Meshtastic for Beginners: My Honest Guide to Off-Grid Text Messaging and Emergency Communication
- Andy Murphy
- Jan 22
- 8 min read
Starting (and Struggling) with Meshtastic
I first got interested in Meshtastic for a very simple reason: I thought it was fascinating that you could send text messages over radio. I already enjoy GMRS and amateur radio, but Meshtastic felt different.
It wasn’t about talking. It was about quiet, low-power, off-grid text messaging that could work without cell service and, in some cases, without the internet at all. That immediately put it in the category of “this is both a fun hobby and potentially useful for emergencies,” which is pretty much my favorite overlap!
If you’ve been searching for things like off-grid communication, text messaging without cell service, or emergency communication options, that’s exactly the space Meshtastic lives in. While Mesh can be fun and exciting, it can be hard to understand.
What Is Meshtastic and How Does It Work?
Meshtastic is an open-source messaging system that uses low-power LoRa radios (around 915 MHz in the US) to send short text messages between devices called nodes. Think around 200 characters including emojis.
Each node can talk to nearby nodes, and those nodes can pass messages along to others, forming a mesh network. Your phone usually connects to a node over Bluetooth and acts like the keyboard and screen, but the radio is doing the real work. What you end up with feels like texting, except the messages are traveling over the air instead of through cell towers or Wi-Fi.
There is an option for MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) that allows your mesh node to communicate via the Meshtastic app on your smartphone (or web interface). This doesn't use the LoRa radio or antenna, it just sends via your Wi-Fi or 5G connection. But this only goes to a specific mesh server that you set up in advance. And MQTT will only communicated to the server. You can run MQTT and LoRa from the same device.
Because these devices use very little power, they can run for days or even weeks on battery, which makes Meshtastic especially interesting for power outages, disasters, and other situations where normal communication might not work.
The idea of sending quiet, low-power text messages over radio immediately hooked me.
Voice radio is great, but sometimes you don’t want to talk. Sometimes you just want to send a short message. Sometimes you want something that uses almost no power and can sit there waiting for days. Meshtastic felt like a missing piece in the layered communications puzzle.
Using The Spec5 Trekker Delta
Because I am a beginner myself, I decided to start with the Trekker Delta from Spec5. That's right, I'm not messing around. It's important to note that Spec5 is not Meshtastic, they are a company that makes ready-to-go mesh devices.
I liked that Spec5 puts everything together and flashes the software ahead of time. When it arrived, I knew it was going to work. And it did.
The Trekker Delta feels solid, has a good screen, supports better antennas, and worked right out of the box. I want to be very clear: I am not an affiliate for Spec5. I paid for my gear. I’m just genuinely happy with it.
At home, I now have a Spec5 node (the Trekker Delta) in a window with a larger, magnetic antenna, plugged in and running 24/7. All-in, that setup is about $160. Honestly, I wish more people would do this, because Meshtastic only really works well if people leave nodes on and contribute to the mesh.
I’ve also taken the Trekker Delta with me on trips. On a winter beach trip, I clipped it to my backpack and used it to chat over MQTT with a server I’m part of. That was genuinely fun, even though, functionally, I could have sent the same messages through Discord. On a recent trip to the snowy mountains, I didn't see another node on the map at all.
That kind of sums up Meshtastic so far. It’s cool. It’s fun. Sometimes it feels a little magical. And sometimes it makes you ask, “Okay, but what did that really accomplish?”
The Benefits of Meshtastic for Off-Grid and Emergency Communication
There is a lot to like here. First, no license is required. Meshtastic is free to use. Second, the power usage is incredible. These nodes sip power. Batteries can last a very long time, which makes this extremely appealing for outages and longer events. And most charge via USB-C and some are solar.
Third, it’s customizable. You can upgrade antennas, boards, enclosures, batteries, or just buy something ready to go from companies like Spec5 or LilyGo.
And maybe most importantly, it’s community-built. This isn’t a corporate network. If you leave a node running, you’re contributing to something bigger than just your own setup.
The Downsides of Meshtastic (Let’s Be Honest)
The biggest headache right now is the app situation. The Android and iOS Meshtastic apps feel like completely different products. Mapping works differently. Node discovery works differently. Features exist on one and not the other. People will tell you Android is better, and in some ways it is, but iOS does some things better too. It’s just inconsistent, and that makes learning harder than it needs to be.
Then there’s MQTT. It’s useful, but also flaky. Messages don’t always show up. Bots don’t always catch everything. Then, depending on circumstances I can't figure out, you can direct message through MQTT... maybe. Direct messages are better and encrypted OTA, (over the air) via antenna.
Sometimes OTA messages say “delivered” and you never get a reply. And then there’s the most frustrating part: you’ll see nodes, you’ll message them, and you’ll hear nothing back. You have to remember this is a user based infrastructure and it's not popular enough yet to be useful in every location.
I'm jealous of people who power up their node and immediately see chats on Long,Fast because their city has a robust mesh that is established.
Why Meshtastic Only Works If People Actually Use It
Some places have great meshes. New York. Austin. Augusta, Georgia. Most places have scattered tinkerers, like me apparently.
