Mesh Network in Chapel Hill, NC

RDUMesh provides community-owned, off-grid mesh radio coverage across Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Using MeshCore and Meshtastic on the 915 MHz ISM band, the network connects Chapel Hill to the broader 16-county Triangle mesh.

Chapel Hill Coverage

Chapel Hill is connected to the RDUMesh network via the Tarheel Backhaul repeater, which provides a strong link between Chapel Hill and the rest of the Triangle mesh. This repeater was a community effort built and installed by a volunteer who identified the need for westward expansion.

Coverage in Chapel Hill extends to Carrboro, southern Orange County, and eastward toward Durham. The connection means Chapel Hill residents can message neighbors across the entire network, from Durham to Raleigh to points beyond.

RDUMesh members use both MeshCore and Meshtastic, but they serve different roles. MeshCore is the major infrastructure we have chosen to build out — it supports planned, dedicated repeaters with up to 64 hops, giving us reliable coverage across the 16-county region. Meshtastic is still well-liked for ad-hoc temporary deployments, especially when exploring natural areas in and around the Triangle where the fixed MeshCore infrastructure cannot yet penetrate. Together they give the community the best of both worlds: a permanent backbone and flexible portable mesh when you need it.

Getting Started in Chapel Hill

  1. Get a radio — A BLE companion device like the RAK Wismesh Tag ($50) or Seeed SenseCAP T1000-E ($40-50) connects to your phone. For standalone use, the Lilygo T-Deck Plus ($100) works without a phone.
  2. Flash firmware — Visit flasher.meshcore.io with Chrome or Edge, connect your device, select your model, and flash.
  3. Configure — Set frequency to 910.525 MHz, bandwidth 62.5 kHz, spreading factor 7.
  4. Say hello — Send a message in the Public channel to introduce yourself.

Full setup instructions can be found in the Welcome to RDUMesh guide and the Device Quick Start Guide.

Chapel Hill Community

Join the RDUMesh Discord to connect with other mesh users in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Check the RDUMesh coverage map to see current node locations and signal reach in Orange County.