How MeshCore Works

The basic idea behind MeshCore is simple.

A message should reach its destination, even when there is no mobile phone coverage or Internet connection available.

To achieve this, MeshCore uses its own radio network.

Imagine you want to send a message to a friend. If they are within radio range, their Companion receives the message directly. The two devices communicate without any intermediate infrastructure.

If the distance is too great, or if a hill or mountain blocks the radio path, Repeaters take over. They receive messages and forward them through the network, allowing communication over much greater distances than a single direct radio link would permit.

Each Repeater only needs to know a small part of the network. It doesn’t need a complete picture of every participant or every possible route. Instead, it simply decides which messages should be forwarded. Together, many individual Repeaters gradually form a regional communication network.

Companions behave differently. They are intentionally quiet and do not continuously announce their presence. Instead, they begin by listening to the network. This keeps radio traffic low and allows the available airtime to be used primarily for messages rather than background communication.

In a mountainous region like the Rhön, the location of a Repeater is often just as important as the Repeater itself. A well-positioned installation can connect neighbouring valleys that would otherwise be unable to communicate directly. As a result, the quality of the network depends not only on the number of participants, but also on where its Repeaters are located.

One of the strengths of MeshCore is that no single device has to understand or manage the entire network. Every Companion, every Repeater and every participant contributes only a small part. Together, they create a communication network that is both resilient and decentralised.

For you as a user, that means one thing above all: you don’t need to worry about how your message finds its way through the network. Simply write your message — MeshCore takes care of delivering it.