How it Works - So Cal Stakes Emergency Response Mesh

How Our Meshcore Network Works

Up front disclosure:

Meshcore companion radios are generic LoRa devices, and they arrive unprogrammed. To get started, you simply connect the device to a computer and load the Meshcore firmware from the Meshcore website. Occasionally, some computers may need an extra driver installed before programming works. The process is straightforward, and our step‑by‑step instructions in the Getting Started guide walk you through everything, including driver installation.

If you need help, and are a member of the San Diego East Stake or another participating church unit, we can help. You can buy pre-programmed devices at cost, or we can program your device for you.

LoRa Technology

LoRa (Long Range) is a low-power radio protocol designed to send small amounts of data over long distances.
It operates independently of cell towers or the Internet, making it ideal for emergencies when infrastructure fails.
LoRa requires no license to operate.

Meshcore Companions

A Meshcore companion is a small LoRa device (about $35.00) programmed with Meshcore firmware.

Here is the unit I recommend (see the important notice on the Getting Started page). It costs about $35.00 when purchased in a two-pack. If you want to place it on a shelf and keep the antenna vertical, you can add a right-angle antenna for about $4.00 more. The device includes an internal battery and can be powered or recharged through USB-C.

The units require basic assembly and firmware installation, but I am happy to handle that for anyone who wants to participate. For those who are more technically inclined, the process is straightforward and easy to learn.

Here is another good unit, the SenseCAP T1000-E. It costs about $50.00, comes fully assembled, is waterproof, and includes a GPS receiver. It is about the size of a credit card but thicker. You do not need the GPS, but you may find sending your location useful. It cannot be charged via USB-C because it uses a special waterproof cable.

How Companions Connect

Companions connect to smartphones via Bluetooth.
- Bluetooth does not use the cell phone system or WiFi. It works anywhere.

The Meshcore companion connects to your phone via Bluetooth.

Users send short text messages directly to other users within line of sight (LoRa's short-wavelength signals can only bend slightly around obstacles) through the Meshcore app.

Companions can send messages directly over short distances.

Range varies depending on terrain:
- Urban or mountainous areas: limited due to obstructions.
- Clear line of sight: several miles or more.

Meshcore is great for communication when you are out of cell phone coverage, even if your hair isn't on fire.

All messages are encrypted

All Meshcore messages are encrypted. Only those who have your decryption key can read your messages.

Everyone has the decryption key to the Public channel.
- The public channel is installed automatically when you flash your unit.
Hashtag channels are public channels.
- Anyone can join a channel with a name that begins with a hashtag (#).
Direct messages, those you send to a specific companion unit are encrypted. Only the intended recipient will receive a direct message.
Private channels are by invitation only.
- Anyone can create private channels and only those who are invited can join.

How channels work

All messages are sent on the same frequency. Different channels and direct messages use different encryption. Only those who have joined a channel or are the intended recipient of a direct message will see the relevant messages.

Repeaters

Repeaters extend the range of Meshcore communications when obstacles limit the range.

Repeaters extend the reach of companions by relaying messages over and around mountains,large buildings or in and out of valleys.
A repeater uses the same circuitry as a companion but is programmed to act as a repeater.
Repeaters are usually weatherproof, solar-powered, have high-capacity batteries and are placed in strategic locations to best extend the network.

Repeaters allow communication over long distances.

A few strategically placed repeaters can extend Meshcore communication for many miles. There are currently over 400 repeaters in the Southern California region and it is not uncommon for messages to travel anywher from Ventura County to the Mexican border and the Inland Empire. Messages are also reaching the high desert (Victorville and Palmdale areas) and Coachella Valley.

However, there are still dead areas that cannot reach any repeaters. Also, many existing repeaters are installed by amateur enthusiasts in unsecured locations. To provide better coverage and redundancy, we are adding our own repeaters securely placed on church members' property.

A solar-powered rooftop repeater

Current Community Network

Southern California already has over 700 volunteer-operated repeaters, many on mountaintops with wide coverage. Messages can travel from Ventura County to the Mexican border and to the Inland Empire.

However, we cannot depend on existing repeaters when we need them the most.

Any electronic equipment is subject to failure.
- Adding our own stake-maintained repeaters will increase network redundancy, which benefits everyone.
Some areas do not have adequate coverage.
- Before we installed our own repeaters, western Santee was unable to reach the greater mesh.
- The area around the Tierrasanta building is not yet covered.
Repeaters placed at unauthorized locations (hidden in parks or other open spaces) are subject to damage, theft, or removal.
- For example, some people are using LoRa technology to mine Helium—a crypto currency. Helium miners are placing Helium repeaters in remote locations on public and private land. Forest rangers and other law enforcement have become wise to this practice and are aggressively removing any suspicious equipment they find.

This is why we are building our own network of repeaters to ensure we can communicate and provide redundancy for the rest of the network.

What messages look like

The following image is a screenshot of a series of messages. It starts with me (while visiting friends in Poway) sending a message on the public channel to see who replies. My message is, "How far can I reach from Poway?" My companion node is named "Killer Rabbit." If a message starts with "@Killer Rabbit," it means someone long-pressed my message before writing their response, indicating they were responding to my message. Also notice that such responses have a light orange background. It is not mandatory long press a message to reply, but it helps operators keep track of who's responding to whom on the public channel.

Some other messages are obviously also in response to my message, but the operator didn't bother to long-press my message before sending theirs. Other messages are parts of other conversations going on at the same time. After a couple of minutes, I said, "Thanks for the acks," where "ack" or "ACK" is short for acknowledgment. Note that I got serious responses from Norco, near Joshua Tree, and Yucaipa..

Note that under my outgoing message, it says "Heard 3 Repeats," followed by a white check mark in a dark circle.

This indicates how many repeaters my companion unit heard repeat my message (this is usually repeaters that are in direct line of site). If you see "Sent," followed by a black check mark in an unfilled circle, your companion didn't hear any repeats.

This is a good indication of whether your message reached the greater mesh. However, messtages can propagate without your companion hearing a repeat. Messages may get through even if you see no repeats or a failed direct message . On the other hand, you may see a repeat where the repeater is unable to reach other repeater.

Approximate Costs

Companion units
- Basic unit, no battery, USB power only
  - $25
- Basic unit with battery
  - $35 to $40
- Basic unit with high-capacity battery
  - $50
- Water resistant unit with GPS
  - $55
Repeaters
- Weatherproof, solar-powered rooftop repeater:
  - Built from scratch:
    - about $65 to $75
  - Commercially made:
    - $100 to $300
- Personal Repeaters
  - Companion units can be programmed as repeaters and kept indoors. Indoor repeaters have limited range but are protected inside homes.