We are actively building out the "mesh". Ideally we want to be able to connect with and communicate across the mesh anywhere in the CSRA. As new nodes join they extend the overall reach of the mesh, allowing new areas to be connected together. Currently in Georgia we have nodes in Evans, Grovetown, and Augusta. In South Carolina we have nodes in North Augusta, Clearwater, and Aiken. More nodes are being added weekly as more people explore what Meshtastic has to offer. 

You can assist by purchasing your own node and then simply placing it in your home. Each node that is added will connect to any other node it can see and then rebroadcasts messages to extend the reach of the mesh.

A 'node' is what we call the LoRa device that is flashed with the Meshtastic firmware that allows the app on our phone to send a text across the 'mesh'. The Meshtastic app, downloadable for either iOS or Android, connects to the node via Bluetooth or WiFi to allow us to send and receive text messages. These can be purchased pre-built or in kit form to build yourself. Low power units can be solar powered and some units come with a screen and keyboard similar to a blackberry to allow for use without a cell phone.

The node shown to the right is a home made node designed to run off of a small solar panel. This allows it to be placed on the rooftop of a building to extend the mesh without the need for power infrastructure. In the event of power or other infrastructure failure, the node will continue to work since it is not reliant on anything besides the sun. The small battery shown (about the size of two AA batteries) will run this node for more than two weeks when fully charged.