Supported Frequency Ranges: MeshCore supports the 868MHz range in the UK/EU and the 915MHz range in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Because it’s a “range” different frequencies work better in different locations.
Here are the West Coast Mesh frequencies. I am in the SoCal region.
How do you know what works best in your location? For SoCal, these specific settings were chosen based on testing and validation conducted by the community. There was a vote on discord to make sure everyone was in agreement. Hooray for discord!
| Region | Frequency | Bandwidth | Spread Factor | Coding Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoCal | 927.875 | 62.5kHz | 7 | 5 |
| San Francisco | 910.525 | 62.5kHz | 7 | 5 |
| Sacramento | 909.875 | 62.5kHz | 9 | 5 |
| Pacific No. West | 910.525 | 62.5kHz | 7 | 5 |
There is no MeshCore without LoRa, so lets talk about LoRa
What Is LoRa?
LoRa (short for Long Range) is a wireless communication technology designed to send small amounts of data over very long distances while using very little power. Unlike Wi-Fi or cellular connections, LoRa is optimized for reliability, range, and battery efficiency rather than speed.
LoRa radios can often communicate over several miles in open areas and still work reliably in challenging environments such as forests, rural terrain, or dense urban areas. Because of this, LoRa is commonly used in situations where traditional network infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or impractical.
What Is LoRa Used For besides MeshCore?
LoRa is widely used in applications where devices need to send or receive small messages occasionally and stay operational for long periods of time, often on battery power. Common use cases include:
- Environmental sensors (weather, air quality, water levels)
- Asset tracking and location beacons
- Smart agriculture and irrigation systems
- Remote monitoring and telemetry
- Emergency and disaster-response communications
In these scenarios, the priority is not high-speed data transfer, but getting messages through reliably, even when devices are far apart or infrastructure is limited.
Key Characteristics of LoRa
Several core characteristics make LoRa especially useful:
- Long range
LoRa can transmit data much farther than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, especially in open or rural areas. - Low power usage
Devices can run for days, weeks, or even months on small batteries, making LoRa ideal for portable or unattended equipment. The power limits are regulated by the government so don’t go crazy trying to increase your device power or I’ll have to call the Prime Minister or President and snitch on you. - Low data rates
LoRa is best suited for short messages, status updates, and text-based communication rather than large files or streaming data. - Infrastructure independence
LoRa networks can operate without cell towers or internet access, making them useful in remote or off-grid environments.
How LoRa Benefits Systems Like MeshCore
MeshCore is designed to support communication where connectivity is limited, intermittent, or entirely unavailable. LoRa aligns naturally with these goals.
Extended communication range
By using LoRa, MeshCore devices can communicate across much greater distances than short-range wireless technologies. This allows mesh networks to cover larger areas with fewer devices.
Support for mesh networking
LoRa’s range and reliability make it well-suited for mesh-style communication, where messages can hop from one device to another. This enables MeshCore to route messages dynamically, even as users move or conditions change.
Low power operation
Because LoRa consumes very little energy, MeshCore devices can remain active for long periods without frequent recharging. This is especially important for portable devices, repeaters, or equipment placed in fixed locations.
Resilience in disconnected environments
LoRa does not rely on the internet or cellular networks. This makes MeshCore viable for disaster response, outdoor activities, rural communication, or any scenario where traditional networks cannot be trusted.