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Getting Started

NSW Mesh uses LoRa-based mesh networking for low-power, long-range text communication without relying on mobile coverage or normal internet access.

The first decision is which firmware and network style you want to use: MeshCore or Meshtastic.

MeshCoreRecommended for most NSW Mesh participantsMeshtasticGood for small groups, portable use, and experimentation

If you are not sure which path to choose, join the NSW Mesh Discord and ask the community what is currently recommended.

MeshCore Or Meshtastic​

NSW Mesh started around Meshtastic. Over the last 12 months, most local activity has shifted toward MeshCore, with roughly 90% of the active NSW Mesh network now using MeshCore.

Meshtastic is still useful and well supported, especially for small groups, portable use, and people who want a mature phone-app experience. MeshCore is now the preferred path for most NSW Mesh participants because it better suits planned community infrastructure.

  • More efficient use of airtime in denser networks.
  • Repeater-focused design that suits fixed nodes on hills, rooftops, and other good sites.
  • Less unnecessary rebroadcast traffic from normal user devices.
  • Better scalability for larger regional networks.
  • Higher hop-count headroom than Meshtastic.
  • Message delivery feedback and more deliberate routing behaviour.

Start here: MeshCore overview

When Meshtastic Still Makes Sense​

  • You want the easiest phone-app onboarding.
  • You are using a small group of moving users, such as a hike, ride, event, or temporary activity.
  • You already have Meshtastic hardware and want to experiment before changing firmware.
  • You want to learn the platform that NSW Mesh originally started with.

Start here: Meshtastic overview