Infrastructure

The MeshCore network in the Rhön doesn’t consist of a single radio station or a central node. Its infrastructure is built up in many different places and grows step by step.

Companions, repeaters, and suitable sites together form the foundation of the network.

Companions

Companions are the personal devices of the participants.

They are used to write, receive, and read messages. Each Companion is an independent participant in the MeshCore network and can be used regardless of an internet connection.

Repeaters

Repeaters connect different areas of the network with one another.

They are operated at the most favorable locations possible and relay messages over greater distances. Especially in a low mountain range landscape like the Rhön, just a few well-placed repeaters can already connect large areas together.

Not every participant needs their own repeater. For most users, a personal Companion is enough.

Sites

A good site is often more important than the technology itself.

Mountains, hills, or buildings with a clear line of sight allow for significantly greater range than a poorly placed repeater. That’s why the infrastructure grows wherever suitable sites are available.

Grown together

The infrastructure of the MeshCore network in the Rhön didn’t come into being in a single day.

It grows through many people and institutions who provide sites, operate repeaters, and expand the network step by step.

In this way, many individual contributions come together to form a shared network that already connects large parts of the region today.