Frequently Asked

Eastside Mesh is a community-owned, decentralized wireless network serving Detroit's Eastside and surrounding neighborhoods. We use LoRa (Long Range) radio hardware to create a mesh network that lets neighbors communicate off-grid — no internet required, no central server, no subscription fee.

It's built by local residents, for local residents, rooted in Detroit's tradition of self-reliance and collective action.

A mesh network is a decentralized system where devices work together to pass information along. Unlike traditional networks that rely on a single central provider, a mesh network uses a web of nodes or repeaters to relay data.

Because these nodes act as smart relays, messages can navigate around obstacles and outages. If one node goes offline, the network is "self-healing" and simply finds a new path to the destination. This creates a community-owned infrastructure that becomes more resilient and covers more ground as the network grows.

Right now, the primary use cases are:

· Text messaging — send encrypted messages to individuals or the whole mesh
· Location sharing — share your GPS position with others on the network
· Emergency comms — stay connected even when cell towers or internet are down
· Community coordination — organize with neighbors without relying on corporate platforms

The network runs on Meshtastic and MeshCore, both open-source projects that continue to add new features.

Not at all. While the network is excellent for emergency preparedness, it's designed for everyday community use — chatting with neighbors, coordinating local events, sharing information without dependence on corporate platforms or internet access. Think of it as a neighborhood intranet that happens to also be there when everything else fails.

Signal is a free, open-source messaging app — it works like any texting app but is built around one principle: your conversations belong to you, not a corporation. No ads, no data harvesting, no algorithm deciding what you see. Unlike Discord, Slack, or Teams, Signal is run by a nonprofit foundation and has no interest in monetizing who you talk to or what you say.

The Eastside Mesh community group chat lives on Signal. It's where members ask questions, share updates, coordinate meetups, and help each other get set up. Whether you have hardware yet or are just curious, it's the best first step.

Download Signal, then join the group: → Join the Eastside Mesh Signal group

You need a LoRa-capable device running Meshtastic firmware. Popular options include:

· SenseCAP T1000-E — compact card-sized tracker with GPS, great for portable use
· Seeed Wio Tracker L1 Pro — rugged handheld with GPS and long battery life
· RAK WisBlock — modular platform, excellent for building custom fixed nodes
· Heltec V4 — small, affordable dev board with built-in display
· Heltec T114 — compact and low-power, good all-around option

All of these can be found on Amazon or directly through the manufacturer's website. Make sure you're ordering the 915 MHz version (US band). Meshtastic uses the 915 MHz frequency band (US standard).

No license is required. Meshtastic and MeshCore operate in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) frequency bands — specifically 915 MHz in the US — which are unlicensed for low-power operation. Anyone can legally transmit on these frequencies within FCC Part 15 power limits. No amateur radio license needed.

Range varies depending on antenna, terrain, and obstacles. In an urban environment like Detroit's Eastside, a typical handheld device gets 0.5–2 miles of direct range. A rooftop or elevated fixed node with an upgraded antenna can reliably reach over 2 miles.

Because the network is a mesh, messages hop between nodes — so your effective reach extends across the entire network, not just to your nearest neighbor.

Portable nodes are battery-powered handheld devices. You carry them with you, and they connect you to the mesh wherever you are in range.

Fixed nodes (also called infrastructure or router nodes) are permanently installed — typically on a rooftop or high point — powered by a small solar panel with battery, and left running 24/7. They form the backbone of the network, extending range and reliability for the whole community. Hosting a fixed node is one of the most valuable contributions you can make.

It's simple:

Meshtastic:
1. Get a compatible LoRa device (see Hardware section above)
2. Flash it with Meshtastic firmware
3. Configure it to the LongFast channel on 906.875 Mhz
4. Send a message saying hello!

MeshCore: Coming soon!

No approval process, no gatekeeping. If you're in range, you're on the network.

We're out here — but if nothing came back, the most likely explanation is that no node heard you. Silence on the mesh almost always means a radio problem, not a people problem. Your device transmitted fine; the signal just didn't reach anyone who could relay it.

A few common reasons:

· You're out of range — LoRa needs a relatively clear path. Indoors, at ground level, or with houses and buildings in the way, a handheld might only reach a few blocks.
· Your radio settings don't match — a different region, modem preset, or channel means your messages are effectively on a different network.
· Your antenna or placement is limiting you — a node on a windowsill or up high will do dramatically better than one on a desk in a basement.
· No one was listening at that moment — the mesh is neighbors with day jobs, not a staffed help desk. Replies can take hours.

Start with your node list. Open the Meshtastic app and check whether you're seeing any other nodes at all. If the list is empty, you're not connected to the mesh yet and nobody is receiving you. If you do see nodes, you're in range and it's worth trying again. Empty node list = we can't hear you. Nodes listed = you're on the mesh.

Then take the node outside or to a window and give it a few minutes to pick up neighbors. And drop a note in the Signal group — tell us roughly where you are and someone nearby can watch for your node and confirm whether your traffic is reaching us.

