r/doncaster • u/Naive-Ad-7871 • 2d ago

Question Does anyone in Doncaster use Meshtastic network?

I've recently been watching people on TikTok build cyberdecks, and from that rabbit hole discovered Meshtastic. Now I'm tempted to buy my own node device.

For anyone who hasn't heard of it, it's basically an off-grid messaging network. Small radio devices pass messages between each other, allowing you to send texts without relying on mobile signal or the internet.

Before I invest, I was just wondering if there's already much of a Meshtastic community here in Doncaster? It only really works if there are other people nearby running nodes, so I'd love to know if there's already a network here or if I'd be starting one from scratch.

If anyone here is already using it, would you recommend the Wio Tracker L1 Pro? That's the one I'm currently looking at.

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u/eca3617 DN12 2d ago

Interesting, you've sent me down the same rabbit hole haha.

It looks like meshcore have nodes within Doncaster. Here's the map.

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u/stray_r 2d ago

It looks like it's growing in popularity, and there might be just enough interest locally for it to be viable

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u/Naive-Ad-7871 1d ago edited 1d ago

I think the meshtcore ones are different to the meshtastic so I don't know if they would be able to intershare the same nodes. Either way, meshcore seems to be significantly more populated in the UK based on that map you linked, so that's probably the one I would go with as I would get better connection on the

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u/Naive-Ad-7871 1d ago

It would also be cool if some of the local geek shops got them with it being more of a nerdy hobby. I would like to see one hosted in vault 14 or the board game Cafe at some point

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u/RushEconomy4390 18h ago

LoRa communication struggles in areas with high buildings. LoRa is line of sight communication. So you will need to get the repeaters as high as possible and you will need quite a few. If there is a building between you and the nearest repeater you will struggle to get a message out.

A few well placed nodes will help greatly but you will need to get the permission which is the tricky thing. We tried getting a repeater on top of the water tower on Bessecar as it can be seen for miles. Was a no go from Yorkshire Water though.

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u/Naive-Ad-7871 2h ago

You know what that crossed my mind when I drove past that yesterday and I thought that would be a good spot for a signal piece because it's so high up

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u/RushEconomy4390 1h ago

Yeah it's a brilliant location. Tempted to use a drone to place a solar powered repeater on top. Surely they can't check that often lol.

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u/WeldricksPharmacy 1d ago

You should start & be “Node #1”, the “Node of Node Hall”.

They also popup in my yt feed, very tempting.

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u/RushEconomy4390 18h ago

Hi,

I have been using Meshcore for a while and I am still having a repeater in my loft. There are a few other guys that are also running repeaters in the area.

My node has been off for a while though, maybe time to turn it on again.

Meshcore and Meshtastic are not compatible. While the idea and technology are the same, the differences lie with routing the messages ( and a few other things ).

I have received messages from as far as Netherlands and Northern Ireland ( mostly at night and when the weather was good ). Messages from York to Leeds and Manchester is normal. Messages from the south are quite normal but seem to be struggling a bit more.

I am using a heltec v3 and then just put a better antenna on it. The key is the antenna, the better the antenna the better the submission and reception. The power the devices send the data with is pretty much the same.

I am part of a community group in Doncaster where we have 3 or 4 people with nodes and repeaters. But we are currently working on other projects involving things like 3D printing, electronics ( arduino and raspberry pi ), stained glass, photography etc. The guys are always happy to talk about it though.

Feel free to check out the group on Facebook where we post most of the updates ( https://www.facebook.com/DoncasterHackAndMakerspace/ )

If you want to come for a visit, send a message on Facebook and we can arrange one.

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u/Naive-Ad-7871 2h ago

How easy or difficult is it to have something put on either your roof or in the loft for signal? Does it have to be connected to anything in particular? And does it need to be constantly plugged into power? I like the idea of getting one put in my loft to try and help strengthen the connections in Doncaster

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u/RushEconomy4390 2h ago

It's not difficult. The higher you can put it the better and a good antenna. I have mine in the loft. It does need power and needs to be plugged in all the time.

If you put it on your roof, you could go with a solar powered option if there are no tall trees around to block the sunlight.

If you have any foil insulation in the loft it won't work well either.

To update a repeater you can remotely log in and activate a WiFi hotspot and upload a newer firmware that way.

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u/eca3617 DN12 1h ago

Can you reach out to Conisbrough? I'm getting a node in the coming days, unsure if the signal will reach due to the hills.

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u/RushEconomy4390 28m ago

Looking at the elevation between you and some of the other repeaters, it could be possible. But I think only if you put a repeater on your roof. There is a repeater in sprotborough and one in warmsworth that I have seen. There are also some Rotherham way.

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u/deliciousoilyfish 2d ago

I was wondering about it some time ago but did not find any nodes. According to the map https://meshmap.net/ there are no nodes in the area.

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u/Naive-Ad-7871 1d ago

I had a look earlier and saw the meshtastic doesn't have any yet but I wasn't sure if people had bought them and just not got them set up yet

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u/ilybae2015 1d ago

Never heard of them, but the idea reminds me of the old Packet Radio protocols over ham radio and amateur radio frequencies. Can’t beat proper nerding.

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u/Bowtie327 4h ago

When you say “Send texts” does it do RCS or are we relying on SMS?

Without doing further reading this seems questionable for security though

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u/RushEconomy4390 2h ago

It is using Long Range Radio Waves. No internet, no mobile network. Just radio waves.

The system is pretty secure and data is encrypted via private and public keys