2026-08-07 –, Ham Radio Village (W321)
Meshtastic has quickly become one of the most exciting new tools in the radio and hacker communities. Using inexpensive LoRa radios and open-source software, it allows anyone to build decentralized, off-grid messaging networks that work without cellular infrastructure or the internet.
This talk introduces Meshtastic and the technologies that make it possible. We’ll cover the basics of LoRa radio, how mesh networking works, and how Meshtastic ties together radios, microcontrollers, and mobile apps into a simple communication platform.
Attendees will learn what hardware is required, how easy it is to set up a node, and how Meshtastic networks are being used at events like DEF CON and in off-grid environments around the world.
If you’re curious about building your own mesh network—or want to understand why everyone is suddenly carrying strange little radios—this session will show you how to get started.
Meshtastic is an open-source project that enables decentralized, off-grid communication networks using inexpensive LoRa radios and microcontrollers. By combining long-range low-power radio technology with modern mobile apps and mesh networking protocols, Meshtastic makes it possible to build resilient communication networks without relying on cellular or internet infrastructure.
This presentation provides an introduction to the Meshtastic ecosystem and the technologies that power it. Topics include the fundamentals of mesh networking, the basics of LoRa radio communication, and how Meshtastic integrates radios, ESP32-based devices, and smartphones into a distributed messaging platform.
The talk will also cover common hardware platforms used in Meshtastic deployments, including DIY nodes and commercially available devices, and demonstrate how easy it is to set up and join a network.
Finally, we’ll explore real-world applications for Meshtastic, including event communications, off-grid coordination, disaster response, and experimental hacker networks.
Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how Meshtastic works and what they need to begin experimenting with mesh radio networks themselves.
Jon Marler is a cybersecurity product director, hacker, and RF experimenter who enjoys building strange things that connect computers, radios, and networks together. By day he leads security products at VikingCloud focused on protecting global payment infrastructure. By night he experiments with mesh radio networks, hardware hacking, and unconventional communication systems. Jon is particularly interested in how radio and decentralized networks can complement modern security and resilience strategies.