My state mesh on Discord has a weekly check-in on Sunday evenings. I see nodes appear. I've only had one real back-and-forth conversation over the air. Everything else is MQTT. That doesn’t mean Meshtastic is broken. It means it’s young.
Unlike GMRS or HAM radio, there’s no formal repeater structure. This is more free form. People configure things differently. That’s why the Discord communities are so important. You'll get a lot of answers there from people who genuinely want to help and who have been there before. If you're not on Discord, I recommend it for just the help alone. Google your state plus "Meshtastic Discord" and changes are you'll find a site with an invitation to that Discord server.
I’m trying to help grow this locally by leaving a node running 24/7. I have to be the change in the world that I want to see, or something like that.
What Is MQTT in Meshtastic and Should You Use It?
MQTT lets your node use your phone’s internet connection to talk to a server. It’s fun. It makes Meshtastic feel alive. It is not reliable enough to depend on. The real value of Meshtastic is radio-to-radio, off-grid communication.
How I Use Meshtastic Today
Right now, Meshtastic is mostly a hobby and an experiment for me. I test local connections. I use MQTT sometimes. I tweak settings. I learn. Before I invest more, I really want reliable, direct, over-the-air messaging working locally. That’s the real promise of this system.
But that hasn't stopped me from ordering the Lilygo T-Deck Plus that should arrive soon. The T-Deck looks like a Blackberry including an full QWERTY keyboard and track ball. I'm hoping that the T-Deck will remove the issues between the Android and iOS apps to be a single standalone device running Meshtastic firmware.
My goal is simple: Meshtastic as a fun radio hobby, and Meshtastic as a real backup communication system for emergencies.
I’d love to have a reliable, always-on home node and a portable, all-in-one device that talks directly over the radio without relying on MQTT. The low power usage makes this especially appealing for grid-down situations.
How to Get Started with Meshtastic (Beginner Advice)
My honest advice is: start cheap.
Buy a simple Heltec board for around $35. Looking back, I like this set up on Amazon that is an Heltec V3 board and case. It's DIY, but that won't be hard. See if you like it. Learn how it works.
Upgrade your antenna before you upgrade everything else. Don't pick a board that doesn't have a space for an expandable antenna. Soon, I hope to have a ZMB2 Mesh Whip 915 mhz antenna to put on my T-Deck Plus. I already have The Stubby that works in the 915 range. I've used it as an upgrade on the Trekker Delta.
Don't feel like you have to learn with a fancy device from Spec5 or LilyGo. These inexpensive boards on Amazon will work similarly. Just get your feet wet and see how it goes. If you love it, then look at more complete devices, solar repeaters, and trackers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meshtastic
What Kind of Range Can I Expect from Meshtastic?
On its own, a Meshtastic node might get a couple of miles on flat ground, but terrain, trees, and buildings make a big difference. In suburbs, woods, or mountainous areas, that range drops quickly, and even seasons matter since winter usually works better without leaves on trees.
Do I Need a License to Use Meshtastic?
No license is required to use Meshtastic. Right now it’s completely free to use, and the community generally follows good radio etiquette without any formal rules.
How Do I Connect a Meshtastic Node to My Phone or Computer?
The easiest way is Bluetooth. You can also connect over Wi-Fi using the web interface or plug it directly into a computer or phone with a USB cable and manage it that way.
How Do Meshtastic Channels Work?
I think of channels like group texts. Channel 0 is your main channel, and the others are secondary channels that you can use for different groups, over-the-air use, or MQTT, depending on how you set them up.
Is Meshtastic Encrypted?
Direct, point-to-point messages can be encrypted if you set them up that way. Channels, especially MQTT channels, should be assumed to be public because many are logged, mirrored to Discord, or posted on websites.
Can I Send Private Messages with Meshtastic?
Yes, you can send direct messages to another node as long as you can see it on the network. In my experience, direct messages over the radio work much better than trying to do private messages over MQTT, which can't be done on the iOS app.
What Is MQTT and Should I Use It?
MQTT stands for Message Queuing Telemetry Transport, and it lets Meshtastic use your phone’s internet connection to talk to a server. It’s fun and useful for experimenting, but it’s not reliable enough to depend on and it’s not a replacement for real off-grid radio messaging.
Which Meshtastic Mode Should I Use?
If you’re just getting started, use Client mode. It lets you send and receive messages and also helps pass other people’s messages along, which is exactly what the mesh needs.
Why Can I See Nodes but Not Get Replies?
That’s been one of my biggest frustrations too, and it can be caused by settings, distance, terrain, or just people not actively using their nodes. Meshtastic only really works well when people leave nodes on and are actually watching them.
Final Thoughts: Is Meshtastic Worth Using?
Meshtastic is not perfect, but it’s interesting. It’s low power. It’s community-driven. And it scratches the same itch as radio and preparedness. I’m sticking with it.
I foresee a day when Meshtastic will be as popular as GMRS radio with more users in more areas. It's a growing hobby and I think it's fun. I've chatted with a lot of fun people who are very welcoming of new people. This community understands that new users need some help and to be nice about it. Because new users become experience users and then they help the next new mesher. And that's how you grow a network.
If you want to follow along as I keep experimenting with Meshtastic, follow The Secure Dad. I’ll be sharing more about Meshtastic and practical family communication planning soon on this site and on my official Instagram.
