identifiable Information to be sent privately and securely - something we are unable to do over HAM and GMRS.
Efficiency — Nodes are extremely low power, offering days of battery life; text is far less demanding than voice.
Resilience — The mesh re-routes around lost nodes; no single-point failure like repeaters.
Integrating Meshtastic with our HAM and GMRS plans is straightforward and valuable:
Licensed operators maintain primary voice nets on VHF/UHF/HF for coordination and traffic.
Meshtastic can handle tactical text — status updates, supply requests, silent check-ins — which can free up voice channels.
Dual setups (VHF handheld + pocket Meshtastic node) add redundancy; and automated, secure position updates.
Meshtastic’s Position auto-reporting shines in search and rescue, reconnaissance, or team tracking: nodes beacon their locations at set intervals, automatically populating a map for net control. This enables silent position monitoring, quick location discovery of overdue personnel, hazard marking, and more — all without voice transmissions.
For GMRS-focused groups, Meshtastic extends simplex range via meshing, remains license-free, and suits family and neighborhood coordination.
Meshtatic Limitations: text-only, low bandwidth, range, and terrain-dependent, and is still maturing. But our ham skills — antenna optimization, solar repeaters, node placement — can maximize Meshtatic’s potential.
For daily or non-emergency operation, Meshtastic can be used:
To track and communicate with children and other family members without requiring a cellular or other subscriptions, and without requiring a separate license
For vehicle and asset tracking
For monitoring remote locations, including basic telemetry such as temperature and humidity
In summary, Meshtastic adds license-free, encrypted, location-aware mesh communication capability to our toolkit, expanding participation and enhancing safety in search-and-rescue, recon, and response.
For more information, check out meshtastic.org.
If you are interested, the NWCV Net has a Meshtastic Channel, and additionally a Signal Channel. You can find out more about both of these channels on our website: https://nwcvnet.blogspot.com/2026/01/messaging-app-qr-codes.html.
For the Northwest Cache Valley Net, I am Joe Levi, KF7NWA.
Net control, back to you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meshtastic is a world-wide system, but operates on different frequencies, depending on your location. When purchasing hardware, please make sure you get the USA (915Mhz) version.
All versions should be able to interoperate when using the same settings. For the NWCV area, we are currently standardized on Long_Fast (Long Range, Fast), Frequency Slot 20 (which is the default setting for Meshtastic in the USA).
Example Meshtastic Hardware:
Meshtastic.org’s list: https://meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices/
Muzi Works R1 Neo: https://muzi.works/products/r1-neo-complete-meshtastic-device
Seeed Studio Tracker: https://muzi.works/products/seeed-t1000e
Elecrow ThinkNode M1: https://muzi.works/products/elecrow-thinknode-m1
Heltec MeshPocket: https://muzi.works/products/heltec-meshpocket
LilyGo T-Deck (aka the “Meshberry”): https://lilygo.cc/products/t-deck-plus-1?variant=51953089118389