Mesh Network in Durham, NC

RDUMesh provides community-owned, off-grid mesh radio coverage across Durham, North Carolina. Using MeshCore and Meshtastic on the 915 MHz ISM band, the network enables free text messaging between Durham neighborhoods without internet or cellular service.

Durham Coverage

Durham County is a key part of the RDUMesh 16-county network. Infrastructure in Durham connects eastward to Raleigh and westward to Chapel Hill, forming a connected mesh corridor across the Triangle.

Repeater nodes in Durham provide coverage to downtown Durham, Southpoint, Hope Valley, and the Duke University area. Coverage extends north into northern Durham County and south toward Research Triangle Park.

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 Durham

  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.

Durham Community

Join the RDUMesh Discord to connect with other mesh users in Durham. Check the RDUMesh coverage map to see current node locations and signal reach in your area.