Welcome to RDUMesh!
Community-owned radio infrastructure that keeps neighbors connected when internet and phone networks fail. Get started with MeshCore messaging across the 16-county Triangle region.
What is mesh messaging?
MeshCore is a text messaging system that runs on small radio devices—no internet, no cell service, no monthly fees. Your messages hop from radio to radio across the 16-county Triangle region (eventually), encrypted and private.
Solar-powered relay stations on rooftops, homes, businesses, community buildings, and hilltops pass your messages across the area. When storms knock out power and cell towers fail, the mesh keeps working. Because radio signals travel through the air—they can't be cut by fallen trees or washed away by flooding.
What you get:
- Free to use—no subscriptions, no contracts
- Private messages encrypted with AES-256 (same standard banks use)
- Access to neighborhood bulletin boards (Room Servers) for community updates
- A backup communication system that works when everything else fails
What it costs:
- Radios: $40-100+ depending on features
- App: Free
- Monthly fees: Zero
The network belongs to the people who build it.
Room Servers act as neighborhood bulletin boards. Anyone on the mesh can post and read messages—great for sharing local updates, event info, or (during emergencies) road closures and resource availability.
Getting started
Phone-connected devices
Best if you want to message from your phone using a small companion radio:
RAK Wismesh Tag - Compact, battery-efficient
Buy on Rokland | ~$50
Seeed Studio SenseCAP T1000-E - GPS tracking, long battery life
Buy from Seeed | ~$40-50
These connect to your phone via Bluetooth. The free MeshCore app handles all messaging.
Standalone devices
No phone needed—built-in keyboard and screen:
Lilygo T-Deck Plus - Full keyboard, works completely independently
Buy on Rokland | ~$100
Lilygo T-LoRa Pager - Compact pager-style device
Available from Lilygo | ~$115
Perfect for off-grid communication or keeping as a backup when your phone dies.
These work entirely without a phone, but go into this eyes-open that the hardware does really affect your user experience so there might be more of a learning curve to using it!
Set up your device
- Get your hardware - Order from the links above
- Flash MeshCore firmware - Go to flasher.meshcore.co.uk, connect your device, select your model, and click flash (takes 2 minutes)
- Download the app (if using phone-connected device):
- Android: Search "MeshCore" on Google Play
- iOS: Search "MeshCore" on Apple App Store
- Configure frequency - Set to "US/Canada Recommended" (910.525 MHz)
- Announce yourself - Send a flood advert to let the network know you're here
- Post a message - Send a message in the
Publicchannel saying hi to everyone.
Need help? Full setup guides at meshcore.co.uk
Join the community
Questions? Want to say hi? Our Discord is the place to ask for help, share tips, or find out about local mesh events.
Why join?
When Hurricane Helene hit in 2024, communities across NC lost power and cell service for days. People couldn't coordinate rescues, share warnings, or check on neighbors.
Traditional infrastructure runs through cables in the ground. Storms destroy it. Radio signals travel through the air. As long as a relay has solar power, it keeps working.
But the mesh isn't just for disasters.
Ever tried to text someone at a packed concert, the State Fair, or Hopscotch? Cell networks get overwhelmed when thousands of people crowd into the same area. The mesh keeps working.
Use it to stay connected with friends at crowded events, coordinate with your hiking group in areas with spotty coverage, or chat with neighbors. The more people use it during normal times, the more prepared everyone is when it really matters.
This is community infrastructure. It serves everyone—especially the people who have the fewest backup options when regular communications fail.
Resources
- Main website: meshcore.co.uk
- Firmware flasher: flasher.meshcore.co.uk
- Network map: meshcore.co.uk/map.html
- Android app: Google Play Store (search "MeshCore")
- iOS app: Apple App Store (search "MeshCore")
RDUMesh is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building community-owned communications infrastructure across the 16-county Triangle region. When the grid fails, you can still reach your neighbors.
