## General Links - [Off-Grid Communication For Everyone \| Meshtastic](https://meshtastic.org/) - ## Notes from Igor Ok! So to start there are two major variants of devices, ESP based ones and NRF based ones. ESP based ones are good for environments where you will be supplying power via USB or 5v because they are somewhat power hungry, but come with ability to do WiFi. So allows you to tie in workflows around computers, such as mqqt or api calls. NRF based devices are really good at battery powered applications But don’t have wifi. There are also two competing applications/firmware. Meshtastic and Meshcore Meshtastic is the OG and has wide adoption, but has issues around reliability, message delivery and scale Meshcore aim was to fix those shortcomings, and is newer, and has less adoption. Although in larger areas (such as Boston where I was a week ago) Meshcore dominated over meshtastic. The two are not compatible with each other as far as messaging. Meshtastic and Meshcore can be loaded on pretty much any device And you can switch back and forth by updating the firmware Meshnology store on amazon is fairly reputable and has variety of devices to choose from https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meshnology/page/2FCC0FE0-D762-44B7-8ABA-520D55EF306F?lp_asin=B0F1CXG94J&ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto The devices are standalone but have bluetooth so you configure them with the app When you go to configuration, don’t configure it with you being a ham operator as a disable encryption and you will be talking to no one because no one else does that also for battery powered when I mentioned ESP’s aren’t good for battery power I meant for things like that are powered by battery in a solar panel. The portable unit with the battery that you recharge are fine to be ESP. You’ll just have to recharge them once a day or so.