_ I posted to Portland dance community about MeshCore. I basically copy and paste to here so that easy to see the whole. I also edited some amount.

Hello dance people 🌲🕊️

_ I wanted to share something I’ve been enjoying for about a year as a tool for community connection and resilience: mesh networks.

_ Over the past few months, there’s been a noticeable shift among technical folks toward MeshCore, as it’s quickly become practical—at least across Portland, from downtown to the Mt. Tabor area as of today, and expanding pretty fast.

_ MeshCore is a local, off-grid communication network that allows devices to connect directly with one another — no internet, no cell service, no intermediaries.

It’s designed to support communities on their own terms.

_ This can be especially valuable for:

_ large dance events and retreats

_ outdoor or remote venues

_ moments when digital infrastructure lets us down

_ emergencies, power outages, or disruptions

_ 🌱 Why MeshCore matters to me

_ decentralized by nature — no single point of control

_ privacy as a foundation, not an afterthought

_ built on trust between people, not dependence on platforms

_ invisible until needed, reliable when called upon

_ You might think of it as:

_ “quiet infrastructure that holds space for community care.”

_ This isn’t about adopting new technology for its own sake.

It’s about offering an option that reflects values many of us already live by.

_ If you’re drawn to:

_ community care and collective safety

_ event coordination or support structures

_ resilience thinking and preparedness

_ exploring how technology can serve consent-based culture

_ I’d love to connect — whether that’s a conversation, a small demo, or simply sharing resources.

Feel free to comment or reach out directly 🌿

How MeshCore works?

_ It’s similar to how many people set up Wi-Fi hotspots, but using LoRa instead.

_ LoRa devices can communicate over much longer distances while using very little power, which means they can often run on small, inexpensive solar panels or a battery.

_ Traditional Wi-Fi hotspots usually don’t talk to each other.

_ MeshCore LoRa repeaters (or Meshtastic devices), on the other hand, pass messages between nodes, creating a true mesh network.

_ That makes them practical for outdoor events, remote locations, or situations where power and internet aren’t reliable.

Cover distance

_ As of today, folks in Portland are receiving messages from Vancouver, BC; Medford, Oregon; and Newport, Oregon.

_ Compared to the Portland downtown ↔ Mt. Tabor connection, these longer-distance links aren’t as stable yet, but it’s still exciting to see them coming through.

_ In typical Portland residential areas, LoRa devices usually reach about 0.5 to 1 mile, depending on antenna height and local conditions.

Basics

_ The mesh network community is moving to MeshCore quickly, so there isn’t yet a single place with all the best and up-to-date information.

_ Most Meshtastic devices work well with MeshCore, which makes getting started easier. This is a good reference list of commonly used Meshtastic hardware. Because you are living in U.S., please choose 915MHz version:

_ Rockland

_ That said, it’s important to confirm compatibility using the MeshCore Installer (WebFlasher), since a few Meshtastic devices are not yet ready for MeshCore:

_ MeshCore firmware web flasher

_ Documentation and explanations for MeshCore are still a bit hard to find, but so far this video is probably the best overview available:

_ The Comms Channel Youtube (There's a newcomer to the Mesh world)

_ If you are so into MeshCore and feels like joining developing the software, this is the developers web.

_ The MeshCore Web

Starting MeshCore near Portland Oregon

_ You’ll need one LoRa device for MeshCore (or Meshtastic) near downtown Portland.

If you’re comfortable with a bit of technical setup, you can start with devices around $27 (like T-Echo Lite).

_ For a simpler, more plug-and-play experience devices in the $40–$115 range work well.

_ Rockland

_ If you’re in the greater Portland Metro area, you may also want an additional device (repeater) placed near a window or in an attic to improve coverage.

MeshCore vs Meshtastic

_ If your focus is sensor networks, short-range coverage (under ~3 miles), or moving small groups, Meshtastic is usually the better choice.

For static setups, long-range communication, human-to-human messaging, or larger groups, MeshCore tends to be more practical.

Low cost but technical way to start MeshCore.

_ Below are two budget-friendly options, though note that connecting an external battery , an internal battery and solar panel is not always straightforward. Many low-power devices draw so little current that typical “auto-off” external batteries assume no one is using them and shut off automatically. Also you need to hold a very very small button by your finger nail for the firmware update. Still these are great for learning device.

_ High power consumption cost-effective option – $9.90 + $6.75 shipping:

_ Low-power consumption cost-effective option – ~8× more efficient – $13.49 + $6.75 shipping:

_ The T-Echo Lite (without shell, 915 MHz) option is $14.29 + $12 shipping. It’s also a low-power consumption device.

One advantage is that it’s easy to connect an internal battery or a solar panel. ⚡

Important: Be very careful with the internal battery connection — the + (red) and – (black) lines are often reversed on many batteries, so double-check before connecting.