Angelica 🏳️‍⚧️Mar 8

this feels very computer illiterate of me, but what's up w meshtastic??

it looks interesting and I'm v intrigued by the idea of a decentralized network, and the versatility of it, but I'm not totally convinced. with the amt of posts and videos ive seen abt it here and elsewhere, and by the very nature of decentralized systems, it requires a lot of users, and so it's hard to feel like this isn't all some marketing tactic for a new and interesting but ultimately niche and unhelpful gadget.

does anyone here have any experience using meshtastic stuff to improve the community around them? I want to believe but I don't want another gadget collecting dust 😅

Show thread░▒▓█ 𝕘Ｒαᐯ𝕀т𝐀ѕ █▓▒░

@femmepraytell I discovered Meshtastic a little over a year ago and got setup with some radios and gadgets to use with it, convinced a few friends to also check it out. Its really neat but not all too practical compared to some other standards that use the same tech. Meshcore uses the same LoRa devices but is built in a way that allows for much larger reach and works more efficiently in general (not to say its “better” then meshtastic, but its more practical at the moment)

Here in the pacific north west we have regular comms on meshcore across all of oregon and a good part of washington consistantly, with seattle and even futher away to BC, Canada coming in too on a good day.

As to the improving the community part: Its useful during protests and for operations where you need comms but wouldn’t want to use a cell phone or have access to wifi. There’s a #Icewatch channel that gets used occasionally to report on activity locally, another benefit being that there is no way to censor or shut down a meshcore (or meshtastic) channel in the way they could with something like a discord or website.

It’s perhaps still niche at the moment, but the potential is pretty huge. The gadgets are also incredibly versatile, if meshcore or meshtastic dont end up being your jam, there is also chatterbox, and reticulum.

Mar 8 at 4:24amWeb
Show threadAngelica 🏳️‍⚧️Mar 8

@gravitas

that's interesting! thank you for letting me know! I didn't realize there is such a swath of different LoRa-type communication systems. I took a look at the different ones you mentioned, reading the whole Zen of Reticulum seems like an interesting philosophy that I generally agree with.

reading more on the different systems that these things rely upon, esp reticulum, it reminds me of an idea to have an intranet library that has certain books, other media, and a copy of Wikipedia up for people who are physically close enough to connect, no outside connections, just an isolated wan. feels kind of pie in the sky, esp in regards to network security 💀 but what you said reminded me of it.

anyways, thanks for the info, it's good to know it's being used for something helpful ☺️ I'll keep reading up on it and maybe get a meshcore client in the meantime, I see some repeaters nearby on a map. thanks again!  

Show threadJake von SlattMar 8
@gravitas @femmepraytell I can confirm most of this for the Boston area. Meshcore reaches almost out to Rt495 and is growing rapidly. I got my first devices about a month ago and in that time the network grew by about a third. Infrastructure build is adhoc but so many people have repeaters sitting on benches waiting for the snow to melt I expect the network to explode in the spring connecting the Mass, NH, RI, CT meshes!