Community Onboarding Guide
Welcome to LA-Mesh! This guide walks you through joining the community mesh network in the Lewiston-Auburn area.
What You Need
Option A: Dedicated Device (Recommended)
Purchase a T-Deck Plus (~$82) or T-Deck Pro e-ink (~$111). These are standalone mesh radios with keyboards and screens -- no phone needed.
Option B: Phone + Bluetooth Device
Any Meshtastic-compatible device (~$25-80) paired with the Meshtastic app on your phone:
- Android: Meshtastic app on Google Play
- iOS: Meshtastic app on App Store
Getting Connected
Get Your Device Configured
Attend a community meetup where an LA-Mesh operator will provision your device:
just provision t-deck /dev/ttyUSB0
This single command fetches the manifest-pinned firmware (v2.7.15+), verifies its SHA256 checksum, flashes it, applies the device profile, and configures LA-Mesh channels with the shared PSK.
Why in-person? The encryption key (PSK) is only shared face-to-face for security. We never send it digitally. The just provision command reads the PSK from the operator's local environment.
Learn the Basics
At the meetup, you'll learn:
- How to send and receive messages
- How to read the node list
- What the signal quality numbers mean
- Basic mesh etiquette
Stay Connected
- Keep your device charged and powered on when in the L-A area
- Your device automatically relays messages for other users
- Check for firmware updates at community meetups
Mesh Etiquette
- Keep messages concise -- LoRa is low bandwidth (~1 text message per second)
- Don't spam -- excessive messages use airtime that everyone shares
- Emergency channel is for emergencies only -- false alarms erode trust
- Report issues -- coverage gaps, connectivity problems, suspicious activity
- Attend meetups -- for PSK rotations and firmware updates
- Share knowledge -- help newcomers get set up
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people read my messages?
Channel messages are encrypted (AES-256) -- only LA-Mesh members with the PSK can read them. For private conversations, use Direct Messages, which have additional end-to-end encryption that even other LA-Mesh members can't read.
How far does the signal reach?
Typically 1-5 km in urban areas, up to 20+ km with line-of-sight to a router. Your messages can "hop" through other devices to reach further.
Does it use the internet?
No! The mesh operates entirely on LoRa radio. No WiFi, no cell service, no internet needed. The gateway bridge provides optional SMS/email connectivity.
Can I see my location on the network?
If GPS is enabled, your position is shared with other mesh users. You can disable GPS in your device settings if you prefer not to share location.
What happens if a tower node goes down?
The mesh re-routes around it. With multiple routers, the network is resilient to individual node failures.
Can I use this for voice calls?
No. LoRa is text-only due to low bandwidth. Think of it like texting, not calling.
Community Meetups
Recommended Resources
- Gajim -- open-source XMPP client with OMEMO encryption for operator coordination
Want to Help?
- Host a node: If you have a high location (rooftop, hilltop), we may be able to place a relay node
- Volunteer: Help at meetups, assist with installations, contribute to documentation
- Spread the word: Tell neighbors, friends, community organizations