What is MeshCore?

Secure, off‑grid text messaging over LoRa.

MeshCore is a multi‑platform system for secure, text‑based communication using low‑power LoRa radio hardware. It shines for off‑grid communication, emergency response & disaster recovery, outdoor activities, tactical/security use (e.g., law enforcement and private security), and IoT sensor networks. Individual devices are called nodes.

Messages can be sent privately (one‑to‑one) or broadcast on a public “flood” channel that works like a large group chat across the mesh
Find out more at meshcore.io
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Supporters of Meshcore Cumbria


We’d like to thank Stratum Now for their support of MeshCoreCumbria. They specialise in modern, security-focused IT solutions, helping businesses build strong and resilient foundations.

https://www.stratumnow.com

What is MeshCore Cumbria?

MeshCore Cumbria currently operates on the EU/UK (Narrow) radio frequency.


MeshCore Cumbria is an independent community mesh project building a simple, resilient communications network across Cumbria’s fells, valleys and towns. Using low-power, long-range LoRa radios, the aim is to create a free, off-grid messaging network that can continue to operate independently of the internet and mobile phone networks.

What started as a small experiment has grown into an expanding network of permanent repeaters across the county, many positioned to take advantage of Cumbria’s hills and high ground. Most of the infrastructure is currently built, maintained and funded by one enthusiastic tinkerer, but MeshCore itself is inherently community-powered — every additional repeater, rooftop node or participating user helps strengthen and extend the network.

Where possible, outdoor repeaters are designed to have as little impact on the landscape as possible. Some are housed in discreet enclosures, while others use the now slightly infamous “rock with a solar panel” approach! The intention is always to keep installations small, unobtrusive and respectful of the places in which they are deployed.

The network is continuing to evolve. Current work includes upgrading existing repeaters to support newer MeshCore features such as regional scoping, replacing or recovering failed nodes, improving telemetry and remote monitoring, and experimenting with ways of making remote maintenance and firmware updates more practical. There are also ongoing experiments with Reticulum and RNodes, including the possibility of future dual-purpose nodes capable of supporting more than one mesh system.

Anyone can contribute. A simple repeater installed on a house, loft, shed or other suitable location can help fill gaps and extend coverage considerably. Mesh networks become more useful and resilient as more nodes join and interconnect, so even a modest installation can make a meaningful difference.

The long-term goal is simple: to keep growing an open, useful and resilient communications network for Cumbria — one that connects communities, encourages experimentation and provides another way to communicate across some of the most remote parts of the county.


Check the map for current Meshcore nodes in our area

Companion Radios, Repeaters & Room Servers

What’s the difference?

Companion Radios

Companion Radios are the everyday devices you use to send/receive messages. They can be stationary or mobile, and talk directly if they’re in range.

Repeaters

Repeaters exist to extend coverage—ideally placed high up or with a clear view to at least one other repeater. They forward messages to bridge longer distances across the mesh. (Repeaters should always be stationary and preferably powered on 24/7)

Room Servers

Room servers combine roles: they can store messages for later retrieval when a node comes back into range, and can also be configured to act like a repeater that forwards traffic for other radios.

Quick Start

Join MeshCore in 3 steps.
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Pick a device (e.g., Heltec V3, LilyGo T‑Echo, or XIAO + radio). 



Beginner‑friendly kits:

Heltec V3 (ESP32 LoRa dev board)

LILYGO T-Deck Plus

Diymore SX1262 LoRa V3

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Flash MeshCore
MeshCore Cumbria currently operates on the EU/UK (Narrow) radio frequency. To connect to our repeaters, please make sure your device is configured to use the same setting.

To flash meshcore or see a list of compatible devices visit the official MeshCore Web Flasher


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Check for local nodes

Once setup send out an advert and see if you get any responses. Don't be afraid to say hi in the public channel

Common questions.

Is MeshCore free to use?

Yes. It’s community‑run and open source. You’ll only need to buy your own small radio.

How far can it reach?

Depends on terrain and antenna. Line‑of‑sight can be many miles; valleys may need repeaters.

What about privacy?

Private, one‑to‑one messages in MeshCore are encrypted. Broadcast “flood” channel messages are public to anyone on that channel. Keep content community‑friendly and avoid sharing sensitive information.

Project news & field notes.

Rock Nodes and a list of materials can be downloaded here 👉 link
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DIY Solar Rock Nodes for deployment

This is the first prototype solar-powered node I’ve built. The rock enclosure is 3D-printed, and it’s powered by an off-the-shelf 5W solar panel originally designed for outdoor security cameras. 👉 link


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Repeater "Not Responding"
Knock Murton Repeater
(First repeater) Placed 22/09/25

UPDATE: Recovered 30/08/26
This was my very first rock node, built using a XIAO nRF52840 and Wio-SX1262, with no battery protection circuit.

I found the node uprooted from its original position. It had been staked into the ground, but someone had pulled it out and smashed in the base of the enclosure, presumably to have a gander inside. Thankfully, all of the components had been left intact.

The interesting part is the condition of the electronics. On this early version I had superglued the base in place, and the enclosure had no breather vent at all. Despite that, the components inside were immaculate, with no corrosion on the connectors or visible signs of moisture ingress.

That makes me think that, provided these units are sealed properly, they may cope with long-term exposure to the elements very well indeed.