No. Getting a basic Meshtastic node up and running takes about 20 minutes and the Meshtastic app walks you through everything. You don't need to know anything about radios, networking, or programming.

Our community is here to help. Come to a monthly meetup or drop a message in the Signal group — we've helped neighbors of all technical backgrounds get connected.

There are active nodes across Detroit's Eastside, including Jefferson Chalmers, East English Village, Morningside, Cornerstone Village, and into the broader region including Grosse Pointe and Saint Clair Shores.

Coverage is growing. Adding a node in your neighborhood — especially a rooftop fixed node — directly expands the network for everyone around you. If your area isn't covered yet, you can be the one to bring it there.

Yes. A portable or window-mounted node requires no landlord permission and no permanent installation. For rooftop fixed nodes, you'd want to check with your landlord — but even a node placed in a high window or balcony can meaningfully extend the network.

Drop a message in the Signal group and community members can help figure out the best setup for your situation.

MichMesh is one of the best resources available for Michigan's growing Meshtastic and LoRa mesh community — and we're proud to be affiliated with them. Their site aggregates node maps, local network stats, community news, and getting-started guides tailored specifically to Michigan operators.

Whether you're just unboxing your first device or trying to plan a rooftop fixed node placement, MichMesh is worth bookmarking. It's community-built, freely available, and reflects the same values that drive Eastside Mesh: open infrastructure, no gatekeeping, and neighbors helping neighbors stay connected.

They also maintain excellent documentation that covers setup, configuration, and local network details — a great read whether you're brand new or looking to go deeper.

→ Visit MichMesh

It depends on the message type. Channel messages on LongFast are broadcast openly — treat them like a public radio channel. Anyone running Meshtastic in range can read them. Direct messages and private channels in Meshtastic do offer encryption, so those are suitable for more personal conversations.

There is no central server storing anything. Messages exist only on devices within radio range.

Yes — the public LongFast channel is open, and anyone with a Meshtastic device tuned to 915 MHz can receive those messages. Think of it like an open community radio channel, not a private line. That's part of what makes it a community mesh: it's shared, open infrastructure.

If you need a private conversation, use Meshtastic's direct messages or a private channel instead.

Location sharing is entirely opt-in. You can enable GPS and broadcast your position if you want others on the network to see where you are — useful for coordination, hiking, or emergency situations. You can also turn it off completely. Your device will still relay messages for the mesh without revealing your location.

No. Eastside Mesh is an independent, community-run project with no investors, no corporate sponsors, and no government affiliation.

Both are open-source LoRa mesh networking platforms, but they have different design philosophies:

Meshtastic is the more established platform, with a large community, mature apps for iOS and Android, and a broad range of supported hardware. It's the easiest entry point for most people.

MeshCore is a newer, more experimental platform focused on different architectural choices. It's worth exploring if you're technically inclined and want to participate in its development.

Both platforms are active in the Detroit mesh community. Most nodes run Meshtastic; MeshCore is worth exploring for those who want to dig deeper.

Meshtastic uses the LongFast preset at 915 MHz (US region). This is the default modem setting for US devices — if you set your region to US and haven't changed the modem preset, you're already on it. Preset: LongFast · Frequency: 906.875 Mhz · Region: US

For MeshCore, we follow the MichMesh recommendations — the standardized channel and repeater settings shared across the Michigan mesh community. Aligning with these keeps our nodes interoperable with the wider regional network rather than running isolated defaults. You can find the full configuration guidance in the MichMesh MeshCore documentation.

Jump into the Signal group to connect with local node operators and get oriented.

It depends on which platform you're running — the two handle hops very differently.

Meshtastic allows up to 3 hops per message by default (configurable up to 7). Each hop is a relay through one node, and every node that hears the message rebroadcasts it until the hop limit runs out. With a well-distributed network, 3 hops can carry a message across several miles through multiple neighborhoods. More hops mean more coverage but also more radio congestion — 3 is a reasonable default for a dense urban mesh.

MeshCore doesn't use a hop limit you set yourself. Instead, each packet carries a record of the repeaters it has passed through, and that path field is capped at 64 bytes. How many hops fit depends on how many bytes each repeater's identifier takes up.

We follow the MichMesh standard of 2-byte path hashes (path.hash.mode 1), which means 32 hops maximum instead of the 64 you'd get with 1-byte hashes. That tradeoff is worth it: 1-byte hashes only allow 256 possible IDs, so as the Michigan mesh has grown, different repeaters started colliding on the same ID and routing got unreliable. Two bytes makes repeaters distinguishable again. MeshCore · 2-byte path hashes · 32 hop maximum

Cutting the ceiling from 64 to 32 costs us nothing in practice — real traffic on a regional mesh rarely exceeds the mid-20s, and nothing on the Eastside comes close. One catch worth knowing: 2-byte packets require firmware 1.14 or newer on every repeater in the path. Older repeaters silently drop them, which looks exactly like packet loss. If you're setting up a repeater, follow the MichMesh repeater guide and make sure you're on current firmware.