What Meshtastic is
Meshtastic is a free, community-driven project: a small radio device, often the size of a pack of cards, that sends and receives short text messages on the 868 MHz frequency band (LoRa) in Europe. Every powered-on device becomes a relay for others' messages: a message can hop from device to device, one to the next, without going through a mobile phone tower or the Internet.
What it allows, and its limits
| What Meshtastic does | Its honest limit |
|---|---|
| Send short text messages | Each message has a length limit (a few hundred characters): no voice calls, no photos. |
| Work without network or subscription | Range depends heavily on the environment (buildings, terrain) and mainly on the number of active nearby devices. |
| Relay a message from one to the next | If there's no other device in range, the message goes nowhere: it's a network built by many, not a device that works alone. |
| Transmit continuously | No: regulations impose a transmission time limit per hour (see below). |
In other words: an isolated Meshtastic device, with no other device around, has a modest range. A neighbourhood or family that equips itself together builds a much more useful network than the sum of their devices taken separately.
The regulatory framework
The 868 MHz band belongs to the category of short-range devices (SRD), regulated by ARCEP and ANFR in France (and equivalent authorities across the EU): it's usable without a licence, provided precise technical parameters are respected, notably a transmission duration limit (a "duty cycle" that caps talk time per hour). A compliant Meshtastic device, configured for Europe, respects these constraints automatically.
Getting started: hardware and private channel
Choose a compatible device
Several manufacturers offer hardware pre-configured for Meshtastic. Check it's properly set to the Europe region (868 MHz) before first use.
Pair it with your phone
Configuration is usually done via Bluetooth, from a dedicated app.
Create a private channel for your household
A channel protected by its own key stays private to devices that know it: third-party relays carry the message without being able to read it. A default, unprotected channel is public.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a single device expecting a long range. The network becomes useful as other devices join around you.
- Using the default public channel for family messages you want to keep private.
- Configuring the wrong radio region. A device set for another continent doesn't comply with European regulations and communicates poorly with other local devices.
- Expecting instant, reliable communication like a text message. The mesh remains slower and less certain than a mobile network working normally.
LASTLINE Connect, with a compatible Meshtastic device
Since version 1.0.1, LASTLINE Connect supports compatible Meshtastic devices to:
- relay messages between household members without mobile network;
- keep a family channel managed from the app.
Range and reliability depend on the number of Meshtastic devices nearby: an isolated household, with no other relay around, will have a more limited range than a neighbourhood equipped collectively.
Discover LASTLINE ConnectFrequently asked questions
Does Meshtastic work without Internet and without mobile network?
Yes. Meshtastic uses LoRa radio, independent of mobile networks and the Internet. Each device communicates directly with others within range, without going through a carrier's relay tower.
Do you need an amateur radio licence to use Meshtastic in Europe?
No. The 868 MHz band used in Europe is a licence-free band (SRD), usable without a licence, provided the regulatory technical parameters (power, transmission duration) are respected.
What range can you expect from a Meshtastic device?
Highly variable: from a few hundred metres in a city to several kilometres on open, elevated ground. Range mainly depends on the number of other nearby devices that can relay the message, not just transmission power.
Is a message sent on a Meshtastic channel private?
A channel created with its own encryption key stays private to devices that know it, even if the message passes through third-party relay devices, which can't read it. A default channel, with no key set, is public.
Sources
- meshtastic.org, official project documentation.
- ARCEP / ANFR, regulatory framework for short-range devices (SRD) on licence-free bands, including the 868 MHz band.
The precise technical parameters (power, transmission duration) are set by European SRD regulations and may evolve: a device sold pre-configured for Europe complies with them by default.