When the towers fail in Australia, a normal phone becomes a brick. No calls. No texts. No way to check on the people on the other side of a hill.
Storms, bushfires, floods and blackouts take mobile sites down in the hours people need them. A mesh network is the backup that does not use those sites. Small radios pass a message from one to the next, with no SIM, no tower and no carrier bill.
MeshCore is the practical option for off-grid communications in Australia. These small, rugged devices create resilient networks that work using only radio waves. Messages hop from device to device and through solar-powered repeaters across hundreds of kilometres. We have tested these systems in Australian conditions, which is why we pre-configure every device with the latest MeshCore firmware before it reaches you.
Quick answer:
It works like passing a note through a crowd. Each radio hands the message to the next. If a hill blocks one path, the message takes another. If a repeater drops out, the others still forward.
MeshCore is the Australian-optimised version of this technology. Developed by Melbourne’s Scott Powell (Ripple Radios) with help from an international team and launched in early 2025, it was built for our wide landscapes, harsh conditions and strict radio rules.
MeshCore outperforms older Meshtastic systems in ways that matter most to Australians. It supports up to 64 hops (Meshtastic is limited to 7, and often only 3 in real conditions). Dedicated solar-powered repeaters do the heavy lifting, so handheld devices stay simple and battery-efficient. Network congestion is much lower, so it stays reliable even with many users. Strong encryption is on by default.
Australian groups that have switched – including community networks and operators working beyond mobile range – report clearer improvements in range and reliability.
Melbourne’s MeshCore network now stretches over 1,000 km with dozens of solar repeaters and links toward Sydney and Canberra. Groups that previously struggled with congestion on older systems now handle more users reliably. One well-placed repeater on high ground can connect an isolated area for bushfire evacuations, flood updates, or everyday check-ins on remote properties.
For latest MeshCore node maps, see:
Everything runs on LoRa (Long Range) radio – a low-power technology that can transmit over long distances on very little energy.
No internet or mobile towers are needed. Messages routinely travel hundreds of kilometres through chains of repeaters.
Australia’s size and extreme weather make traditional networks vulnerable. Mesh networks provide a resilient backup that works when everything else fails.
Common use cases include:
We stock devices proven in Australian conditions and pre-flash every unit with the latest MeshCore firmware:
All devices work together on the same network. Most people start with one handheld device and one solar repeater, then expand as needed.
MeshCore is an off-grid mesh communications system that works over LoRa radio. It needs no SIM, no mobile tower and no internet account. Messages hop from device to device and through solar repeaters.
MeshCore supports far more hops (up to 64 vs 7) and uses dedicated solar repeaters so handheld devices stay simple. Australian groups report better range and lower congestion after switching.
Individual hops are typically 5-20 km in good conditions. Solar repeaters on high ground are what carry a message across a region. There is no guaranteed distance.
It still works device-to-device for smaller groups. Adding even one solar repeater changes everything.
Yes, under the ACMA Low Interference Potential Devices class licence, on the 915 to 928 MHz band, within the power limits. You do not apply for a licence.
No. Some devices (such as the T-Deck) work completely standalone.
Yes. The app runs on a de-Googled GrapheneOS phone. The mesh radio does not need the phone to have a Google account or a SIM.
When the towers fail, especially during emergencies, a normal phone becomes a brick.
MeshCore devices keep working because they have no SIM, no tower and no carrier account. Messages hop from radio to radio over long distances, encrypted so only the intended recipients can read them. It is a practical, legal option for off-grid communications in Australia – we providce them pre-configured and ready to use.
-> See Off-Grid Comms
-> See Privacy Phones
