As a hiker and drone pilot, I have been using Meshtastic for off-grid communication for some time. Running a drone business in remote locations, I often encounter black spots and areas with no phone, internet, or radio reception. Many of our operations take place in these areas without cell service, making it challenging to stay connected with ground crews, hikers, and other drone pilots. Fortunately, LoRa and Meshtastic provide a free solution. These technologies enable long-range, low-power communication without relying on mobile networks or the Internet.

What is LoRa?

LoRa (long-range, low-power wireless communication) is a wireless communication technology. It operates on low power and transmits data over long distances. Unlike Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, LoRa works well in rural and remote areas. It is used in agriculture, asset tracking, emergency response and for us at Bendigo Aerial – drone operations.

Use Cases for LoRa and Meshtastic

  • Off-grid encrypted communication
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Remote hiking or camping groups
  • Disaster recovery teams
  • Wildfire monitoring and coordination
  • Project management and asset tracking

Introduction to Meshtastic

What is Meshtastic?

Meshtastic is an open-source, decentralised mesh network. It allows users to send text messages and GPS coordinates without internet or mobile networks. It runs on LoRa-based hardware, making it an effective communication tool for off-grid situations. You may see some of our nodes appear throughout Central Victorian drone operations. We use various callsigns ranging from “Bendigo Aerial RPA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc”.

Meshtastic LoRA Control Panel

Meshtastic LoRA Control Panel

Key Features

  • Text messaging without internet or cell service
  • GPS location sharing
  • Low-power, long-range communication
  • Support for repeaters to extend coverage over mountains and cities
  • It’s a free Open-source community-driven development

Setting Up a Meshtastic Node

Choosing the Right Hardware

Factors to consider when selecting hardware:

  • Range and power output
  • Built-in GPS support (We use for drone operations)
  • Battery life

Flashing the Meshtastic Firmware

  1. Download the Meshtastic firmware from the official site.
  2. Use the Web Flasher tool to install the firmware.
  3. Connect the device to your computer via USB and follow the flashing instructions.
  4. Installation takes around 2 – 5 minutes. How to get started.

Configuring Your Device

  1. Set the frequency band for your region (915 MHz for Australia & New Zealand Range: 915.0 – 928.0 MHz)
  2. Assign roles: Client, Client Mute or Repeater (Popular option is Client – Many more options available)
  3. Create and manage secure channels (The primary channel is LongFast – Channel 0 – Public)
  4. Make sure the Frequency Slot is set to 20 – if you change the names of the primary channel
  5. MQTT – We don’t use MQTT, however, you can use this option to connect to the internet to chat with users out of coverage.

Meshtastic in Drone Operations

Enhancing Communication for Drone Businesses

Drone businesses like us operate in locations where mobile networks are unreliable. A reliable communication system improves safety and efficiency. We use Meshtastic to keep ground crews, drone pilots and support teams connected. It works even in forests, mountains, or isolated work sites.

Case Study: Commercial Drone Operations in Remote Mine Sites

In remote mine sites, we generally have our repeater at a high location. We then use portable Heltec V3 and T114 to send messages to each other. This works great since we have constant communications between our drones, drone pilots and project teams who need to send messages, briefs and updates when needed. It’s a cheap form of off-grid communication that’s both secure, encrypted and long-range.

Benefits for Drone Operators

  • Maintain communication with ground crews and drones
  • Extend operational range in remote areas (50+ km)
  • Increase safety and coordination

Getting Involved with Meshtastic

Meshtastic and LoRa are changing how drone businesses communicate. They provide reliable, low-cost, off-grid solutions. Setting up a Meshtastic network takes minimal effort. Hardware costs around $30.00 AUD to $60.00 AUD. The benefits are immediate. Drone pilots, search and rescue teams and hikers can all stay connected without relying on traditional infrastructure. Explore Meshtastic for your business. If you currently use this technology for personal use or your business and see our nodes pop up on your radar, send a message to the public channel. It’s always open and available for you to use. if you need more information or help on this new and emerging technology, contact us, we are happy to answer your questions.