Meshtastic has become one of the most popular and engaging projects at the Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club. This open-source, LoRa-based mesh networking platform allows members to build decentralized, off-grid communication systems for text messaging, location sharing, and sensor data—perfect for emergency preparedness, outdoor adventures, and experimentation.
During Tech Saturday sessions, we’ve explored Meshtastic on both licensed amateur bands (902-928 MHz) and unlicensed sub-GHz frequencies. Members have flashed devices, configured nodes (including solar-powered relays), mapped local coverage, and deployed networks across Gloucester County and beyond.
Key club activities include:
- Flashing and configuring popular hardware like Heltec V3, T-Beam, and RAK wisblock nodes
- Building and testing directional antennas for extended range
- Deploying fixed relay nodes and solar-powered repeaters
- Integrating Meshtastic with MQTT for internet bridging and remote monitoring
- Range testing and coverage mapping in South Jersey terrain
This Meshtastic section provides detailed resources from our club projects. Explore the pages below:
- Meshtastic Overview – Introduction to the platform, setup guides, and best practices
- 915 MHz Yagi Antenna – Design, build instructions, and performance notes for our club-built directional antenna
- Node Configurations & Firmware – Recommended settings and flashing tips
- Local Deployments & Maps – Our club’s node locations and coverage reports
Interested in getting started? Bring your device to the next Tech Saturday—we’re always happy to help new nodes join the mesh!