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Lank Rigg Repeater Placed 27/09/25

Now my longest running repeater, for this unit I sealed it with Roof & Gutter Sealant, so i'm attributing that to the survival of this little node.

I’ve deployed a Heltec T114 solar-powered node on Lank Rigg. This repeater significantly extends the mesh, providing new coverage for Egremont, parts of Whitehaven, Beckermet, and Seascale. As with our other nodes, if you have a clear view of Lank Rigg, you should be able to connect.

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Barnholm Repeater Placed 10/10/25

The node that keeps on ticking... Considerign it's placement in a wall and facing more East than South this little unit has stood the test of time and harse Scottish Winters. 

I’ve deployed a Seeed XIAO nRF52840 solar-powered node on Barnholm in Scotland. The goal was to establish a link with our friends over in Bangor, Northern Ireland — but unfortunately, it still can’t quite reach them. All isn’t lost though; it connects cleanly into the existing Cumbrian mesh, giving the coastline a better chance to pick up the signal.

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Another Repeater "Not Responding", (Recovered on 27/08/26) I'm unsure what happened with this one, it looks like the solder to the solar charge controller cable came loose, there was a little moisture inside the rock too, I think it's wicking up from the ground through the base, so better sealing may need to be employed ( I was using cheap bathroom sealant, might get somethign better) there was some degredation of the components also, around the battery terminals and the SX1262 board/pins, once the battery was charged at home and the SX1262 board raplaced though it came back to life, so i'll test it a while before re-deploying.


Carling Knott Repeater (originally) placed 24/12/25    

A Seeed XIAO nRF52840 solar-powered node has now been deployed on Carling Knott. This high-level repeater is intended to help extend the mesh northwards, improving coverage toward Scotland and Northern England.

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Inside the Rock Node Repeaters

Up to now, I’ve been getting good results using Seeed XIAO nRF52840 boards powered by four 18650 cells wired in parallel. The cells feed through a battery protection board, which then supplies the nRF board.

I’ve since learned that the solar charge controller (MPPT) wiring shown in the photo above—while seemingly correct—has been causing issues. The MPPT output should be connected directly to the P+ and P− terminals on the battery protection board, rather than the batteries direct.

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Repeater "Not Responding"

Skiddaw Repeater Placed 27/12/25

A further Seeed XIAO nRF52840 “rock” solar-powered node has now been deployed on Skiddaw. Conditions were fairly claggy on the summit, with cloud hugging the top, so I don’t have especially high hopes for this repeater’s longevity — but you never know! This is the highest repeater we’ve placed so far, sitting at 931 m, and it’s intended to strengthen the mesh by improving reach in multiple directions. Here’s hoping we start to see even more new connections appearing across the network.



Buy me a coffee





If you like what i'm doing and would like to contribute to the upkeep of this site and enable me to setup/upkeep more nodes accross the county then you can buy me a coffee using this link below. All proceeds go straight back into the project coffers which is all paid for privately for the sheer joy of it.











Buy me a coffee link

Project news:

  • Apologies for the long radio silence — pun intended! I haven’t been particularly active on the mesh this year and, due to various other projects keeping me way too busy, I’ve not been able to put as much time or money into MeshCoreCumbria as I’d have liked. I have now started retrieving the failed repeaters and replacing any that are currently hindering the mesh. I’m also updating firmware where possible so we can make use of regional scoping. The exception is Barnholm,  that one involves a five-hour round trip and a six-mile hike that I’m not particularly keen to experience again! 😂 Hopefully, as the network grows, others may be able to help plug some of the remaining gaps up there.                                         In other news, I’ve been experimenting with adding telemetry to the rock nodes, along with some switching circuitry that may eventually make OTA updates over the mesh possible. However that’s very much pie-in-the-sky territory at the moment! I’ve also been dabbling with RNodes and Reticulum, and there’s a possibility I may build some dual-purpose rock nodes capable of running both MeshCore and Reticulum. Again, this is all very much a work in progress alongside several other projects.                                                                                                                                                        Once again, apologies for my complete absence from the mesh recently. I’m hoping to get things moving again and reconnect with everyone soon.
  • As of 28th September 2025, activity in Cumbria remains limited, with only a handful of visible nodes. However, this morning we achieved a major milestone — first contact with Northern Ireland. We received a message from a node in Bangor, over 88 miles away — an impressive feat for the mesh.
  • As of 11th October 2025, the mesh continues to expand. CumbriaCQ.com have joined our efforts, and together we’re seeing strong growth across the North West. There’s been a surge of messages coming in from all over the country, though we’re still unable to transmit beyond our local mesh for now. With more repeaters appearing over time, we’re hopeful that will soon change.
  • As of 24 December 2025, the MeshCore network has grown exponentially. MeshcoreCumbria has deployed 9 Repeaters so far with more to come. New nodes and repeaters are coming online weekly, and the long-distance link to Northern Ireland is now stable and reliable thanks to intermediatory repeaters setup by other MeshCore Enthusiasts. 

    Two hashtag channels are currently active: #cumbria and #norniron. 

    Joining either channel is simple using the MeshCore app — tap the three dots in the top-right corner, select Add Channel, choose Join a Hashtag Channel, then enter cumbria or norniron and tap Join.

Say hello

Email us at meshcorecumbria@proton.me

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