Name: Intro to Mesh Radio
Start: 2026-02-08T14:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-08T16:00:00-05:00
Location: 22 Prospect Hill Ave

Jump into the world of mesh radio and learn how to set up your own local, off-grid messaging network -- no cellular or internet required!
About this Event
Workshop: Introduction to Mesh Radio

This workshop is a short, hands-on introduction to decentralized radio communication, held outdoors. In a small group setting (max 10 participants), we'll use real radios to build a simple mesh network, and watch how messages move from device to device. We'll learn the basics of setting up repeaters in useful locations, enabling participants to begin to develop resilient, secure communications networks in their own neighborhoods (and beyond).

What We'll Explore

What mesh radio is and how it differs from cellular and Wi-Fi
How messages hop between radios in a mesh network
The role of antennas, placement, and terrain
Working with affordable hardware
Real-world use cases: farms, neighborhoods, events, field work, and protests

Applications

Farm monitoring - Track conditions across large properties without cellular coverage
Grid-down communications - Maintain text messaging when power and internet are unavailable
Remote sensing - Monitor water levels, temperature, and other conditions in areas without infrastructure
Community networks - Build neighborhood communication systems independent of commercial infrastructure

You'll Leave With

A clear mental model of how mesh networks function
Experience sending messages across a live mesh
Practical insight into deploying radios in the field
Better questions about range, reliability, and power
Tips on which hardware to buy for various needs, including lower-cost open source hardware options

Instructors

Mike Beach is an Electrical Engineer with experience designing and debugging electro-optical and analog systems. He has held low-noise analog design classes for IEEE, co-taught a robotic design course based on a hybrid Raspberry Pi/Arduino platform at Artisan's Asylum, and is an active participant and mentor at Circuit Hacking night held at the Asylum every Wednesday.

Don Blair is a researcher, educator, and tinkerer with a background in physics and philosophy. He has built off-grid systems for remote monitoring, and enjoys exploring ways of helping folks to gain greater control over the technologies on which they depend.